Digital audio as a learning tool in education

The popularity of digital audio has increased significantly in recent years, especially among adolescents and young adults. A report by Markteffect, for example, shows that nearly half of Dutch people aged 18 and older listen to podcasts. This development offers new opportunities for education.

To tap into this trend, Anywyse and studiemeister have collaborated to develop digital audio content for students. In a series of audio modules called Wysers, Fontys College students can use audio to help them study for their marketing studies.

But what exactly is it? And what is its added value?

What are Wysers?

Wysers are a unique form of audio content designed to help students learn. Each Wyser is a bite-sized 10-15 minute informative audio fragment. Some Wysers provide an overview of the material and others provide more context to help students understand the material.

The Wysers are based on a didactic format that uses various techniques to improve memorization and understanding of the material. By using repetitions, examples and other learning techniques, Wysers help students better understand and remember the material.

As a result, it allows students to learn at their own pace and in a way that suits their individual learning style.

What is the added value?

There are several benefits of using audio as a learning tool. We outlined some of them:

• Flexibility:
  Wysers give students the freedom to learn when and where they want. Instead of being tied to sitting at a desk, they can learn at times when this would not otherwise be possible.
  
  On the one hand, this has the potential to make studying a healthier activity; it offers the opportunity to learn outdoors, while taking a walk, or while exercising, for example.
  
  On the other hand, it is time-efficient; the time students are busy with other activities they can now combine with listening to a Wyser. This allows them to learn during travel time on public transportation, while performing household chores, or while running errands, for example.

• Accessibility:

  Digital audio is additionally an approachable way of learning, due to its accessible and entertaining nature.
  
  The first part of its approachable nature comes from the accessible way students can learn. Students often carry the necessities - an Internet-connected device - with them throughout the day. All they then have to do is listen.
  
  The second reason for approachability is that in digital audio, the line between learning and entertainment is blurred. While learning and entertainment are certainly not mutually exclusive, students sometimes perceive them that way. Digital audio brings these concepts together; so many people listen to informative podcasts for a reason. It is easier to enthuse someone through audio than through written text.

Because of this approachable and entertaining nature, audio is an accessible way to learn. This makes the step to learning smaller for students, making it better and easier for them to prepare for classes, exams and assignments.

• Individual needs:
  To meet students' different learning needs, it is important to offer a diversity of tools to suit their preferences. Studiemeister already offers a wide range of resources, including texts, videos and practice questions. With the addition of Wysers, auditory learning experiences are offered to students who prefer them. This is especially useful for students with learning challenges such as dyslexia, or for students who have difficulty learning in other ways, for whom audio is a helpful tool to better understand the material.

How can students use Wysers?

In short, by adding Wysers, we offer an additional accessible learning method to students who have a preference for it, which gives them the freedom to learn whenever and wherever they want.

The Wysers are therefore accessible for Fontys students to listen to via studiemeister. In addition, they are accessible to everyone through the Anywyse platform.

By offering the Wysers, we want to contribute to a more inclusive learning environment by catering to diverse student needs, and encourage the development and implementation of innovative learning methods.