The Advantages of Recording Lectures

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=J_Finnis]J Finnis

The formal lecture has long been at the heart of university education. Large numbers of students form the audience while the professor holds center stage imparting his/her wisdom. That lectures have remained for so long as a major method of education is testament to their effectiveness, however, the traditional lecture does have certain disadvantages.

The typical human concentration span is reckoned to be around 15 minutes. After this time the audience's minds are likely to be on many things other than the topic at hand. That lectures are usually passive experiences doesn't help the concentration problem. The lecturer's personality also affects audience attention. Lecturers are generally selected for their expertise rather than their engaging delivery.

Lectures often provide a barrage of facts. The nature of the medium cannot provide sufficient time for reflection, and even the most alert student will be unable to absorb or understand everything first time around. Everyone gets the same lecture, regardless of aptitude, prior familiarity with the subject or whatever. For some it may be too easy, for others impossibly difficult. Lectures are generally one-off events, a student can miss a presentation through numerous reasons eg illness, traffic delays etc.

Many institutions are now investing in lecture recording technology, such as Echo360. This technology is being used to capture curriculum lectures as well as one-off seminars and guest lecturers. Recording may happen routinely, or on an ad HOC basis. Current lecture recording technology enables recording to be scheduled automatically according to the institutional timetable and on completion to be sent to a server, processed, and made available for viewing within an hour or so. Where lecture recording technology is installed its use is likely to become routine, or at least the default option, for all lectures.

Students have the opportunity to review lectures whenever and however they choose, and can often gain something new from each subsequent viewing. The institution can also leverage lectures, eg making the material available to distance learners, who in turn benefit from content that is significantly more engaging than ink on paper (or text on screen). This begs the question of whether there is a continuing role for the traditional lecture, or could faculty simply spend a few hours in front of a video camera recording their classes for the whole year (or for many years where subject matter doesn't change)?

I would suggest traditional lectures will be around for a long time to come. Recorded music has been around for many years and yet people still flock to live performances. For many the experience of sitting in a lecture theater listening to a live speaker will have a greater impact than watching a re-run on a computer screen. There is also the opportunity to raise one's hand and obtain instant clarification on a point of confusion. The audience also affects the presentation in more subtle ways. A good lecturer always has their antennae open for audience reaction, and will adjust their delivery accordingly, eg giving a more detailed explanation to material met with blank expressions.

Johnny runs [http://edtech.twinisles.com]Educational Technology Insight for Educators and Technologists providing an introduction to the philosophy and technology of e-learning. Johnny is available for educational technology consultancy at [info@twinisles.com]info@twinisles.com

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