This presentation comes from the elearning 2.0 conference at Brunel, UK, 6-7 July 2009. It argues for a reconsideration of what educational podcasting can be referring to McLuhan, and Johanssen in proposing that audio provides a good fit for a Web 2.0, authentic and active medium for 21st centiry learning

1. Educational Podcastinga learner-centred, collaborative opportunity Andrew Middleton Senior Lecturer in Creative Development Please be aware you will be taking part in various recordings during this session

2. My context Academic innovation with digital audio Educational developer Teacher of disruptive technology in Journalism Podcasting for Pedagogic Purposes SIG Creative Voices book – communal exploration Infrastructure (human and technical systems) for digital media Organising ‘A Word In Your Ear’ conference on audio feedback

3. Drop the e? Response to John Connell, Yes Because 2.0 is about a creative process of transforming learning, not creating an adjunct to it. Actively involving people in redefining learning is an opportunity for a social construction of what 21st century learning can be.

4. It’s difficult though... When faced with a totally new situation, we tend to always attach ourselves to the objects, to the flavor of the most recent past. We look at the present through the rear-view mirror. We march backwards into the future. McLuhan and Fiore, 1967

5. My challenge therefore What can we usefully do now that we couldn’t do before? Working together, creatively inventing theblended, extended learning environment Imagining what’s round the next corner(cover the rear-view mirror!)

6. Starting point Effective technology-enhanced applications are usually active, constructive, intentional, authentic and collaborative (Jonassenet al. 2003) Learner-centred, autonomousi.e. Meaningful ...and fun! How can a medium historically associated with information transmission transform pedagogy to facilitate engaging ‘noisy thinking’ for the C21st curriculum?

7. Audio (and a-learning) in the 2.0 ethos *O'Reilly, T. (2005). What Is Web 2.0? - design patterns and business models for the next generation of software.Available online at: http://facweb.cti.depaul.edu/jnowotarski/se425/What%20Is%20Web%202%20point%200.pdflast accessed 26/03/07

8. Gets better with use Hackability Rich user experience Creativeadaptableflexible Perpetual beta Gets better with use - asynchronous Trust your users Rich user experience Not precious Trust your users – they're central The Long Tail Niche audience a-learning2.0 Granular collections Remix Granular Remix Play Varied perspectives as data Play Immediate, emergent not predetermined Small pieces loosely joined Voices not technology Data as the Intel Inside Web 2.0 Small pieces loosely joined Emergent not predetermined Attitude not technology

9. Therefore audio appears to fit well with the notion of active, constructive, intentional, authentic and collaborative andautonomous, learner-centredpedagogy

10. Drop the ‘a’ now?! Yes, of course!

11. What’s new? Record highly accessible technology

12. The Mic is Mightier than the Pen Journalism module (e.g.)Large cohort - 230 Tutor team conversational summary (could involve learners just as easily); Student seminar discussion captured and shared from pollination across seminar groups; Expert voices – the real world comes in; Audio and screencast feedback: timely and meaningful; Assignment briefs and cognitive challenges; etc

13. Audio Active 5 minute audio breakout – touch the technology See handout for instructions Audio links will be posted to Ning Media Chairs – a circular structured discussion of 10 people Group summary of a-learning – briefly discuss, then record a 2 min summary for people not here Interview the experts – find someone who has presented (Roving reporter)

14. Discussion: active, authentic, audio Roving reporterQs for me or my Qs for you: Do lectures fit into the active, authentic, audio a-learning 2.0 ethos? What voices would you bring into your learning environment and why? Design principles for user-generated audio content? What needs to be in place (strategic, human and technical infrastructure)?