Learning electrolysis with podcasting in the higher education: From implementation to results

Abstract

Our contribution comprises two major parts: the first one aims to explain how to implement the technique of podcasting within a faculty of sciences, following a well-adapted educational scenario. The second one, is dedicated to a study about integration of learning activities focused on the Electrolysis chemistry, in the form of video capsules. Indeed, 90 questionnaire were distributed to a group of students in the second year undergraduate degree, enrolled in Materials Science Chemistry, then, 30 semi-structured individual interviews were conducted with students and their teachers. The analysis of these interviews and results from the questionnaires, according to three targeted indicators, showed that the learners in the higher education are very interested in the technique of podcasting, and consider it as a suitable device for their informal learning sphere, and that the podcasts submitted by their teachers remain the most favorite for their motivation and self-learning. For their teachers, the device is a new necessary alternative to the improvement and renovation of their practices, and for the regularization of the use of smartphones in an academic sphere in order to enhance scientific student’s skills. This article is part of a perspective that propose an innovative tool, which could bring more efficiency to teaching practices vis-à-vis the democratization of training in the higher education. It is a logical continuation of the research works on the relevant role of educational technologies in the renovation of the future universities, and of the positive impact on the students learning in these universities.