Audio Media

Back1. Brief Description: Audio media uses sound to convey information. It is most often recorded and disseminated in various formats for learners to use at a time convenient to them. Audio can be a powerful tool for learning, especially for language learners, those who find reading difficult and language learners.2. Standards and Goals: (when, how and where to use for instructional meaningful connections, how would this be used in the real world) Audio media may be used to supplement instruction or as an independent means of teaching. Audio is best used when learners are likely to be performing another activity while learning, when authentic audio of events being studied is available and when the subject is not highly visual.3. Application to types of learning: a. Cognitive objectives: (Prior knowledge, reading ability, vocabulary levels) The need for prior knowledge is limited to the ability of instructors to record audio lessons and learners to access them. A benefit of audio media is that there is no reading ability required for its use. In fact audio may be used as a substitute for, or supplement to written communication or printed material. It may even be used to help develop reading abilities by providing an audio narration of what is written. Audio may also be used to develop recognition of significant sounds. A learner may need to know how a device, machine or instrument should or shouldn’t sound, and how to troubleshoot based on these sounds. Care should be taken to ensure that the vocabulary level used in recordings is appropriate for the target audience and the lesson. b. Psychomotor objectives: (interpretive movement, physical and perceptual abilities) There are no movement or physical requirements for learners using audio media and instructors require only the ability to speak clearly, unless the use of music or some other more involved sound is being used. The ability to listen to audio while performing other tasks makes it a great tool for providing direction while a learner performs a task. Audio can also be used to establish a rhythm for repetitive actions, such as CPR, which must be performed with a certain frequency. Learners must possess the perceptual ability to hear and interpret sound.
c. Affective objectives:(senses, what attentive needs and abilities, value/emotion requirement, motivation to learn)
Audio media requires learners to listen critically. They must be able to focus on understanding what they are hearing and must be able to maintain their focus throughout the length of the lesson. Audio can also be used to improve focus, limit distractions, and promote calm, such as using music or white noise during tasks which require concentration. Audio may be used to induce a desired emotion through tone of voice, volume, rhythm, sound effects or background music. 4. Strengths:

Very Accessible, easy to create and use. Can be very stimulating and engaging.Essential for the vision impaired and very helpful to those who struggle with reading.Easy to store and reproduce in multiple formats.Great for learning of a second language.Ability to be used while engaged in another activity requiring visual attention, such as driving or cooking.

5. Limitations:

Use of other’s material may lead to copyright violations.Can be easy to lose focus on the audio.Difficult to know what pace to use, as there is no opportunity for feedback during lesson.No opportunity to answer questions or rephrase to facilitate better understanding.

6. Special Features/Creative ideas: Audio can be used as a supplement to reading to not only assist those with reading difficulties, but to bring the text to life. Sound effects, voice actors and accents can make a text more lively and entertaining. Audio can also be used to model conversational rhythm and pronunciation for language learners, adding a layer of instruction that is difficult to replicate with text alone.7. UDL/ Accessibility requirements:Provide options for perception:

Provide the same information through different modalities by providing a text transcript of audio presentations. This can be used for those with learning or hearing differences, or those that can’t easily take notes and listen at the same time.Translate into different languages if needed for English Language Learners

Provide options for self-regulation:

Provide sufficient alternatives to support learners after the lesson to listen on their own with volume considerations (Ex. increased volume for those with hearing impairment), rate of speech options, and comprehension needs

8. Technology Resources/websites: