This is another good discussion around the iPod (and iPhone and other future devices by inference) as an important educational instrument. The comparison between traditional and asynchronous podcast style classes seemed somewhat dated, now that synchronous online class options are so much more prevalent.
The points about auditory learning styles and combination learning styles are quite relevant however. Sometimes the full immersion new alternatives do actually seem to interfere with the potential of the mentioned “theater of the mind” capacity. A focus on the audio only has a magical appeal that incorporates imagination in a way that video or dimensional immersion does not allow. Last semester we explored Second Life pedagogy and while it has its place, it demonstrated that pure text, pure audio and other combinations have their specific place as well. The incremental benefit of listening to podcasts in addition to written text seems quite positive.
The most significant portion of this chapter in my opinion was the differentiation between memorization and education on how to utilize technology to access information. Pg 82 – “To free learning from memory is also to free it from a focus on self reliance – the value of knowing it yourself.” Collaborative efforts and information filtering appear to be much more important in the future than memorization. We may be on the brink of systematically redefining the ultimate goals of learning.
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