10 May 2022

It is possible to record a podcast in the Mediacenter at Wijnhaven. In room 4.64, the equipment is set to record your own podcast. In addition, the Future Learning Office (FLO) offers the possibility of using this space for video recordings, such as knowledge clips for lectures or other explanations that are relevant for students. There is a desktop and professional microphone available in the room to facilitate this.

The Mediacenter is primarily intended for teachers. Students may use the location if they are granted permission to use it for academic purposes by a lecturer. Lecturers may choose to assign groups of students to use the room for an assessment.

This note describes what a podcast is, what the Mediacenter can offer, and explains how to make reservations at the end of this note.

Podcast

A podcast is an audio recording of a conversation between two or more people, where the topics can be very diverse. The podcast can then be listened to at any time.

To introduce the Mediacenter, two of our FLO employees - Christa Anker and Saskia Postema - recorded a podcast. In this podcast you can hear how the Mediacenter came to be and what options it can offer you. Click here to listen to the podcast.

A podcast can be used within education, as a teacher or professor to convey certain knowledge to students or other interested parties (inside or outside the university).

To create a podcast, the following parts are important:
• Think carefully beforehand about the purpose of your podcast.
• Introduce yourself as the presenter and the guests.
• Discuss the common thread with your guests in advance and indicate roughly which questions you want to ask so that the guest can also prepare well.
• Keep your podcast short and sweet, the ideal listening length is between 15 and 20 minutes. With more substantive podcasts, for example for education, the ideal listening length is even shorter. In any case, try to keep the podcasts as short as possible and to record or publish it per topic as a separate podcast.
• Do not talk at the same time/let each other finish (use non-verbal communication; nod, raise hands).

Recording a podcast in The Hague

Recording a podcast on Wijnhaven in short:
• The Mediacenter, room 4.64, is available on all work days.
• To get access to the Mediacenter, you have to make a reservation and collect an access card at the Servicedesk on the 2nd floor.
• Lecturers arrange room reservations for students (in connection with an assignment in study). For example, by reserving the Mediacenter in blocks and letting students in.
• The podcast can be recorded by means of a Micro SD card (you must bring your own) that can be plugged into the podcast device or by means of the available cable to your own laptop.
• For the recording of a podcast, the Future Learning Office (FLO) can provide technical support for the first time. This includes explaining how the recording is made and what options the current technical setup has.

A manual is available in the room if more information is required about the equipment and how to work with it. The manual can also be found online on the right side of this webpage under the tab ‘Podcast handbook'.

The usage of multimedia in academia

Recent ICT developments have influenced and pushed the boundaries of testing mechanisms within education and one such example is the incorporation of multimedia within the formative assessment. ISGA tutor Jake Wright has collaborated with the Future Learning Office to explore the role of multimedia within the Faculty of Governance and Global Affairs. He has interviewed various lecturers and students to learn more about their experiences and their best practices regarding podcasts as a form of alternative assessment or additional teaching material. Additionally, Jake has compiled a list of tips for recording a podcast with limited equipment. All these experiences and tips have been brought together in a short manual, which can be accessed by everyone who is interested in the usage of multimedia in academia. The manual can be found on the right side of this webpage.

Would you like more information or make a reservation at the Media Centre?

Check the availability for the Mediacenter or make a reservation using this website. If you want support with your first podcast recording or if you have a question, you can send an e-mail to Mediacenter@FGGA.Leidenuniv.nl.