There’s a new initiative in the UK using media in a surprising way.

Podcasting replacing paper
British schools are starting to see the opportunities that MP3’s provide, not just for music but as a learning tool. Musselburgh Grammar School in East Lothian, Scotland is the first in Europe to have regular podcasting. It has been using MP3’s to make learning more interesting and help lessons sink in. Pupils are learning by podcasting, a method of publishing files via the Internet, allowing users to subscribe to a feed to receive new files automatically. Pupils and teachers record and edit an audio recording and then save it as an MP3 file.

Learning on the move
On a report for Newsround, a youth news programme on the BBC, Amy, Claire and Ryan, students at the school, talk of the success of the scheme. ‘Our friends Melissa and Hassan like the idea because you can cram while you are on the move…

‘It’s a good idea because if someone is off school they can catch up. You can also listen to your lessons on the way home from school.’

High school students are familiar with this medium with many owning ipods or other MP3s. As well as helping them learn in a new way it also helps their use of the technology, by practising downloading.

Now there is no escape from school or excuse for not getting the notes on set homework… It is easy and you don’t need to be in your room studying - learn in the park or sitting on a bus. It could be coming to a classroom near you soon!   

Bernie
September 2005

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