Pod Tours: a pilot study that explores audio assisted excursions as a module for an online design unit

This paper provides observations made after two years of facilitating Pod Tours (audio excursions) as an experiential module that contextualises theoretical components of an online design cultural awareness subject taught to students at the School of Design, Swinburne University of Technology. The idea to introduce audio tours into the delivery mix was based on two factors, firstly, a commitment to advance online delivery modes and secondly as an alternative 'tour leader' when tutors could not attend one of the scheduled excursions. This paper will begin with a brief overview of the unit and the excursion module; next the compare and contrast of the values and pitfalls of a tutor-led excursion and an unsupervised PodTour, followed by a case study of the latest 2014 PodTour inclusive of student feedback. Finally, consideration is given to the scope of the PodTour and how it could be incorporated as a learning tool across a diverse range of disciplines.