A recent study published in New Scientist evaluated the effectiveness of a podcast lecture in comparison to an actual in-person class session.
The score:
Podcasts: 1, Professors: 0
Interestingly enough, students who listened to a podcast from iTunes University did substantially better on an exam than their peers who sat through a class period covering the same content. The study explains:
“Half of the students attended the class in person and received a printout of the slides from the lecture. The other 32 downloaded a podcast that included audio from the same lecture synchronised with video of the slides. These students also received a printed handout of the material…
Students who downloaded the podcast averaged a C (71 out of 100) on the test - substantially better than those who attended the lecture, who on average mustered only a D (62).”
I don’t think this experiment proves that teachers are inferior. But, it does wipe out the myth that face-to-face lecturing is the best way to learn in every situation.
Podcasts give professors the chance to polish their presentation and offer students the opportunity to re-play portions that are difficult (or sections where they zoned-out).
When it comes to the basic mastering of content, a podcast listener may have the same opportunity as a student in the actual class. Something to think about the next time you listen to lectures from top colleges like MIT.
photo credit: priceminister
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