Share Paper: Learning by Ear: Cases of Informal Adult Learning with Podcasting

1. Christopher Shamburg, New Jersey City UniversityEducational Technology Department, Ed.D. in Ed Tech Leadership, United States
2. Veronica O'Neill, New Jersey City University, United States
3. Remberto Jimenez, New Jersey City University, United States
4. Juan Rodriguez, New Jersey City University, United States
5. Kristina Harb, New Jersey City University, United States

Abstract: Podcasting has grown in popularity over the last decade and a half, and it has had a profound and underexplored effect on the informal learning of adults. It is estimated that the majority of Americans have listened to a podcast, and the leading reason for listening to podcasts is to learn new things. Podcasting has not only grown in listenership, but in other significant ways as well—ways that foretell its continued evolution. This shares our research examining the learning lives of adults with podcasting outside of formal education. We present three cases and summarize some salient themes in our work.