Methods of Investigating the Use of Podcasting in Higher Education: A Review of Recent Studies

Abstract

The high mobile penetration levels and the emergence of Web 2.0 technologies that include Wikis, Blogs, Podcasts, Screen cast, and Google Tools etc provide academic institutions with an opportunity to address some of the challenges they are facing in the provision of quality education given the ever increasing enrolment numbers. It is also important to note that the use of m-learning tools, if correctly conceptualized and built, constitutes an efficient complementary tool to the traditional teaching methods. The study reviewed journal articles with a view to examining the methods used in the investigating the adoption of podcasting in Higher Education. It was found that most studies were in the form of Action Research which either took an interpretive or positivist approach with the choice being guided by the objectives of the study. The review also points out to the need for orientation on use of podcasting at initial stages of its implementation.