Psychology instructor uses technology for classes

Todd Daniel, a psychology instructor at Ozarks Technical Community College, is putting some of the newest technological media advances to work for his students.

Daniel teaches Introduction to Psychology and has turned more than three dozen of his class lectures into a series of podcasts titled “Great Ideas in Psychology.” They are available for free through iTunes, the Apple-based media player.

His podcast work was recently noted in an article in the American Psychological Association’s national magazine, The APA Monitor.

“I lecture three times a week and I wondered about what’s to become of my lectures when I’m through. I created this podcast as a way of preserving my lectures and to allow students a place to hear the information again,” said Daniel, a Springfield native who has taught at OTC for 10 years.

Daniel said that while the lectures are targeted for introductory class students, all psychology students can learn from the podcasts on topics that range from sleep, dreaming and hypnosis to Sigmund Freud theories.

“The podcasts really helped me pass my test,” said Jason Duncan, a second-year student studying to become an elementary teacher who took Daniel’s introductory class.

 “The podcasts contain about 85 percent of his lectures. They are a good supplement to the class. It helps reinforce what you learn. They are entertaining, too.”

And students aren’t the only ones listening to Daniel’s work. The podcasts are being downloaded all over the U.S. and the world, including Australia and some European countries.

Daniel’s Web site is http://tinyurl.com/2f647bt or listeners can subscribe to the podcasts for free on iTunes by searching for “Great Ideas in Psychology.”

Daniel also has lectured at the Missouri Instructional Technology Conference and at OTC about podcasting in the classroom and using the technology to improve learning. He creates the podcasts in his home using audio mixing software and hardware. The lectures range anywhere from 20-40 minutes in length.

Duncan said the podcasts are a great learning tool for students.

“Because of the podcasts being available, people who take his class have no excuse for not passing,” he said.

Steve Koehler is coordinator of publications at Ozarks Technical Community College. Contact him at koehlers@otc.edu.