New research suggests students perform better on exams when they study with a podcast. The University of New York found students who downloaded a podcast lecture averaged a "C" on a test, while students who sat through the actual lecture averaged a "D." Many teachers in Northwest Arkansas are moving toward this tech-savvy teaching tool. Each week, 7-th grader Clio Rom records a podcast of McNair Middle School events. For her, and many others her age, the technology is nothing new. The school hopes to expand podcasting into each classroom. "If you can take something that they learn here at school and incorporate it into something they love to do at home and getting online and using their cell phones and getting on the internet and using their ipods, it's just a great opportunity for learning that we need to take advantage of," says Jay Mirus, Technology Integration Specialist for McNair. Assistant Art Professor Tom Hapgood is already podcasting some of his animation work. He plans to eventually upload instructional podcasts for his students. "Hearing something once doesn't necessarily cement it into the brain, so if a student can watch and rewatch a lecture in video form, in fact have it magically delivered to their computer or phone, I think it's ideal," he says. While podcasts may never replace face to face teaching, they are a smart way to extend education outside the classroom. "I think podcasts are a direct way to incorporate a 21st century learning environment onto our campuses," Miurs says. Rom adds, "I think it's just really smart that they're thinking of merging things we need to know with things we already do know."