Podcasts for Those That Play Hooky
A growing number of professors are turning class lectures into podcasts - free audio recordings that students can download to their iPods or other portable players - students can skip the lecture hall but still hear the lecture. Professors have posted lecture notes, PowerPoint slides and other written class material online for years, but instructors only recently began testing the best uses of the popular audio technology.
Supporters say podcasts help students who miss a class or want to review the material, while professors get points for being flexible and using the latest, hippest gadget. More traditional academics fear that by listening to lectures on the run, students will miss out on learning that can happen only when students and instructors come together.