Podcasting is a technology that allows an instructor or presenter to deliver audio content to a remote audience. While the audio content can be almost anything including music and speech, it is usually intended for instructional purposes and almost always consists of speech.  When instructors podcast, they record themselves, creating and saving digital audio files.  The audio files are typically saved as MP3 files.

An enhanced podcast is an audio file that is illustrated with images and/or video. Enhanced podcasts are typically saved as MP4 or .mov files.  Just like podcasts, enhanced podcasts should be downloaded to a computer for playing and then may be loaded to a portable device.  If downloaded to a portable device such as an iPod or Zune, that device must support visual imagery for the listener to get the full effect of the images or video.

After creating the podcast, instructors post their product in a central location and direct their students to that location. The student can play the podcast on his/her computer or load the podcast to a portable media device such as an iPod or MP3 player. Podcasting enables students to take their course content with them whereever they go. It is a mobile technology as long as the student has an mp3 player and a way to download the podcast to their IPod or Mp3 player. It is NOT necessary to have an IPOD in order to make or receive podcasts.