The Impact of Podcast in Middle School: A Research of Using Podcast with Classroom Instruction

The Impact of Podcast in Middle School:A Research of Using Podcast with Classroom Instruction

By: Todd Gilsdorf

Problem StatementPodcasts are the modern way to lecturePodcasts have been proven to be successful in collegeWhat about the younger students?

Research QuestionsRQ1: Are there differences in end of the quarter grades depending on whether the students listen to podcasts?RQ2: Is there a relationship in the number of podcasts a student listens to and a rise in student achievement?

VariablesVariable NameType of VariableResearch QuestionsQuarterIndependent Variable- The research will take place over two quarters. The first will have no podcasts, while the second quarter will1Number of PodcastsIndependent Variable- The number of podcasts a student listens to per week.2Student GradesDependent Variable The letter grade the student received each quarter. (A+ to F)1 - 2

Research DesignStart 1st quarter without podcastsAdd in podcasts the 2nd quarterUse a Correlation design to see the impact of podcasts

MethodTable 27th Grade Science Student Demographics (n=41)

GenderFemale43.9% (n=18)Male56.1% (n=23)EthnicityMinority21.9% (n=9)Caucasian78.1% (n=32)

Instrumentation and ProceduresAfter each Podcast, the students will take a brief survey.Q1) What have you learned from the podcast?Q2) What can be improved on the podcast to help you better understand the information?Student grades will also be checked at the end of each quarterA+, A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, D+, D, D-, F

Results Part 1

Figure 1. Change in student grades from 1st quarter to 2nd quarter.

Results Part 2

Figure 2. The relationship of podcasts and student grades (A+ = 100 98, A = 97-93, A- = 92-90, B+ = 89-87, B = 86-83, B- = 82-80, C+ = 79-77, C = 76-73, C- = 72-70, D+ = 69-67, D = 66-63, D- = 62-60, F+ = 59-57, F = 56 and below)

ConclusionsThe podcasts help. The more students listen to them, the better their grade was.Podcasts are a grade changer.

LimitationsNot enough individualsOnly 41 studentsAll from the same schoolGetting use to teacher (Adjustment Period)It takes some time to get use to a new teacherDifficulty in ContentThe 1st quarter content is, in my eyes, harder than the 2nd quarter.

RecommendationsTry out in multiple school settingsHave students create the podcasts

References Allen, B. (2006). Podcasting in education: An intellectual biography. Retrieved fromhttp://education.transbat.com/courses/eme6405/IntelBioFinalPaper.pdfBorja, R. (2005). Podcasting craze comes to k-12 schools: Educators discover value ofinternet audio programs. Innoteach, Retrieved fromhttp://innoteach.net/ShaunFiles/edweek article.pdfCampbell, G. (2005, November). There's something in the air: Podcasting in education.Educause Review, Retrieved fromhttp://www.cblt.soton.ac.uk/multimedia/PDFs08/Podcasting in education.pdfEash, E. (2006, April). Podcasting 101 for k12 librarians. Information Today, 26(4),Retrieved fromhttp://www.grandviewlibrary.org/PDFS/InformationTodayInc_Podcasting101_11308/Podcasting101.shtml.pdfEdirisingha,, P., & Salmon, G. (2007). Pedagogical models for podcasting in highereducation. (Master's thesis, University of Leicester, Leicester).King, S., Sawyer, T., Scutter,, S., & Stupans,, I. (2010). How do students use podcasts tosupport learning?. Australasian Journal of Educational Technology, 26(2), 180191.Morris, N. (2010, August 12). Podcasts and mobile assessment enhance student learningexperience and academic performance. Bioscience Education, 16(1), Retrievedfrom http://www.bioscience.heacademy.ac.uk/journal/vol16/beej-16-1.aspx