Abstract:

The benefits of integrating technology into the classroom have been demonstrated repeatedly. Among these benefits, enhanced retention of content and improved learner satisfaction are evident. Previous research has discussed the use of podcasting to aid student learning outcomes. Other benefits of podcasting are the students’ ability to hear lecture content and to customize the pace at which they review it. Some students profit from hearing the class more than once especially students who are audio learners, have English as their second language, or want to focus on a particular part of the class. However, podcasting as it is most typically used lacks an interface with pictures, graphs, and lecture notes, which can be critical to visual-spatial learners. In addition, many nursing courses rely on the use of anatomical photos and drawings to help illustrate lecture content. Lecture content delivered in the absence of illustration, can be confusing and difficult to follow for many students, especially those in the health care profession. The synchronization of podcasting with visual media helps to address some of these shortcomings. Screen capture technology, available on all Mac® computers with OS10, pairs the benefits of traditional podcast technology with enriching graphical content.
Screen capture allows faculty members to synchronize audio and visual lecture content so that lectures can be viewed, as well as heard, at a later date. The addition of a graphics component to traditional podcasting provides additional clarity for students who rely on a graphical interface in addition to what is heard via lecture/discussion. Students who have English as a second language benefit from seeing key text phrases properly spelled out for note taking purposes. For many discussions, an illustration of a particular pathology or anatomical illustration is essential to the understanding of the text content. Screen capture also allows users to navigate through slides and audio content with ease. Students can skip ahead and move back to content as easily as navigating through a traditional PowerPoint presentation; the audio remaining in sync with the slides. Classroom commentary, including questions and answers, are also captured to further enhance understanding of the material.
The use of this technology does not require significant investment in either IT infrastructure or faculty development. With one Mac® and a microphone, screen capture is easily done. For faculty who readily embrace podcasting technology, screen capture is a straightforward enhancement to the existing technology. For faculty who have not yet attempted podcasting, the use of screen capture has been found to be an uncomplicated solution to a variety of teaching challenges. As an added benefit, faculty who need to travel during the semester can provide lecture content to students while away as well as obtain valuable peer evaluation feedback from colleagues who cannot attend classes due to time conflicts. Furthermore, students can use these lectures for self-learning, remediation, or in the event of a missed class (e.g. illness or family emergency) in an efficient, cost effective manner. The exponential growth in the use of iPods, smart phones, and personal handheld devices means that students can access these enriched podcasts with screen capture anytime, anywhere.

Keywords:

Podcasting and Screen Capture.