Hello everyone! I just saw on the news that Spotify started to support video podcasts. Spotify states that by using visuals, “fans can get to know their favorite podcast hosts even better, and creators can more deeply connect with their audiences”. In this week’s OER, we focused on audio podcasts (which I love) and its immense benefits for mobile education. It seems like creators and platforms like Spotify see value and business in creating both audio and video experiences for their podcasts. Maybe we’ll see more of a blended version of podcasts with visual support in the future. I’m curious about what everyone thinks about video podcasts. Do you categorize them as podcasts? Would you use video podcasts as an education tool? Or is this just turning podcasting host platforms into another Youtube?
Video Podcasts – Now Supported on Spotify
9 responses to “Video Podcasts – Now Supported on Spotify”
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
I heard about podcasts from friends and coworkers, but I had a very little knowledge about them. Thanks to this post, I finally learned what podcasts are and how they work. How can we use podcasts in education?
Personally, I can see myself listening to podcasts on the topics of my current interests, such as educational technologies, parenting tips, or home organization strategies, since I spend at least an hour in my car every day. Podcasts definitely have a lot of benefits and potentials in our current state of online, remote or hybrid learning. As many reviewers have mentioned audio-only podcasts can be suitable for certain contents, such as learning new languages or subtle communication topics encouraging deeper thoughts. Another benefit of using podcasts in education is that students can work at their own pace, staring, stopping, or replaying if necessary. Also, it can be used in “flipped classrooms” and leaves more time for more complex learning activities in the instructional time.
I also see that audio-only podcasts can allow students with dyslexia the opportunity to learn material without being hindered by the challenges of reading words on pages.
However, I can also see students learning more complex subjects (such as mathematics) that necessitate visual support using video podcasts. But, don’t we have that kind of videos already available on YouTube?
Personally, I would like to keep podcasts audio-only because I can “listen” to them while driving, jogging, cooking, cleaning, or doing any other things!
When we compare video and audio-only resources in education we need to consider we may be comparing apples to oranges. They have different strengths and weaknesses, making them suitable for achieving different goals. This is why I would argue podcasts will always exist in some form without visual components.
It’s documented that brains show the same activity whether reading or listening (Deniz et al, 2019), but not while watching television. Television consumption during childhood and infancy is linked to many negative outcomes and has a mix of effects on the brain (Takeuchi, 2013).
As other commenters have mentioned, there’s no denying the engagement of video and the explanatory value of a well-designed visual aid. However, there are moments when visuals are specifically undesirable, and that is where the podcast will live on. Think of language learning. If video pulls our attention away from listening are we still catching the subtle intonation and pronunciation elements we hear when we listen only? I’m reminded of language revitalization efforts worldwide, and in Australia in particular. I’m planning to explore this further in my A1, but a lot of these efforts rely on podcasts instead of videos. Why is that? If you have time and interest, try watching this 5-minute video of two Acadians speaking Chiac and listening to this 5-min podcast of a Kwini man speaking about his language and culture, and see if you notice yourself picking up on different things.
Additionally, the imaginative space audio-only (and reading-only) resources create is invaluable. For example, I have to do more work while listening or reading to turn the description of a ship in Moby Dick into a mental picture than if I had simply seen a visual. I have to notice the parts of the ship as each are mentioned in the audio or text, but in the case of video I can get by with a surface-level acceptance of the ship I see complete before me. In the case of video, the world I create in my head would only be as rich as the one the video showed.
As such, in the case of podcasts, more often than not, seeing the speaker is likely just a distraction.
References
Fatma Deniz, X., Nunez-Elizalde, A. O., Huth, A. G., & Gallant, X. L. (2019). The representation of Semantic Information Across Human Cerebral Cortex During Listening Versus Reading Is Invariant to Stimulus Modality. https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0675-19.2019
Takeuchi, H., Taki, Y., Hashizume, H., Asano, K., Asano, M., Sassa, Y., Yokota, S., Kotozaki, Y., Nouchi, R., & Kawashima, R. (2015). The impact of television viewing on brain structures: Cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses. Cerebral Cortex, 25(5), 1188–1197. https://doi.org/10.1093/cercor/bht315
Hi Linda,
Thank you for sharing your finding. In my opinion, I would like the podcasts stay as what they are right now. Like the popular reason for most people who enjoy reading books instead of watching video of the same content is that they could keep the freedom of using their own imaginations instead of being manipulated by the images made by others. And the some people might not be so confident about how they look in front of a camera but with really good voice, keep the podcast as audio only might still be a safe and comfortable way for their to express themselves.
