Using Audio or Video in the Contemporary Classroom

For this week's blog I had to interview a professional about how they use an emerging technology in the development of their curriculum. Oddly enough, I do not know many instructors or professors here who actually utilize technology in their classroom beyond powerpoint. However, I do know a librarian that works with technology on a regular basis and who utilizes KSOL in interesting ways to share information with her colleagues. So, I interviewed her at her home last week and learned alot about how she used KSOL and what she felt were some of the advantages and disadvantages to using this particular technology.

Here is the link:
https://online.ksu.edu/Templating/courseHomePage/index.jsp?courseId=245223

Melia's experience is a good example of how technology can be both advantageous and disadvantageous in the adult learning environment.

That being said.....let's also consider what some of the pros and cons are of utilizing both audio and video technology in the classroom.

Having taught both online and traditional courses, I recognize the importance of engaging students. One way in which I have continued to engage them in both mediums is through the use of sound and visuals. However, over the years (I have taught at the University level for 8 years), I have found that students have a tendency to respond more positively to video than they do to audio.

Why?

This is a visual generation...Let's consider what they have at their disposal now:

• IPAD
• Cell Phone
• Computer (desktop, laptop, netbook)
• e-reader

and all of these technologies afford them to opportunity to "see" and "hear" the material they are interested in. Videos feed the need for this visual stimuli, all while adding an auditory component. The combination of the two senses helps students engage more fully with the information and ensure that the information will make the journey to long-term memory storage (Sousa, 2012).

Lone audio, however, only stimulates one sense--hearing. Students have now lost some interest because they are only listening to the material and as a result are more willing to do something else while listening. We have now lost part of their attention since they are no longer required to fully engage.

No matter which technology we choose to use (audio or video) it is important that we engage our students in a conversation about the material they have encountered. De Freitas and Conole (in Sharpe, Beetham, & De Freitas, pp. 15-30, 2010) maintained that there are four  components to successful integrating technology to aid student engagement and learning:

• thinking and reflection
• conversation and interaction
• experience and activity
• evidence and demonstration

It is important that we consider all, not just one or two, but all of these components when designing courses that contain technology.

How would you design a lesson that used video and audio components? How might you incorporate the four listed components into that lesson so as to enhance student engagement?

References
Sharpe, R., Beetham, H., & De, F. S. (2010). Rethinking Learning for a Digital Age: How Learners are Shaping their Own Experiences. Rethinking Learning for a Digital Age: Routledge.

Sousa, D. A. (2012). How the brain learns. Thousand Oaks, Calif: Corwin Press.