Implementation and evaluation of podcasts as an educational tool in undergraduate nursing education

Abstract

BACKGROUND: In the past 20 years both educators and students have witnessed an explosion in the amount and variety of technology used in tertiary education. One of the technologies generating discussion and excitement among academics and students is the use of “podcasts” to supplement and enhance student learning. The purpose of this project was to develop podcasts of course materials and to assess the impact of podcasting on student learning. SUMMARY OF WORK: We created podcasts of all course lectures and made them available on-line to students. The lecture podcasts were divided into short 20-30 minute sections according to lecture topics. We evaluated students’ actual use of the technology, the impact on their learning, and their perceptions about the technology. SUMMARY OF RESULTS: 70.2% of all students accessed the podcasts to review specific parts of the lecture (92.9%), to clarify concepts not understood during the lecture (89.8%), to prepare for examinations (80.6%) and to make up for a missed lecture (63.2%). Podcasts enhanced students’ learning (84.5%) and the majority of students felt they should be made available for all courses (82.5%). CONCLUSIONS: Podcasting course lectures appears to enhance and augment didactic learning. TAKE-HOME MESSAGES: Creating podcasts of lectures and other course sessions may be a valuable tool for students for whom English is not their first language, as is currently the case in many nursing education programs worldwide.