Hey Linda,
So this was one of the first debates we had within our group: do we include videocasts in the definition of podcasts! It’s a super tough one, because the term and medium of podcasts has (historically) been purely audio based. I personally enjoy the audio only versions because I listen to podcasts whilst doing other things, and like not having to focus on looking at it too. I also find it a bit strange to just watch people having a conversation, but that is just me.
Other people might well enjoy the nuance of body language and expressions that you get when watching a videocast… Who knows! I’ll be curious to see what other people say in response to this post. Thanks for sharing!
Hey All,
Jamie I was thinking the same thing about our initial debate within the group. So funny that this is coming out during our OER!
While I agree that the audio only element of podcasting is what makes it unique, there is something about being able to add visual to support learning that will make these visual podcasts extremely important. For example, on a current events podcast, it would be possible to see images that make the stories we are listening easier to fully understand. In a history podcast, maps and primary documents might be able to support our understanding of content, and of course, with sports podcasts the added element of video clips makes for a more engaging listen/watch/whatever we call consuming video podcasts.
I think this article truely shows how the podcasting industry is evolving. Spotify continues to make strides and understands that in order for the medium to grow, it must continue to innovate. I think the fact that these podcasts can be watched or listened to is what will attract viewers to the service. The choice to listen on the road or watch while on the couch will only bring more ears/eyeballs to spotify.
Hi Jamie and Benjamin, thank you for sharing your views on video podcasts! It’s great to hear that video podcasts came up during your initial discussions! I also think that the traditional audio only podcasts provide the most flexibility in multitasking, especially when doing autonomous tasks like driving or cleaning. However, visual aids do have advantages over audio as Benjamin mentioned. Although good podcasts are great at painting a mental image with their audio descriptions, I think visuals are really helpful to emphasize certain points or breaking down complex systems. For example, I find it much easier to learn about how a generator works from a visual than an audio description. To expand on the option of choosing between audio and video is great for the learner! I really love the comment about how the podcasting industry is evolving and growing. Perhaps in the future, we’ll have even more mediums for podcasting like an AR/VR podcast!
I think throughout this week’s OER, my views on podcasts have changed a bit. My original thoughts about podcasts are that I wouldn’t choose them for educational content. I prefer to watch a video rather than sit and listen to a podcast. That is because throughout the discussion this week, many people discussed podcasts are great for listening while doing other things. Another MET course this week had four podcasts to complete as assigned activities. I was able to consume the information while I was cleaning my house. I was an active listener while mopping my floors. I don’t feel as though I would have enjoyed either experience as much without the other.
Moving towards video casts seems like we are moving away from the unique aspects of podcasts. Will you now sit down and watch people having a conversation? Will you need to use data on your phones to watch a video instead of downloading the podcast and listening on your commute to work? I am happy that the podcast group decided to stay with podcasts and didn’t include videocasts, I don’t know if I would have been able to recognize the benefits of strictly audio otherwise.
I agree with Kristin’s sentiment on this one, the fact that a podcast only requires you to listen is it’s primary appeal for me. Listening to podcasts is not something I would typically just sit down and do, but instead integrate into another activity (such as walking, cleaning, etc.).
A risk of the “video podcast” format is that presenters could begin to rely on the visuals, putting those listening to the audio only version at a disadvantage and decreasing the appeal for their existing audience. YouTube already has a very extensive catalog of “video podcasts” if you choose, and while the use of visuals is certainly powerful, I would argue it is a different medium with a different use case.
While I suspect Spotify is working to increase their market share by adding this feature, I would question their choice to include video on what has been a strictly audio-based platform up to this point as it risks confusing the focus of their service.
Interesting point about the risk of relying on visuals! I definitely find myself focused more on the images when presented with both visual and audio information at the same time. It definitely changes the experience of podcasts if the audio-focus is discarded.