TV based education instead of Human teachers?

Click For Summary
The discussion explores the feasibility of replacing human teachers with high-resolution TVs or pre-recorded lectures in classrooms, suggesting it could lower education costs while providing quality content. Participants argue that learning is not a passive process, emphasizing the importance of teacher-student interaction for effective education. Concerns are raised about the lack of engagement and immediate feedback in online or video-based learning, which can lead to isolation and reduced attention spans. While some see potential in technology-enhanced education, many believe traditional classrooms foster better learning experiences through direct interaction. Ultimately, the consensus leans towards the necessity of human presence in education for optimal student engagement and learning outcomes.
  • #31
ZapperZ, I just do not understand if you are making the point in favor or in opposition to the "TV recording" method of lesson delivery. I can ALMOST undrstand your discussion, and then it becomes uncertain. Try again! Were you saying what I was trying to say (like post #29), or were you saying something else?
 
Science news on Phys.org
  • #32
symbolipoint said:
ZapperZ, I just do not understand if you are making the point in favor or in opposition to the "TV recording" method of lesson delivery. I can ALMOST undrstand your discussion, and then it becomes uncertain. Try again! Were you saying what I was trying to say (like post #29), or were you saying something else?

I think he is saying that "He agrees that proposed method is cheaper but not better than interactive human teaching."

To which I say that the pre-recorded video will keep on improving through iterative process over the years, incorporating suggestions from world renowned experts and students themselves. Every doubt a student can have will be incorporated in the video through subsequent versions. (Version 10.0, for example will be a lot better than 1.0)

Now why such a video should not be able to answer students common doubts ? I think currently people are apprehensive about one-way teaching is because the course-material (video) does not go through such exhaustive iterations of improvements incorporating suggestions from world renowned experts. All the currently available videos are version 1.0.
 
  • #33
ZapperZ said:
[snip] because many research on education has shown that this one-way, non-interactive means of communication is the BEST way to educate anyone.
[snip]

Really hoping this is a typo...
 
  • Like
Likes ISamson
  • #34
Andy Resnick said:
Really hoping this is a typo...

It is.

Zz.
 
  • Like
Likes ISamson
  • #35
symbolipoint said:
ZapperZ, I just do not understand if you are making the point in favor or in opposition to the "TV recording" method of lesson delivery. I can ALMOST undrstand your discussion, and then it becomes uncertain. Try again! Were you saying what I was trying to say (like post #29), or were you saying something else?

I thought I made it clear when I broke down the original post into two separate issues.

1. I am NOT in favor of video/one-way communication education.

2. If one-way communication is the ONLY means of education, then sure, a video lecture would save money.

Frenemy90210 said:
I think he is saying that "He agrees that proposed method is cheaper but not better than interactive human teaching."

To which I say that the pre-recorded video will keep on improving through iterative process over the years, incorporating suggestions from world renowned experts and students themselves. Every doubt a student can have will be incorporated in the video through subsequent versions. (Version 10.0, for example will be a lot better than 1.0)

Now why such a video should not be able to answer students common doubts ? I think currently people are apprehensive about one-way teaching is because the course-material (video) does not go through such exhaustive iterations of improvements incorporating suggestions from world renowned experts. All the currently available videos are version 1.0.

Have you ever taught a class?

Just because something is said or written down, and even explained, doesn't mean the student WILL get it. I lost count how many times I've given students something, tell them explicitly what to do, and BAM, they make a mistake with it again! No matter how well you try to present the material, there will always, ALWAYS be questions. I see this all the time when the students have to learn from "pre-lectures" online videos. You get a whole spectrum of students with a whole spectrum of varying questions about the SAME video that they viewed.

So I will claim that it is a fallacy to think that one-way communication education is effective. In fact, research in education methodology have shown numerous evidence that it isn't!

Zz.
 
Last edited:
  • #36
The amazing thing about this thread is the idea that this is a new thing, and the weakness of one-way instruction is also a brand new discovery. This goes back to the early 50's. Zz's question "Have you ever taught a class?" is particularly relevant - it's the first question that gets asked whenever this idea comes back from the dead.
 
  • #37
Never been in a class where students weren't regularly participating. Even in an english class I had that was 7:00 am. If I had to pay tuition to watch instructional videos I would stop going to school and just read the books on my own.
 
  • #38
The video below shows one educator's experience why one way education techniques often fail.

 
  • Like
Likes Frenemy90210
  • #39
Vanadium 50 said:
The amazing thing about this thread is the idea that this is a new thing, and the weakness of one-way instruction is also a brand new discovery. This goes back to the early 50's. Zz's question "Have you ever taught a class?" is particularly relevant - it's the first question that gets asked whenever this idea comes back from the dead.

Yes, but it's also worth stating that distance learning has a long history. For example. the US Navy needed ways to provide content to sailors stationed on ships that were at sea for extended periods of time, and in that context it has largely been successful.

http://www.worldwidelearn.com/education-articles/history-of-distance-learning.html
https://www.seniornet.org/edu/art/history.html
 
Last edited:
  • #40
I always gave my lectures as a question and answer session, leading my students slowly towards discovery. The impact was very strong and the ideas, concepts, research methods, were very effectively communicated. Science, after all, starts by asking questions about nature.
 
  • Like
Likes ISamson

Similar threads

Replies
3
Views
5K
  • · Replies 43 ·
2
Replies
43
Views
8K
  • · Replies 13 ·
Replies
13
Views
2K
  • · Replies 19 ·
Replies
19
Views
6K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
4K
  • · Replies 24 ·
Replies
24
Views
16K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
7K
Replies
13
Views
11K
  • Poll Poll
  • · Replies 13 ·
Replies
13
Views
10K