Podcasting with a Purpose: Possibilities for Library Instruction

Rachael Clemens, Cal State Fullerton rclemens@fullerton.edu

Computers in Libraries April 2007

Itemized List of Presentation

• Description of my pilot project

• Mechanics of these podcasts

• Evaluation tool and feedback

• Budget: time & money

• Questions / suggestions from you

Podcasting Pilot Project

• Objective: Determine feasibility of delivering library instruction to students via audio/video podcast

Podcasting Pilot Project

• Study Group:– Voluntary participation of students in 5 sections of

NURS 505 (n = 43 graduate students)• Methods:

– Initial survey of nursing faculty to identify research expectations

– Create instruction podcasts – 60% attend face-to-face library instruction session– 40% offered online module complement only– Evaluation tool administered to both groups at end of

semester – Survey of participating students

Nursing Faculty Survey Responses

• How do you expect your students to learn to effectively utilize library resources and services?

72% Arrange library instruction session

36% I (instructor) point them to certain library resources

27% Refer students to hospital library

18% I (instructor) guide students in class - satisfactory

9% Not applicable to my class

9% Expect students to get basics at orientation

0Library is fairly intuitive and I expect students to figure out as part of learning experience

Nursing Faculty Survey Responses

• If you teach primarily graduate students, please rate the average library skill level of your students as they begin the term

0 Very high

45% Adept enough to figure it out on their own

54% Struggling but ask for help

0 Struggling but don’t ask for help

0 Too low to be successful in the class

Nursing Faculty Survey Responses

• In terms of library skills, what do you feel is important for your students to know in order to be successful in their coursework? 100% Searching databases such as Cinahl and Cochrane

90%Determining the difference between peer-reviewed and non-scholarly material

90% Evaluating websites

81% Tracking down the full-text of an article

81% Citing sources appropriately in APA format

72% Using Interlibrary Loan (ILLiad)

18% Differentiating a systematic review from an overview article

Podcasts – Module Topics

1. Welcome

2. What is Peer-Review?

3. CINAHL

4. PubMed

5. Cochrane Library

6. Getting the Full-text

7. Citing in APA

8. Using Interlibrary Loan

9. Finding Books

10. Evaluating Webpages

11. Services for Distance

Education Students

12. Using RefWorks

Podcasts Creation Tasks

• Determine & organize content• Write script• Create PPT slides (capture screens, minimal text)

• Practice• Record (my office, FDC, campus studios)

• Edit, redo, edit more• Post on website, add RSS, submit to

iTunes

http://faculty.fullerton.edu/rclemens/nursing.htm

Podcasting Tools

Capture + Edit: Audio OnlyAudacity.sourceforge.net + microphone

Free audio capture + edit = output as MP3, WAV

Add additional audio tracks

QuickTimePro (from Apple $30) + microphone

Audio capture, very limited edit, output as MP4*, WAV

Sound Recorder + microphone

Easy to use – can open in PPT, Word and start recording – output as WAV Bundled in MS XP: Programs>Accessories>Entertainment

Digital recorder (handheld or lapel $70)

output as WAV or MP3

Podcasting Tools

Capture + Edit: Audio & VideoCamtasia Studio 4.0

From TechSmith.com $300 Screen movements

Nice editing tools, output as MP4, AVI, MOV, FLV, WMV

QuickTimePro (from Apple $30)

Use this to transform AVI or MOV file into MP4 format

Digital camcorder

May still need QuickTimePro to export as MP4

MediaSite (Sonic Foundry)

High-end media presentation technology

Webcast / streaming (expensive) (converter to MP4)

Screen shot next slide

Screen shot 3rd slide

Screen shot 2nd slide

Camtasia 4

QuickTime Pro

Mediasite

BudgetTool Purpose Cost

MS Office PPT, Word

Camtasia & Snag-ItScreen and audio capture; Snag-It has nice annotation features

200

Webhosting Host your podcasts and other material

USB Microphone Capture audio 40

Digital RecorderCapture audio while not tied to machine

35 - 150

Digital camera Images of library, people 250

Webcam or Video recorder

Add interview, lecture, tour, talking head

30 - 350

iPod, PSP, Zune, or other, and speakers

To see what your users will experience – also valuable for promotion and training

150 - 450

Time Budget

Overhead Identify a specific project to pilot Background discussions Make connections with people and support Proposals (funding, permissions) Identify available equipment/software (in

library or other partners) Mechanical details – practice with tools,

hosting details/parameters

Few weeks (ongoing)

Time: 6-Minute Audio-Only Podcast

Determine objectives 2 h

Craft content 3 h

Write script 2 h

Record (and re-record) 2 h

Edit and Save as MP3 2 h

Write/update XML code for episode .5 – 3 h

Add to webpage/blog 1 h

Upload .5

TOTAL 15.5 h

Time: 6-Minute Video+Audio Podcast

Determine objectives 2 h

Craft content, screen captures, PPT 6 h

Write script 2 h

Record (and re-record) 3 h

Edit and Save as .MOV or MP4 4 h

Write/update XML code for episode .5 – 3 h

Add to webpage/blog 1 h

Upload .5

TOTAL 21.5 h

Evaluation Tool

In-class timed literature search– Database choices

– Search terms

– Identify appropriate published clinical trials

– Mechanics of obtaining full-text

– Citation format

Evaluation Tool Test Results

Face-to-Face Session (n=26)

Online-Only Options (n=17)

Average Score

59.06 52.99

Score Range

35 – 88.5 27 – 85.5

Survey Results

Did instruction help you?

Definitely 68% 23%

Somewhat 27% 31%

I already knew enough 5% 31%

No, not enough 0 15%

Survey ResultsDelivery preference

based upon your learning style and schedule

Face-to-Face 55% 7%

Online-Only 4% 15%

Either 18% 39%

Both 23 39%

Survey ResultsHow many modules did

you access?

All 62%

3 - 5 15%

1 - 2 23%

None 0

Survey Results

Which formats did you try?

MediaSite (streaming) 70%

Vodcast (audio + video) 65%

MP3 (audio-only) 0

Survey Results

Did you subscribe to the podcast?

100% NO

Do you have access to a portable media player

(e.g. iPod, PSP, ZUNE)

31% YES (all iPod)

Survey Results

Age AVG = 34 AVG = 45

Gender 73% Female 92% Female

Survey ResultsInterest in Web 2.0 Tools? (blogs, Wikis, podcasts)

Interested – need guidance 63% 77%

No interest 23% 23%

Already using or expert 14% 0

• “I believe that the podcast is beneficial to many students and should be an option”

• “Library session was very helpful. I learn the most with in class instruction.”

• “I enjoyed many aspects of the in-class session, but being able to access online refreshers would be helpful to address specific issues during independent study time.

If brief, problem-specific tutorials were available for common research related issues, I would probably access them.”

Questions / Suggestions?

Thoughts on podcasting

• Assist students with making the transition from the recreational use of technology to academic use of technology

Net Gen Students: Learning, Technology and Libraries

Joan K. Lippincott, Coalition for Networked Information

JISC/CNI Conference, July 7, 2006

• Maybe academics need to get up to speed on the recreational use of technology

Rachael Clemens, snide comment

Rachael Clemens, Cal State Fullerton rclemens@fullerton.edu

http://faculty.fullerton.edu/rclemens/Nursing.htm