Podcast as an Alternative Media: A Fancy Way to Improve Students' Digital Literacy

The development of the Industrial Revolution in education has brought new dynamics, enabling innovative learning processes through information technology. The use of alternative media aims to enrich learning experiences, enhance student engagement, and facilitate more interactive and enjoyable teaching and learning. Alternative media refer to any type of media used as an alternative or replacement for traditional media such as print books, whiteboards, or worksheets. In the context of education, alternative media include podcasts, instructional videos, mobile applications, educational games, and more. One striking aspect is the role of podcasts as engaging alternative media. Podcasts can serve as innovative teaching resources for educators in designing classroom activities. The use of podcasts as teaching materials in enhancing the digital literacy of English Education students explores the full potential of podcasts in improving their digital literacy skills. The aim of this research is to identify the challenges of using podcasts as teaching materials and to develop students' digital literacy through podcast use. This research utilizes a qualitative method with data collection techniques such as observation and questionnaires administered to a sample of students from the English Education program. The research results are expected to serve as references in developing fancy media for students in the English department.