Video camera off; Teaching on (comment)
http://durandus.com/phaedrus/2007/09/25/video-camera-off-teaching-on/
>>Video Camera Off; Teaching On
I’ve yet to see even a single example of a live distance learning event– teaching session, presentation, panel– where the video of the speaker(s) that was piped through alongside the web page activity, visuals, or even bulleted-list PowerPoint slides made an iota of positive contribution to the experience. I don’t care if it’s the Elluminate Video window, Adobe Connect, IM video, or a highly polished and produced second stream… it adds up to nothing. <<<<The above quote is from Phaedrus.
I do tend to agree to a point. However, I am taking another online class this semester and we are attempting to use formulas on a spreadsheet to calculate some data for a research project. Our instructor has uploaded some vidoes to show us how to use the spreadsheet in a step by step process. It shows every step we must take in order to calculate the data correctly. After many problems attempting to watch the videos, I finally got one of my students to look at my lap top and he discovered that I didn’t have a viewer. He downloaded one for me and I was good to go. I watched the video of the process once. Then I used the top half of my screen to watch the video while I performed the steps on my file In the bottom half of the screen. I stoppd the video periodically when I needed to. This semed to work out quite well. This is one time that I would say that a video showing the steps to take in the lesson was very helpful to me.
While I agree that attempting to recreate the effect of a traditional classroom using video / audio for online lecturing is a huge waste of time because it is not an engaging way to keep students on task. It is, in fact, very boring….! There may be times, although seldom, that it could be helpful as it was for my class assignment this week in using spreadsheets.
As I said before in my Elluminate posting, I am not interested in using any presentation software at this time. I feel like it is a waste of time and resources when you use a video to lecture with.
I do feel that an engaged student is what we strive for therefore, we must find the best way to engage them in the content we want them to learn.
Not too difficult a task….. don’t you agree?????? : )
There’s a difference between a video demonstrating a process than one that is a talking head of the instructor, and that’s what Chris Lott and I are refering to.
And frankly, demonstration of a particular math process is probably done better as a series of stills than in a video. Unless there is something significant about the timing of the steps that the video is required to demonstrate, or some peculiar movement that is better seen than described, the video you mention — while probably useful — contributes nothing more to the process than a series of a dozen still screenshots might. And the screen shots wouldn’t have required you to use a player, nor would it have created the kinds of frustration you felt from not being able to see the video in the beginning.
I’m sorry, but I think your example demonstrates my case for “no value added” than it does yours for “it could be helpful.”
Remember, the point of media selection in any situation is to pick the most effective technology and that usually means the least complex. When given a choice, always pick the simplest technology that meets the need.
Nate Lowell
September 26, 2007
You are right that it was very frustrating not being able to access to video. So maybe it was not the least complex way to demonstrate…
gnewsome
September 26, 2007
In my original post I was talking about video of the instructor lecturing. I do think there are times when video makes sense in other contexts– we recently had a project that involved showing the proper boil for making a syrup and the video showing exactly how the syrup pours from the spoon at the right temperature was invaluable. But it is rare that other methods don’t seem better.
For math, I agree with Nate that screen shots are often more accessible and allow the student to spend more time looking at each step. Screencasting is another possibility in certain contexts… slideshare with audio commentary could be particularly useful.
Chris Lott
September 26, 2007
Screen shots would probably have been the best way. Thanks.
gnewsome
September 26, 2007