A Multimedia Tool for Teacher Education and Professional Development

Abstract

This article describes a tool that can be used in teacher education called Content Acquisition Podcasts (CAPs). CAPs are short multimedia vignettes designed to teach targeted, specific concepts. They are developed in accordance with design principles that are intended to reduce learners' cognitive load (Mayer, 2009). CAPs are simple to create and can be made with readily-available software; this accessibility and their flexible design makes them extremely versatile. They can easily be incorporated into flipped or blended classes. In this article, the authors explain how CAPs are created, describe three ways to integrate CAPs into teacher education and professional development, and explore how CAPs can begin to address the challenges of preparing teachers for a complex working environment.