Interactive Television Strategies

There is no "correct" or "best" interactive teaching style, but avoid an overly dramatic presentation. Because of the limited contact with remote site students, you might incorporate numerous possibilities for interaction rather than limiting yourself to strictly a lecture (one-way) format. For example, you might develop discussion questions that require both analysis and synthesis in response.

Passive Vs. Active Learning

Watching a television screen is most often a passive experience - we view and listen. The challenge to instructors delivering material via the television medium is to make the experience more closely resemble or even surpass the richness of a traditional classroom experience. The way to do that is to make the interactive television class an active experience for the student. Interactive strategies need to be employed to create an active learning environment. Pacing your class is one consideration for creating an active learning environment. Think of the content that you need to deliver in terms of 10 to 15 minute modules. Between each module consider using an interactive strategy to vary the pacing and re-engage the student creating a more active learning environment.

Planning for interactivity is the key to a successful ITV course. Some synchronous interactive strategies include: viewing, listening, reading, role-playing, questioning, small group discussions, and guest speakers.

Viewing

This strategy includes any visual material that you might use to support class content including computer generated slides, 35mm slides, videotapes, and photographs. Viewing can also refer to a close up camera shot of you (as you lecture) that captures your facial expression and nonverbal communication.

Listening

This includes listening to you as you speak but could also be listening to an audio tape or a guest speaker calling in via speaker phone.

Reading

Having students read from a handout or passage in a book is an appropriate interactive strategy. This could also include accessing the Internet and checking web sites if possible and appropriate.

Role-playing

Having students participate in or observe role-playing is a strategy that can be used at one site or across sites.

Questioning

Stopping for questions and answers is an effective interactive strategy. You should be directive in which site you will start with and which sites you'll go to next. It is also more effective if you ask, "What questions do you have?" instead of "Do you have any questions?" Topic discussion is also an appropriate strategy.

Small Group Discussion

Breaking into small groups can be done via ITV. If one of the small groups is to include students at different sites then all other students need to leave the ITV classrooms to discuss in their groups.

Guest Speakers

Including a guest speaker or panel of speakers in your class can be effective interactive strategies.