I've attended online courses in which there was no hearing of a voice/ seeing a face, and I've also taught courses in which we were in a designated room where we had lecture/ discussions. In the latter, students were not required to attend should their schedule not permit them; however, there was make up work.
If the technology allows it, then some face-to-face/ voice interaction would be good. In a sense, that would be in the middle of a traditional classroom and an online course. I prefer seeing the text, reading the lectures, and partipating when it is convenient; however, some students might prefer seeing a match of a voice and face along with a course.
I'm not technical savvy so I wouldn't even be able to offer suggestions on what type of technology to use.
Hi
I'm 73 but found out that I could handle technology with the help of good counselors. I learn by repetition - if someone moves my cheese, I go back to the smart guys
DAvid:
Please clarify what you mean by "to come up with viseo lectures". Do you mean to produce the videso?
We have been having a bad stretch of weather over the past few days, and it is likely to continue until next Tuesday. My out of town staff may not be coming in; please be patient with me as I continue my inquiry about video-mails.
Satrohan
David:
Like you, I also am not a high tech person; however, I do have a multimedia team with whom I would consult and provide you with the answer within th enext ctwo days.
Video clips are an excellent way to provide a variation in the mode of instruction. You definitely have to consider the length of the videos, and the availability of videostreaming technology to avoid lengthy downloading times for students. Three minute segments seem to work well for 56K internet connections.
I will inquire more tomorrow and advise further.
Another discovery we have made about our students is that when we provide lengthy narrations, be it through audio or audio-visual, students have expressed a preference for a hardcopy of the narration so that they can print it out and use it away from the computer. This can be an important facility for them if you wil be testing on the content in your video.
This is the first time I am inquiring about video-emails. Will inquire about this also.
Finally, keep in mind that your students must have access to the necessary technology and software as well as computer power to run your course in the least obstructive manner.
Satrohan
