Podcasts and informal learning : exploring knowledge acquisition and retention

Meden, Ema (author), Radovan, Marko (author), Štefanc, Damijan (author)

This study explores how podcasts’ accessibility fosters learning, examining listener engagement, content preferences, and the unique educational opportunities they offer. With the rise of digital audio platforms, podcasts have emerged as a significant medium for acquiring knowledge outside formal educational settings. Using an online survey, data were collected from 605 respondents, who were predominantly young and well educated, to understand their podcast listening habits and the extent of informal learning. The study categorizes informal learning into self-directed, incidental, and tacit learning. Results show that more than half of respondents engage in self-directed learning, while a third participate in incidental learning, indicating that podcasts serve as effective tools for intentional and unintentional knowledge acquisition. ANOVA analysis reveals that self-directed learners exhibit higher information retention and critical evaluation skills compared to tacit learners. Additionally, trust in podcast content is significantly higher among educated listeners. The study concludes that while podcasts are valuable for learning and professional development, there is a need for enhanced digital literacy to improve critical appraisal skills among listeners. These findings provide insights into the cognitive processes involved in podcast-based learning and suggest practical strategies for educators and content creators to enhance the educational impact of podcasts.

• Language: English
• Keywords: informal learning, podcasts, adult learning, digital education, media credibility
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: FF - Faculty of Arts
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Publication date: 17.10.2024
• Year: 2024
• Number of pages: Str. 1-16
• Numbering: issue 10, [article] 1129
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-164321
• UDC: 374.7
• ISSN on article: 2227-7102
• DOI: 10.3390/educsci14101129
• COBISS.SI-ID: 212358403
• Publication date in RUL: 22.10.2024

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Education sciences
• Shortened title: Educ. sci.
• Publisher: MDPI
• ISSN: 2227-7102
• COBISS.SI-ID: 520257817

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: neformalno učenje, podkasti, digitalno izobraževanje, izobraževanje odraslih, mediji, verodostojnost medijev

Projects

• Funder: ARIS - Slovenian Research and Innovation Agency
• Project number: P5-0174-2022
• Name: Pedagoško-andragoške raziskave - Učenje in izobraževanje za kakovostno življenje v skupnosti