Podcasts and Vodcasts for physiotherapists
Podcasts are audio files and Vodcasts are video files that are published on the internet and that users can subscribe to. They are both are digital files that can be downloaded and listened to using portable devices or at the user’s desktop. Free software makes it easy to subscribe to podcasts using RSS feeds for playback on portable media players and personal computers. It is the subscription feature that makes a podcast so powerful as a form of social media. People have long been able to upload audio content to the web, but the subscription feature means that people can build regular audiences and communities around their shows. It effectively puts private individuals or brands on a level playing field with traditional media organisations when it comes to competing for people’s attention with AV content online. Podcasts are part of a shift in media consumption patterns, which increasingly sees people watching or listening to content when and where it suits them.
For more information on podcasting have a read of the Leeds University podcasting site and take a look at the Common Craft video:
Examples of good uses of podcasting and videocasting
A few free, health science podcasts are:
In physiotherapy, there are a few free podcasting services:
- American Physical Therapy Association (APTA)
- Journal of Neurologic Physical Therapy
- Physical Therapy Journal
- Paedtiatric Physical Therapy Journal
- (The American Occupational Therapy Association)
A good example of vodcasting in physiotherapy is:
Continued Education and Professional Development
Podcasts allow autonomous learners to watch or listen to content when and where it suits them. They are particularly useful in remote communities where health workers have limited access to continuing education and professional development.
Examples of using podcasts and vodcasts for continuing education and professional development:
- subscribe to the RSS feed and download podcasts or vodcasts from your clinical area of interest, listen to them in your own time
- create regular podcasts or vodcasts simply using free on-line software to develop your knowledge in a particular topic and broadcast them to the community
Education
Podcasting or vodcasting is often used in education to archive face to face taught sessions or administratively to provide supplementary information to students.
Examples of using podcasting and vodcasting in Education administration:
- archive face to face taught sessions
- provide supplementary materials to taught courses such as audio or video tutorials
- provide regular feedback on assingnments
- provide podcasts about the application process and attending interviews
- vodcasts with staff members and their work
iTunes U is an area within iTunes where an educational institution can provide its own collection of audio and visual material (such as lectures, talks and interviews). Unlike the music and films, this material can be downloaded free of charge. Universities can use the service to reach out to a global audience with its vast wealth of audio and video material.
Students can also be tasked with completing assignments as an podcast or vodcast as an alternative way to engage them with the assessment process. It is an effective method for developing media production skils and more importantly for developing oral skills for physiotherapy practice.
Ideas for student assignments using podcasts and vodcasts:
- produce a podcast of patient advice for conditions such as back pain
- produce vodcasts of a manual techniques
- interview leaders from the physiotherapy profession
- dissemination of student research projects
- role play the presentation of a condition to a patient
- deliver a news report on a new piece of evidence
Research
Podacsting can be a novel way to engage the community with your research project and publisise your work.
Examples of using podcasting in research:
- providing information on the progress of a research project
- dissemination of results
- interviews with researchers
- providing journal abstracts by podcast
Business
Podcasting and vodcasting can be an effective method of marketing your business. You can set up your own ‘channels’ on, for example, iTunes for uploading regular podcasts or YouTube for your vodcasts.
Examples of the use of podcasting and vodcasting for Business:
- interviews with staff members
- providing patient information and advice on conditions
- delivering regular news about your clinic
To get started with podcasting, if you already have an iPod and use iTunes you can click on the Podcast icon in the left-hand toolbar to access podcasts and subscribe to them. To subscribe to vodcasts look on YouTube for a vodcaster that regularly produces video in your area of clinical interest and subscribe to their RSS feed. If you fancy trying your hand at creating your own podcast, download the free audio editing tool Audacity or have a look at the ‘how to’ guide at wikiHow.
The important thing to remember about podcasting and vodcasting is that it is only a podcast or a vodcast if new digital files are regularly published via an RSS feed. Otherwise it is just an audio or video file that has been published on-line!
If you know of any other podcasting or vodcasting channels that might be of interest to physiotherapists then please let us know by commenting below.
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