A tutor in your back pocket: reflections on the use of iPods and podcasting in an undergraduate popular music programme

This article reports upon a research project undertaken at the University ofWolverhampton where iPods and podcasting were used as a delivery and assessment mechanism within an undergraduate Popular Music degree programme. A sample drawn from students studying the programme was interviewed to explore their engagement with the technology and the curriculum materials produced. Results found that although not a replacement for traditional lectures, iPods and podcasting are an effective means for supporting student learning. Benefits included motivating learners, enabling student interaction, offering timeshifted learning engagement and personalisation of learning. This article evaluates the pedagogical adoption of iPods and podcasting within a music education context and makes suggestions for future areas of research.