Is the classroom an endangered species?

Have you ever found yourself nodding off in a cavernous lecture hall? Would you rather just sleep in past that 8:30 am class start, yet worry about your GPA slipping when the syllabus says that quizzes will be based on class notes?

Surely, there must be a way to avoid these boring lectures and surprise quizzes!

According to a study done last year, there is a way. An article in New Scientist magazine claims this study found that students who went to class and took notes did slightly worse than students who skipped and took notes from the podcast of the class. The scientist who led the study hypothesized that one major reason for this was that a podcast allows the student to keep up more effectively with what the professor is saying, and also stop or playback difficult portions.

Hold it there, champ. Before you turn your alarm off and sleep in until noon, remember that the podcasting thing is still a relatively foreign concept to most professors (this holds also true for UVic, where few profs podcast their lectures, though you can find some podcasts from in and around campus here.

And really, the point of podcasting is the same as the point of mobile devices, ubiquitous computing, tweeting, and effective blogging: it works best when used in conjunction with the work you are already doing. The best strategy for using podcasts to boost your grades would be to go to class, pay attention to the lecture, ask questions, and then download the podcast after class and take notes from the second reading. That way, you’ve heard it twice, absorbed a lot of information from the first time, and will likely start to consider the broader subjects of the topic while taking notes from the second listen (you’ll also get to hear the answer to your question again, too).

Unfortunately, this isn’t quite possible yet at many universities. Though about 800 universities offer podcasts via iTunes U, many professors at other schools are reluctant to embrace the idea of podcast lectures, probably because they suspect that it could replace the classroom. But the truth is, scholastic success is tied to attendance. One of the best ways to learn is to ask questions, something that can only be done in person.

Sound good? Then get involved! Suggest podcasting to your professors, and explain how this will mean less repeating of the material to students who don’t show up or don’t pay attention (“you’ll find an answer to your question on last Wednesday’s podcast.” See? So easy!). Or write it in your course evaluations (profs claim that they read these). If enough profs hear about podcasting their lectures enough times from enough students, they might start to entertain the idea.