It is multi-purpose, with episodes featuring: (1) videos of narrated slide presentations, (2) screencasts of common tasks we ask our students to be familiar during a course, and (3) video recordings of me giving lectures so students can refer back to them when studying. I also frequently tell my students that they can load one of the longer episodes in case they are having trouble getting to sleep one evening!

I wonder if any other TA’s are using podcasting to enhance their courses?

While I commend the professors who change their classes and tests every year. I’m willing to give the benefit of the doubt to professors who don’t change their tests. With lecture classes of 200 students, I am sure it is difficult to find new ways to ask the same questions every year.

In regards to your question, learning is definitely what I am promoting. When I asked “If the goal is to have students learn the topic…” I imagined most people would answer, ‘Of course it is!’ and then proceed to look at Course Hero in that light, as a helpful tool.

Sites like Course Hero can make learning easier, but it can also makes cheating easier. I think it might end up being difficult to define which is which with this, and similar, tools.

I think the best thing about these sites is that it can start a discussion about how ethics translate to the digital world. Professors and students need to start grappling with this topic, and as technology use becomes more prevalent and sites like Course Hero continue to pop up, it becomes more important to do so.