Videos and Skype

Skype can be used as an instant messenger and allow video calls to be made. This can allow both users and lecturers to have “lessons” from the comfort of their own home, reducing travel expenses and time wasted whilst commuting. Often students and lecturers may be put off teaching or studying at a distant university, so this can help overcome that “downer”.

These calls allow the same teaching strategies that would be used in a lecture hall to be used. Learning would be audio and visual, and the chat feature and call feature allows interaction between students and lecturers. Rather than waiting for the end of the lecturer, students may post questions to the lecturer privately, which the lecturer can answer and all viewing can benefit from, but also leaving the student that posed the question anonymous.

Often their can be students in class who are disruptive, or can make it harder for others to learn. Using Skype helps overcome obstructions like that by simply blocking or muting that particular individual. Lecturers can record calls made through skype and put it up on the blackboard/oasisplus, allowing the material to be reached outside lecture time.

Pre-recorded videos can be used in a similar manner, to record tutorials which can be uploaded online or burned onto a CD which may prove to be cost effective. However they may not necessarily be as interactive and may not aid the lecturer to monitor student progress and gain formative feedback. Putting it on a website that allows students to comment about the video can prove to be more effective. Again an obvious advantage is that the videos will be accessible at any point of the day while the lecturer may not be, and can be played and replayed as meeting the requirement of the student needs.

Students who are ill or unable to go to lectures can view videos at their own leisure. Lecturers do not need to be present at the particular time of day when lectures would be held, allowing them to use their time to do other things, i.e. marking, preparing other videos, going to seminars or doing other activities that they would not be able to do had they been in a lecture room teaching.

This would allow mature students that have family to look after or have other dependents, and students that work to easily adjust their studies into their working schedule. Students with degrees and work experience combined have better chances of getting a job. This would allow academic and work based learning. Students who are not eligible for loans or with other financial difficulties can support themselves and their studies.