The Librivox project, mentioned below started me thinking on different ways to use podcasts in an educational setting, beyond the expected use as an “audio lecture.” I have presented several papers at conferences that I haven’t ever posted online, as I’m concerned (based on some experience with the phenomenon) that students who are looking for an easy A in their classes may Google the topic I’ve written on, find the paper, and attempt to role it into their own writing. I also don’t want to limit the possibilities for future publication of these papers by releasing them for free on the Internet in textual form (while this may be a current booster for the sales of fiction books like Cory Doctorow’s various projects online, knowing the way that journals associated with literary studies function, I don’t think such an act would make my articles very viable for publication). However, until they are published they are simply gaining dust, both in my file cabinet, on my computer, and in the minds of the people who listened to me deliver them in person.
So, why not narrate these papers as podcasts? I think such a thing will simply replicate the original situation in which the papers were given and severely curb the two worries that I mentioned above.
So, in any case, if I ever find the time to do it, expect a few of my old conference papers to emerge as installments to the Sample the Web podcast.
Related posts:
{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
Do it! Share the wealth.