Using Podcasting to Enhance Learning

Using Podcasting to Enhance Learning Experience:

A Case Study on Subscription Behavior



Abstract - Beginning on the fall of 2005, the Information

Technology at Purdue (ITaP) unit of Purdue University

has started BoilerCast, a free podcasting service that uses

current digital audio delivery technology to deliver

classroom audio recordings to the students at their

request. Students who subscribe to the service will be able

to review lecture material for homework assignments and

exam reviews. In this paper, we will first review the

background and the technology requirement for

podcasting, and then study the feasibility of podcasting

from a students’ perspective. Students were surveyed

concerning their podcasting subscription behavior, and a

modified Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) model was

used as the framework for analyzing such behavior. This

model incorporates the original TPB with the Technology

Acceptance Model and perceived service quality as a tool

to identify important features that students consider

important for podcasting to be successful. The results of

this study will provide guidelines for future podcasting

implementation, and better utilization of the technology in

education.

Index Terms – podcasting, distance learning, theory of planned

behavior.