Novice programmers cannot study the content knowledge of their field only, they must develop the practical skills required to use and apply their knowledge. These skills can only be obtained by demonstrations and practicing the writing of code. The novice programmer thus needs access to a skilled programmer and time in front of a computer to practice their skills. As the University of South Africa (Unisa) is an Open Distance Learning (ODL) institution with students from across the country, the continent and even the world, it is quite difficult to provide students with access to a skilled programmer. An alternative method had to be devised to take the skilled programmer out of the computer laboratory to the student. Ideally this alternative could then introduce the students to the programming requirements, without them having to attend any classes thus ensuring the time they spend in front of their computers writing code were used effectively. Enter “Video On-Demand broadcast”, better known as podcast. The presentation will show how podcasts was made, integrated into the learning material and implemented on the myUnisa Virtual Learning Environment (VLE).

1. Using Vodcasts to Teach Programming
in an ODL Environment

2. Introduction to Interactive
Programming – ICT1512
• First year, compulsory module
• National Diploma Information Technology
• Access to myUnisa is compulsory
• Semester 1 2011 = 706

3. Outcomes of the Module
The students needs to show that:
•they understand problem statements provided by
users in various industries
•they are able to apply fundamental programming
principles in the development of a working program
•they are able to use Web design tools to develop a
solution specific and to the satisfaction of the client
•They can apply JavaScript for the development of a
program.

4. Who are the students?
Race Gender
Residential Area

5. Podcasts
Personal On Demand
broadCAST:
A podcast is a pre-recorded audio
program that's posted to a website
and is made available for download
so people can listen to them on
personal computers or mobile
devices.

6. Vodcasts
Video On Demand broadCAST:
A vodcast is a pre-recorded video
program that's posted to a
website and is made available for
download so people can watch
them on personal computers or
mobile devices.

7. • While it is a relatively new technology (2004),
its popularity has grown tremendously in the
past five years
– easy to access
– can be reviewed at the leisure of the individual
– geared towards specific interests
– can be created by anyone (with some technical
proficiency)
Why use podcasts/vodcasts?

8. • Idea and initial preparation
• Equipment
• Software
• Dissemination
Developing a Podcast/Vodcast

9. Idea and Initial Preparation
• Students did not know where to start writing
programs
• Examle exercises in the prescribed book
• Vodcasts shows how to:
– Open Notepad
– Enter code
– Save code
– Render code in browser

10. Equipment
• Apple MacBook Pro
– Comes standard with required software
– Easy to learn and use
– Borrowed from ICT
• Podcast can be made on PC with little effort
• Vodcast on PC require specialized software

11. Software
• Podcast
Apple = Garageband
PC = Audacity (free ware)
• Vodcast
Apple = Screencap
PC = Camtasia (or other software that must be
purchased)

12. Dissemination
• Upload to the Unisa podcast server
• Get link name
• Change link name
• Link to destination on myUnisa
– As link in document
– As embedded object

13. Examle Vodcast

14. ICT1512 - Vodcasts
112 Vodcasts was made
8228 views

15. The Good
Creating a blog 1149
Official Study Material, Additional
Resources
785
Learning Units 769
Prescribed book, course contact 678
Welcome 580
Home Page, Schedule,
Announcements
522
Discussion Forum 365

16. The Bad
JSEP16 232
JSEP64 148
JSEP19 137
JSEP21 89
JSEP22 89
JSEP24 89
JSEP119 85
JSEP38 72
JSEP39 72
JSEP43 67

17. The Ugly
JSEP312 10
JSEP333 9
JSEP404 4
JSEP410 3
JSEP417 2
JSEP355 2
JSEP357 2
JSEP363 2
JSEP408 2
JSEP393 1
JSEP395 1
JSEP399 1

18. The Reasons
• Students did not visit Learning Units
– 10 Learning Units with 84 sub sections
– 12 740 views
– Each student viewed a Learning Unit
approximately 1.8 times
Not related to studies. More related to admin.
34699341
No it did not, the post-cast was short it did not even introduce the JavaScript.
48853348

19. The Reason - Continued
• QuickTime or VLC media player had to be
downloaded to watch the vodcasts
I didnt know how to open the podcast.
44282028
I can't watch them at Unisa (using Lab) because I could find the program
reading them.
47369655

20. The Reason - Continued
• No Internet or Computer access
• Slow networks and bandwith
I DID NOT USE THE PODCAST THE NETWORK IS SLOW EACH TIME I TRY IT
48862525
Most of the time I didnt have enough data bundles to watch them
Dineo
no because i don't have a computer
45611777

21. The Reason - Continued
• Quality of the podcast
some of them did not have voice(only video) and the fact that they where very
short,
47639555
Boring and not visibel or clear when coding
47378743
The resolution was a bit too small for me to see everything clearly and the
playtime was a bit too short.
48261041

22. Positive Feedback
Yes, they did help with outlining where I was going wrong with certain
aspects.
47396792
the fact that we have a voice to listen to and the lecturer shows you where to
enter the code and that the podcast shows you the
47639555
Clarified some of the things a dimwit like me needed
42077745
I prefer the podcast because you can watch it as much as you
want,some times we dont understand the lectures when they explain
and student is shai to ask.
45798141

23. Should more modules have Vodcasts
Yes, Programming(COS1511).
Joshua
Yes. They are very helpful, especially with the subjects/modules requiring
ongoing practical work. I would think that COS1511 should have podcasts also
47396792
yes since we do not have lecturers
45611777
Yeah , to make people like me , enjoy the actual module.
46093397

24. Improvements/Suggestions
Group them altogether or make a disk for them to be released. Make them
visually clearer. That would be better.
27762272775
The screen of the video clip is very small, try to make it bigger so that one
might be able to read what is written on notepad
47369655
Improve the sound quality, enable the user to increase the screen ratio or at
least zoom in, so that we can view certain details clearly.
31370551

25. Conclusion
• “Advertise” availability of vodcasts more
• Improve quality
• Have more and longer vodcasts
• Cover more topics, not only practical exercises
• Make vodcasts available on disk

26. Students enjoy the vodcasts
With ODL the opportunities for that human interface
are few and far between. And the lecturers cannot be
expected to be available 24x7 to assist with thousands
of student queries. Videos/Podcasts present a simple,
effective means of the facilitator to add that human
touch by demonstrating and explaining concepts in a
practical manner.
Gramps

27. How to Help
Marinkie Madiope – DCLD
Leoni Steyn – DCLD
Dalize van Heerden
School of Computing
vheerme1@unisa.ac.za
012 429 6069