Evaluation tool for podcasts for use in German classes

Abstract

The use of digital resources may improve the learning success. They may increase the students' qualifications if applied to language learning for professional purposes. Listening comprehension is exercised with podcasts as a complement for regular course material. A tool for the evaluation and comparison of podcasts is proposed. It is a specific application of a tool designed for the evaluation of complete course materials preparing for the language exams for the common reference levels A1 to B2 of the Goethe-Institut. By the means of a scoring model didactic content, pedagogical aspects, software functionalities and technical aspects are being evaluated. The result is presented in a point-based scale from 0 - 100. The gradation correlates with the school grades system. The tool allows teachers to choose adequate podcasts for use in class for specific purposes but can be applied as well to evaluate the overall quality of podcasts. Four authentic podcasts are evaluated exemplarily. Only one of the evaluated materials achieves an overall grade B. Software functions, i.e. the specific potential added values of digital resources are not implemented at all or only to a small extent.