Distance learning- Choose your medium with care

I’ve taken a handful of distance courses in my day. The dynamic residency of being prior military, mixed with a continuous search for an HCI/Human Factors program has frequently led me to the web instead of the classroom.

As such, I’ve experienced several versions and delivery methods of education from afar, here are two types that sum up nicely what I’ve seen:

  • DVD: A Java course through Southern Methodist University. It was delivered via DVD, assigments and interaction was done through a standard webCT, blackboard forum type environment. (it’s a classroom based webapp)
  • Streamed: A business (global marketing) course through Rensselear Polytechnic Institue (rpi.edu). It had the same online interaction (more or less), but the lecture was streamed to me on my PC.

I found I had a better all around experience with the SMU course even though the subject matter of the RPI courses was a more interesting (academically.. the Java was just a refresher). I did well in the SMU course, and not so well in the RPI ones.

It seems blatantly obvious after reading this article by Jakob Nielson. I’ve always wondered why that was; ok, well, not exactly- I probably could have told you why.. this article has always been in my mind, just never verbalized.

Whenever I started a stream, I would have my attention immediately start focusing on other things… my browser is open, so the world is at my finger tips. The lecture would mention a topic, and off I’d go to research it further. Computers are supposed to multitask, so why can’t I?

I have assumed it was an attention problem (personal) mixed with a distance (re: non engaging) problem, mixed with a mildly interesting subject. After this article, (and some affirmations), it’s nice to see that there is a distinction in the delivery methods being used. I’m not the only one who can’t watch video on the web without feeling like I need to be “driving”… it’s that antsy feeling that led me to believe it was just me, but I guess that’s just the nature of the medium as well.

I hope this is considered when designing online courses or lengthy training videos. The overhead for the shipping DVD (I would imagine) is greater than offering a streamed video. But if the user experience could be improved, is it worth it? My experience serves as more anecdotal evidence supporting the argument that TV is better for passively watching a lecture than the computer, especially when you sit on your couch with a beer in hand.

*SMU does stream, they just didn’t do it for this class when I took it. It’s probably been a couple of years (2003 or early 2004) I remember asking myself: “why the heck don’t they allow me to see this video streamed*?” -I think I commented that on my survey. Oh, so young, and so naive.