StoryQuest Blog

Is iPod Training/Learning Effective?

Since the introduction of the iPod, the world has consumed music and video differently than any other generation. In fact, the term “The iPod Generation” has recently become a part of western world vernacular.

Being that music, video and information are extremely mobile now, the natural progression is to use this device for work as well as play. With the advent of podcasts, instructors and/or trainers were able to record learning modules in which students could listen and retain information at their convenience, changing the “in the classroom” learning model completely.

As noted on the HG2S training blog Psychologists at Suny Fredonia recently did a study on the iPod’s value in lecturing/training.  In this study 64 subjects were divided into two groups and given iPods.

One group was given a podcasted lecture accompanied by multimedia slides and written handouts to review. The second group attended the lecture and was given the same handouts.

“The podcast group averaged nine points (out of 100) higher on the test than those in the live audience. Moreover, those who took notes during the podcast scored even higher, averaging 15 points higher than their live-lecture counterparts.”

The study also notes:

“If they listened to the podcast just one time, they didn’t do any better than the people who came to the lecture. However, the people who treated it like a live lecture, and took notes or replayed certain sections… they did significantly better.”

This research shows that active participation with the podcast combined with taking advantage of the innate properties of the technology paid off. According to the study:

“If you treated it like a live lecture, you did better. But if you just listened to it passively, you didn’t get any benefit. One student watched the podcast at the gym, and his score reflected that. One person watched the podcast seven times, and her score reflected that.”

Dani McKinney, the leader of the study, is quick to point out that this study is not at all conclusive and plans to extend it across more topics and test subjects. She also points out that regardless of the learning medium, the more that a person participates in the learning process, the more information that they will retain.

More information on this study can be found here.

More information on StoryQuest’s iPod sales learning programs can be found here.