Window into the Classroom : Podcasting an English for Professional Purposes Course

Abstract

This paper investigates possible ways that coursecasting―podcasting the lecture parts of a class―may be pedagogically useful. Particularly at a college where all students have iPods, the infrastructure becomes mobile and the learning institution naturally looks for ways to make more extensive use of iPods and related Web-based technologies. Literature on these new practices will be reviewed, including iTunesU, arguably a next-generation learning management system. This paper also reports on an experiment in coursecasting a Bilingual Education class, part of an upper division curriculum in English for Professional Purposes. The conclusion will address the hypothesis of the usefulness of coursecasting and podcasting special events for the learner and other stakeholders, also suggesting some ways to use new Web-based technologies for research and publications.