A podcast is a series of digital media files either digital audio or video that is episodic; downloadable; program-driven, mainly with a host and/or theme; and convenient, usually via an automated feed with computer software. Podcasting is similar in nature to RSS, which allows subscribers to subscribe to a set of feeds to view syndicated Web site content. The word replaced webcast in common vernacular due to the fame of the iPod and its role in the rising popularity and innovation of web feeds. Moreover, is a free service that allows Internet users to pull audio files (typically MP3s) from a podcasting Web site to listen to on their computers or personal digital audio players.

The format used for podcasting is RSS 2.0 with enclosures. The podcasting enclosures refer to all binary (non-text) downloads. You can read the text description of the enclosure before downloading the item to view. The mode of delivery differentiates podcasting from other means of accessing media files over the Internet, such as direct download, or streamed webcasting. A list of all the audio or video files currently associated with a given series is maintained centrally on the distributor’s server as a web feed, and the listener or viewer employs special client application software known as a pod catcher that can access this web feed, check it for updates, and download any new files in the series. This process can be automated so that new files are downloaded automatically. Files are stored locally on the user’s computer or other device ready for offline use, giving simple and convenient access to episodic content. Commonly used audio file formats are Ogg Vorbis and MP3. In many respects, this is closer to traditional publishing models associated with books and magazines (as opposed to radio, which uses a live stream).

Advantages of Podcasting

Convenience

Since iPods can play back Podcasts, files can be viewed or listened to anytime, anywhere. You do not have to be glued to a computer in order to review the files. Podcasting can be valuable to students or employees who want follow up on information or refreshers in order to fully understand lessons or work ideas. Students and employees can learn through various modalities aside from reading. Audio files and videos can be aids and supplements for studying and working. These files can be quickly and inexpensively created and uploaded to any website. Therefore, lectures and presentations can easily be accessed regardless of time and location, offering flexible learning options for students and employees.

Easy Reach

With a podcast, you can easily reach your students or employees, any time. More importantly, the information that is sent can be conveniently accessed. No more FAQs that need to be updated. Podcasts do not have expiration dates and they can be permanently archived.

Accessibility issues

Materials, such as transcripts, must consist of audio or video files in order to be fully accessible. This, as well as editing and uploading high-quality files, can be time-consuming. Large files will require broadband connection, which makes them difficult for those users who only have slow, dial-up connections. Those who are creating podcasts also need to make sure that the file format used will be compatible to all MP3 players and not iPods alone.

Productivity Issues

Allowing iPods at work or in school can encourage employees and students to work less. IPods in the office or classroom can be a source of distraction. Students and employees can be tempted to watch movies, listen to music or other audio files rather than work. They can be sidetracked by the endless media possibilities that an iPod can provide. This could mean less than average performance and less productivity.

Disadvantages of Podcasting

Time Consuming

Podcasting can be used by professors as a means to provide or receive information from students. However, a disadvantage to this form of data is that the Web is such a vast and very public space where anyone from anywhere can publish files. Therefore, instructors and teachers have to spend time checking if the files and data published are verified. It can be very time consuming especially for larger files. It is also estimated that it takes 45 minutes to produce an 8 minute show.

Not Searchable

Podcasts are not always easily searchable. Although there are several search engines you can use, it is impossible to directly search within the audio file itself. This could be a huge disadvantage for many individuals, especially those who prefer to gather their data by quickly scanning through the texts.

Accessibility Problems

Editing and uploading files, especially if they’re high quality files, can be quite a challenge. Large files will demand not just a broadband connection, but a connection that is fast enough. Using dial-up connections for uploading and downloading will probably take too much of your time. Podcast creators will also need to make sure that the file formats they use will be compatible to other devices and not just iPods alone.

Limiting Your Audience

Not everyone owns a mobile device. Podcasting may just divide the market and alienate those who cannot have access to it. Some people are also just not interested in having to download files from the Web in order to have access to them, and some will prefer reading instead of listening to an audio file.

Distracting

Allowing the use of iPods in schools and companies can provide distractions and may result in poor productivity. Those with iPods can easily be sidetracked and listen to music or watch movies instead of doing actual work. Distractions for students and employees could mean poor performance.

Question2:

Facebook and Twitter are examples of Social Networks and Media Sharing tools. By using the concept of anytime, anywhere learning, how these tools can be manipulated to take advantage of the passion of young people for learning by tapping into the tools. Discuss in detail and provide example for each. Your comment and analysis must be supported by at least THREE (3) articles. The articles must be enclosed together with your submission. (If it is longer than 3 pages, then, you may provide the URL).

Through my analysis and from my personal comment, I found that, social networks are one of the best tools to engage students to be more IT-savvy. Based by tapping the tools there are more advantages which make the young people especially students to learn and inherit it to more educational purpose. Social network could be a tool which enables real online (and offline) collaboration between learners and presents a way to record the interactions of learners. 

Communication Skills

The students listed technology skills as the top lesson, followed by creativity, being open to new or diverse views and communication skills. They will meet vast number of people trough this social network from different countries. This make them to look forward towards the communication skills and analyse them how good is their language power are.

Towards Technology

Students are developing a positive attitude towards using technology systems, editing and customizing content and thinking about online design and layout. Teenagers will more expose to latest technology when they try to explore it.

Creative Ideas

They’re also sharing creative original work like poetry and film and practicing safe and responsible use of information and technology. This is a very good idea because once we post something on the wall people able to comment on their work and the result is they will be more progressive with their work.

Tutor

Also have implications for educators, who now have a vast opportunity to support what students are learning on the Web sites. Enable teachers to share good examples of work with others, provide a means to track learner progress and provide a searchable history of work completed and contribute to the overall Assessment system. Those individuals, who would hesitate to approach an instructor for help, may find that the social network provides the kind of support they need, whether from peers or resources tailored to specific learning styles (i.e. video, audio, illustrations).

Messaging

Learner’s first access to email and why shouldn’t it be a high quality email experience which a learner can keep for his/her lifetime and make it to as a medium to communicate with their lecturer’s.

Exchange of media to accommodate all learner types.

While this is true for most digital learning support systems, it is especially true when presented in a social network that includes a wide range of learners. The freedom to use the medium most appropriate for each user’s learning style will enhance the success of the curriculum.

Application

Mobile apps and tablet apps which integrate with the network, pulling and pushing content to/from the network. Can be accessible from a mobile device and we should be encouraging our learners to make use of these incredibly powerful devices in class

Chat/Video Conferencing

We are able to chat with our teacher who is online and discuss about tomorrow’s topic or which implement from Anywhere/Anytime learning.

Restrictive emulation of the traditional training experience

Social networks reflects the relationships traditionally shared in a learning situation, between student and trainer/educators, between one another, between the students and the material itself. This is much more conducive to social exchange and interaction than email or remote learning systems have been in the past.

Discussion/news feed

Here we able to discuss about latest hot news in town. Recently we had an earthquake in Japan. This discussion board act as a tool to help and relay news about latest phenomena happening there.

Familiar platform for many learners to operate within

As Social Networks like Facebook and MySpace grow in popularity, that paradigm is familiar to users and becomes less daunting when applied to a learning situation. Similar to the way many early iterations of software used the conventions standardized by Microsoft in its Windows operating system for their interfaces. Users were familiar with their function and could understand their meaning transferred.

3 Articles That Support

http://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/think/articles/teaching-learning-through-social-networks

http://www.quora.com/Education/How-can-we-use-social-networks-for-more-effective-K-12-learning

http://socialnetworksforlearning.com/