iSean

this semester, i have been using podcasting even more than previous semesters. i have also been using podcasts and video enhanced podcasts this semester (using ProfCast for the video enhanced versions). i place the video enhanced versions on my .Mac site with iWeb. however, when I use a plain audio podcast, i have been making an mp3 version and a smaller iTunes version and giving my students an option to download either one. i survey my students weekly and the results (see below — click image to view larger version) indicate that most choose to listen to the mp3 even though most have downloaded iTunes to view my video enhanced podcasts. i find this strange.

okay, i just met with a student in one of my online sections as i was writing this. i showed him the results above and asked him which version he listened to. he said he listened to the mp3 version. i asked if he had iTunes on his computer. he did. he said that he listened to the mp3 version because he knew what to expect from it. the iTunes version had an extension of m4a and that was new to him. he wasn’t sure if it would just open automatically in iTunes or whether he’d have to figure out how to get it to play in iTunes. i am glad i asked. frankly, i don’t know how this works on a PC. perhaps someone can fill me in if you’ve downloaded an m4a (iTunes) audio file or podcast previously. that way i can better explain it in the future.

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