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This news item is not quite about Celtic Mythology, but it is a great bit of news for the future of Podcasting and may encourage others to take up the task of producing more mythology and story-telling podcasts. The Guardian has reported that students will be able to take a vocational qualification in internet broadcasting from September 2008 thanks to the launch of an NCFE level 1 (GCSE grades D-G) award in podcasting.

Podcasts are audio or video broadcasts, available on-demand to download on to a computer or MP3 player.

They are one of the fastest growing methods of communication and are becoming increasingly prevalent in modern culture, used to broadcast anything from information on entertainment, music and news to education and academia, public services, marketing and politics.

The new qualification from the NCFE (formerly the Northern Council for Further Education) will allow learners to investigate the process of planning, preparing and producing a podcast.

It aims to help students understand the concepts of podcasting and to develop creative, information technology and communication skills. It will be available in centres across the UK from September 2008.

David Grailey, the NCFE’s chief executive, said:

The NCFE is an innovator in vocational qualifications and customer focus. There are currently no other nationally accredited qualifications on the market in this subject area - despite this being an increasingly popular means of communication.

Podcasting is fast becoming a part of everyday life - vicars are delivering sermons via podcasts, police departments are launching ‘crimewatch’ video podcasts and schools and colleges are recording lessons via podcasts. It’s therefore vital that we offer people both an understanding and the skills to utilise this technology.

NCFE worked with industry experts to develop the qualification. The qualification has also received substantial support from centres and employers, including Confetti Institute of Creative Technologies, Softease, which produces ICT tools for schools, and Rotherham young people’s services.

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