THE CLASSROOM AND THE COMPUTER SCREEN Online Education | Page 10

might utilize videos in much the same and tests, and do not allow students to
way she utilizes readings and problem advance to the next screen until they
sets. Here the performer—the person input the proper responses. Computers
captured on the video—does not can also tally students’ responses and
shoulder the burden of delivering the generate a report of their progress.
lesson, which is a burden that can Because such courses demand student
never be carried by a recorded input, many refer to them as
performance. That responsibility falls “interactive.” But interactive with
to the live teacher who Ideally, a live teacher will what? With a human
assigns the video as a treat the video as a tool that teacher? A computer
resource. Ideally, a live
teacher will treat the
supports her own
interaction with the student
program? A well-
designed program or
video as a tool that cohort, interaction that a poorly-designed
supports her own facilitates sympathy and one?
interaction with the
fellowship.
student cohort,
Some interactive
courses are designed
interaction that facilitates sympathy well; others are not. In too many cases,
and fellowship. interactive features are mere gimmicks
to make sure students are awake. I
Varieties of Interactive Learning
once reviewed an online humanities
Some purveyors of online education
lesson on Renaissance art that
understand that prerecorded videos
illustrates this very problem. (The
offer no human interaction. They may
lesson’s producer promoted it as a
address the disengagement between
sample of a supposedly great
recorded performer and viewer by
curriculum.) The lesson began with
stepping up the demands they place
several minutes of prerecorded
upon students. They require students
information, and then displayed a mess
to do more than simply watch; they
of jigsaw-shaped pieces with an
prompt students to answer questions,
instruction for students to select and
solve puzzles or play games. Some
arrange the pieces using a mouse. The
online video courses include quizzes
puzzle pieces, when arranged properly,
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