Department of Geosciences

IU Podcasting Initiative - 2009

Title: Communicating geologic principles and applications through Podcasts: enhanced learning through explanation and demonstration in a multimedia format.

What is a Podcast?

A podcast is a collection of media files for distribution via the Internet, often by subscription, for playing on portable media players, desktop computers, and laptops. The "faculty podcasting initiative" is a program designed by Indiana University that is intended to encourage faculty to examine and develop innovative methods of audio and/or video podcasting to enhance student learning at Indiana University.

Project Goals:

Planning and creating Podcasts is an excellent way for students to (1) think through and design a project, (2) demonstrate their own knowledge, and (3) become familiar with technology. In order to develop and record their projects, students have to become extremely knowledgable about their topic and organized in their presentation style. Students work on their communication and presentation skills and their projects then become available to the public to as educational tools.

• Students develop a library of audio/visual podcasts that demonstrate basic principles in Earth Sciences
• Students create “virtual fieldtrips” that are related to important aspects of Geosciences relevant to northwest Indiana.
• To provide audio/video podcasts that can be used as teaching tools in other IUN courses and by local area Earth-Space Science teachers in the Gary school system
• To increase public and campus-wide awareness of education and student participation in the field of hydrology/hydrogeology at IU Northwest, Gary, Indiana

This specific project was designed for undergraduate students in upper-level courses (300- and 400-level) in the Department of Geosciences at IU Northwest, Gary, IN. Courses that participated during Fall 2008 and Spring 2009 include Laboratory & Field Methods (G317) , Principles of Hydrogeology (G451), Undergraduate Seminar (G490).

Type-1 podcasts. Podcasts that demonstrate and explain basic principles and techniques in Earth Sciences.The Podcasts demonstrate the following activities:

Type-2 podcasts.  Podcasts that function as virtual fieldtrips that examine important environmental issues related to northwest Indiana and Lake Michigan. - Coming Soon!

Student Comments: so what did the students think of this project? The following were anonymous comments provided by the students in G317

• "a really fun and educational experience. All of [the podcasts] would help fellow students learn. . . ."

• "It was interesting and I enjoyed learning how to use the Movie Maker"

• ". . . . to have hands-on experience while teaching others was awesome. Everyone put forth an immense amount of time and effort in the project"

• "It took what we learned in class and made it fun"

• "I always wanted to learn to make a movie and I will use this again in the future"

• "After having done this I feel that I have a much better grasp on how to demonstrate field techniques . . . ."

• "You learn better when you learn and then have to teach someone else"

• "[the project] reinforced all the concepts,. . . . . a very positive experience"

For more information on this project or the use of Podcasting contact Dr. Erin P. Argyilan