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. Continue reading »
The use of PowerPoint and other digital media CAN greatly enhance a traditional lecture.
Pre-preparing visual aids in PowerPoint allows the instructor to select the best possible aids to support his/her message.
And once prepared presentations may be re-used or re-purposed. Use of colour, animation, sound, video clips etc can provide a highly stimulating experience for the audience. Continue reading »
Provision of course material in electronic form is probably the simplest application of educational technology. But is there any benefit beyond saving photocopying costs? I believe there are several.
Having material available online provides access to learning materials 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Notes cannot be forgotten or lost. And today’s busy learners can study anywhere they have Internet access.
Furthermore, material in electronic form is easily searchable. Thus learners working on assignments or revising for exams can quickly find all relevant content. Searching can also serve to identify connections between different topics, eg by demonstrating that a phrase appears prominently in several different and seemingly unconnected sections. Continue reading »