Why Mixed Media in Higher Education?

Issue #1: Repeatability

One of the problems we find with higher education is that it moves very quickly. All learners—but especially auditory learners—may struggle due to the pace of lectures, and the level of ambient classroom noise, combined with the fact that they only get to hear the material once.

Audio Lessons eliminate this problem due to their ability to be replayed. 

Issue #2: Excessive Costs

According to a 2014 report by the College Board, the average cost of books for a student attending a four-year university is between $120 and $150 per class. (https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/pay-for-college/college-costs/quick-guide-college-costs)

Audio Lessons allow for less written material to be assigned. We have found that it allows professors to assign a
$25 or less (new, used, or rented) book. Under our model, an entire GE class can be run for $50.

Issue #3: Portability

Traditional textbooks are notoriously heavy and bulky. More importantly, textbooks can only be read in certain environments at specific times.

Audio Lessons provide students with the opportunity to learn/reinforce the material wherever they want,
and whenever they want (while driving to school, working out in the gym, walking on campus, etc.)

Issue #4: Retention

Research has provided evidence that students learn more efficiently utilizing different modalities. Sadly, the evidence also shows that by the time of graduation, students have forgotten most of the material presented in class. We should never forget the maxim — education is what is leftover after you have forgotten everything you have learned.

Audio Lessons improve retention due to their repeatability as well as their engaging conversational style.

Issue #5: Environmental Impact

Textbooks typically have anywhere from as little as 300 pages all the way up to 1,000 pages. If you multiply that times the number of students enrolled at a given university, you have an enormous impact on the environment.

Downloadable Audio Lessons are sustainable and eco-friendly.

Given the above information, the question becomes: What does all of this say about the current state of higher education? Today’s students are operating from a new paradigm; it is about time that we deliver a quality education that speaks to them — and what speaks better than Audio Lessons?