A North Carolina State University Communication Professor, Robert Schrag, was told to suspend his lecture podcasts while the university decides whether it is appropriate. Schrag offered the course lectures as paid downloads for $2.50 a pop.

He received part of the money, while the rest went to the download site. Schrag made only $11 before the lectures were pulled. He said the money simply goes toward defraying hist recording and editing costs.

The university now in the process of developing a comprehensive policy for the use of this sort of intellectual property.

Podcasting raises a host of questions for those within the Ivory Tower. Should lectures be available to the public, who will pay only a fraction of the tuition price for the same in-class material? Are professors allowed to profit or charge for work done in the service of their schools? Will students come to class, or will “class” become 45 minutes on a Stairmaster with an iPod clipped to the waist? These questions have taken on prominence as professors wonder if the new technology is helping or hindering their mission to educate.

The problem is, attending a class from an excellent professor in person is entirely different in experiences compared to audio recording/podcast, because there are no personal interaction, less accountability, no facial expression or body language, etc.

If that is the issue, then a video podcast could possibly solve it, although to have both the lecturer and the screen be clearly seen on an iPod Video or multimedia device screen at least massive recording and editing are required.

Regarding where podagogy will go, it is going to be fascinating to watch.

[Ars Technica]
See also: Podcast Business Case.

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