What’s the PURPOSE of The Higher Ed Podcast Project?
In this BONUS Pod No. 2 episode, @JeffJackson and @LauraPasquini, are joined by research collaborators @Katie__Linder and @JaimieLHoffman to discuss The Higher Ed Research Project. We know there is a growing number of podcasts being created and listened to support the professional learning and development of our higher ed peers.
Why Are We Exploring Podcasts in Higher Ed?
- To recognize and show value for the higher ed podcast community [We listen to a lot of podcasts ... and produce some of our own.]
- To highlight the growing number of podcasts that are relevant for learning, professional development, and then some in higher education
- To understand and explore the “State of Higher Ed Podcasts” - the empirical literature and why podcasts are emerging in the field
- To conduct a meta-analysis of podcasting in higher ed: topics, hosts, delivery mechanisms, target audience, purpose, production, topics, etc.
- To share this media resource to other higher ed colleagues who might not know this wealth of professional development resources, e.g. create a repository of podcasts in higher ed, write op-ed pieces, blog, and podcast about podcasts (meta)
Let’s DEFINE what we mean by “PODCAST” for this project:
For research purposes, our definition of a podcast includes:
- the podcast content is created and shared to support professional development, learning, and/or information distribution
- the podcast has a target audience might include graduate learners (e.g. masters or doctoral researchers), professional school students (e.g. social work, medicine, etc.), staff/administration, and/or faculty in higher education
- the podcast is an audio and/or video format that can be subscribed, downloaded, and/or streamed from an electronic device (e.g. computer, laptop, tablet, or mobile)
- the podcast is a program, show, broadcast, and/or episodes with a specific purpose or topic focused on the higher education domain
- the podcast includes original content development intention: it was designed for a podcast, e.g.
- we are not including a recorded college/university lecture, conference panel/presentation, professional learning webinars, recorded meeting, etc. (unless it was edited to fit into a podcast)
the podcast can be active or inactive
What podcasts are you listening to or hosting/producing for higher ed professional learning and development? Please help us CURATE this list of podcasts that helps enhance the work you do in post-secondary education:
http://bit.ly/higheredpodcasts
What about the archived podcasts? Are people still pod-listening to these? Questions/Issues:
- Changes in jobs/work/life = change in ability to podcast host/produce
- Institutional support or the culture of support on campus is low
- Professional development resource (“free”)
- Community engagement - “I am just one” on my campus
- Sponsorship -- both fiscal or just endorsed
- If there’s an archive of podcasts, are they still being used? What are their download rates?
- Are people actively producing content? Or actively promoting audio content on social media?
How will we research podcasts in higher ed? We’re still working this one out, but here’s what we’re thinking so far for research methodology:
- Survey to gain a broad perspective/understanding of podcasts; open & closed questions
- Semi-structured interviews - podcast producers/hosts and listeners
- Content analysis of extant data - topics, transcripts, show notes, etc.
- Descriptive statistics for the state of podcasts
- Are higher ed practitioners and faculty aware there are higher ed podcasts?
- How can we openly share our findings and resources we are gathering about higher ed podcasts to support P.D. & learning for our colleagues?
WHO is the sample population or how would we target this research for potential research outlets for publication?
- Students and learners in graduate programs and professional schools-- i.e. medical journal or healthcare related use for teaching & learning
- Professional development: faculty/academic development, practitioner learning, and training
- Student Affairs & Student Services/Support
- Teaching & Learning
- Research and writing development
@BreakDrink Podcast Shoutouts
Major Podcast Accessibility Props to @Katie__Linder for making her podcasts, You Got This & Anatomy of a Book, accessible transcripts+show notes (+ instructor’s guides on @RIA_podcast).
