In his article “There’s Something in the Air: Podcasting in Education,” featured in the Educause November/December 2005 Review, Gardner Campbell provides a brief history of podcasting; explains how to produce, distribute and subscribe to podcasts; and presents educators with a call to action concerning the implementation of podcasting in higher ed. Two years after its debut, Campbell’s article serves as a valuable reminder of the incredible educational and social potential of podcasting in the academy.

Campbell suggests that “rich media” tools like podcasting are the tools of students’ native expressiveness, and with the right guidance and assignments, they can use these tools to create powerful analytic and synthetic work. He asserts that we do students a disservice if we exclude these creative digital tools from their education.

By situating podcasting within the time-honored heritage of radio, Campbell suggests that the tool might be used to create a theater of the mind. “A gifted teacher could be said to create just such a theater of the mind, as well as the conditions whereby students may be enticed to create such a theater for themselves. At it best, podcasting can serve as training in rich interiority and in shared reflection.” He also suggests that, like radio, podcasting has the potential to spread its effects to people both near and far and to unite them into a community of shared learning. He writes, “Done well, podcasting can reveal to students, faculty, staff, communities—even the world—the essential humanity at the heart of higher education.”

If you are in need of a message that will incite or renew your enthusiasm for podcasting in higher education, Campbell’s article certainly won’t let you down.