Joining the podcast revolution.

In recent years, there has been a growing interest in the latest generation of web-based tools such as podcasts. Podcasts are media files that can be distributed via the Internet and played on computers and handheld devices, including iPods or other digital audio players. The essence of podcasting is the creation of audio and/or video content for an audience that wants to listen to what they want, when they want, where they want, and how they want. With students now more mobile than ever, the idea of being able to access information without being linked to a certain physical location is very attractive. In the specific context of dental education, lectures and clinical procedures can be recorded by academic staff and distributed over the Internet to students as an audio or video podcast. The objective of this article is to review the most important concepts in podcasting, using simple and nontechnical terminology. In addition, this review aims to stimulate and encourage dental educators to employ this technology as a tool to enhance the learning experience of undergraduate and postgraduate dental students.