Videopodcasts (and Webcasts) for Teaching and Learning:  20 Sources in 20 Minutes (A summary from my presentation at the 2008 Lilly Conference, Traverse City.)
By Robin Sabo, Director of Collection Development, Central Michigan University

Searching for new ways to engage multimedia-literate Millennial learners?  Consider incorporating image-rich videopodcasts and webcasts into your teaching.  Video webcasts are transmissions of live or delayed video programming (Reitz, 2004).  Videopodcasts or vodcasts are video files hosted on the Web and available for subscription to potential viewers (Braun, 2007).  Vodcasts and webcasts can be used in both classroom and distance learning; and may be viewed on portable media players. High quality vodcasts/webcasts can be located from media (television, news), government and educational Web sites.

To preview vodcasts/webcasts on a variety of subjects, click on the links-

BBC Video Nation-
Webcasts - Features videos on topics including health, disability, parenting and British locations.
Audio podcasts - Genres include news, religion, and children's programming.

Library of Congress
 Webcasts – Subject areas include biography, poetry/literature, education and religion. Popular webcasts from this site include Langston Hughes and his Poetry and Whitman's Elegy for Lincoln.
Audio podcasts – Including content from previous National Book Festivals.

New York Times
Webcasts – Video reports of U.S. and world news, business, arts, science and technology.
Audio podcasts including the N.Y. Times Book Review, Music Popcast, Ethicist, Science Times and Today's Business.

Public Broadcasting Stations (PBS)
Webcasts – Full-length PBS broadcasts and brief video clips not found in the original programming.
Video and audio podcasts   from programs such as Bill Moyers Journal,  American Experience and Nature.

Wall Street Journal
Webcasts – Includes financial, international, and technology news.
Podcasts -mostly audio

More Podcasts and Webcasts!
CBS News Podcasts  - Entertaining, several minute videos on topics such as hybrid cars and offshore drilling.

Centers for Disease Control – Brief audio podcasts on a wide-range of public health topics.  Includes some video presentations by CDC experts.

History Channel – Podcasts (video and audio) and webcasts on topics including American history, military conflicts and science/technology.

Hulu TV Movies – Full-length webcasts of recent and classic television shows and movies.

Math Tutor -Video podcast animations illustrating math concepts.

Medline Plus – From the National Library of Medicine includes surgery videos.

MIT – Massachusetts Institute of Technology – Webcasts include course videos and public lectures.

NASA - Video and audio podcasts including coverage of the solar system and space shuttles.

National Gallery of Art - Includes art video and audio podcasts.

National Geographic Video (Webcasts) – Includes videos on the environment, science, space, travel and culture.

New Scientist – Recent webcasts include weight loss devices, robotics and climate change.

Smart history – From the Metropolitan Museum of Art includes video and audio content.

University of Virginia – Vodcasts and podcasts of academic lectures and visiting speakers.

Wild Classroom – Biology video podcasts developed by teachers and scientists.

References

Braun, L.W. (2007). Listen up! Podcasting for Schools and Libraries.  Medford, N.J.: Information Today.

Lee, J.W. & Chan, A. (2007). Pervasive, lifestyle-integrated mobile learning for distance learners: an analysis and unexpected results from a podcasting study.  Open Learning 22(3), 201-218.

Reitz, J.M. (2004). Dictionary for Library and Information Science.  Westport, Conn.:  Libraries Unlimited.

Williams, B.D. (2007). Educator’s Podcast Guide.   Eugene, OR; Washington, D.C.: International Society for Technology in Education.