Podcasts in business education: Examining their impact on student learning and performance

Podcasts have become popular for people to learn new things; this research investigates which role it can have in formal education. Based on cognitive theory of multimedia learning and constructivism learning theory, this study examines how podcasts can be effectively integrated into business education. Specifically, it investigates a self-produced podcast series of five interviews between industry professionals and lecturers, including related assignments. A quantitative study investigates the effects of podcast assignments on exam results of 328 undergraduate marketing students. The results reveal positive effects of the podcast assignment grade on essay questions, but not on multiple choice questions of exams. The effects persist during the retake exam, suggesting a long-term benefit.