Using Podcasting to Enhance Learning Experience: A Case Study on Subscription Behavior

Beginning on the fall of 2005, the Information Technology at Purdue (ITaP) unit of Purdue University has started BoilerCast, a free podcasting service that uses current digital audio delivery technology to deliver classroom audio recordings to the students at their request. Students who subscribe to the service will be able to review lecture material for homework assignments and exam reviews. In this paper, we will first review the background and the technology requirement for podcasting, and then study the feasibility of podcasting from a students' perspective. Students were surveyed concerning their podcasting subscription behavior, and a modified Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) model was used as the framework for analyzing such behavior. This model incorporates the original TPB with the Technology Acceptance Model and perceived service quality as a tool to identify important features that students consider important for podcasting to be successful. The results of this study will provide guidelines for future podcasting implementation, and better utilization of the technology in education.