From listeners to learners: An audio experiment

While computer technology opens up new possibilities as a delivery mechanism it is also a medium in itself and presents production challenges in terms of how its powers can be creatively harnessed. In this context education content is just another variant of media production, with the student in the role of audience/user. Application of media production techniques in audio, video and print provides the opportunity to increase the appeal of educational materials by applying to them what media producers have learnt about the strengths of radio, television and online media as communication vehicles. This paper describes a research project which used an audio documentary as a learning tool in an online unit to see to what extent production techniques of audience capture enhanced the learning experience.