For my first post, I thought I would touch on a subject that has fascinated me for years. Real time online interaction – specifically in education.
Often web based interactive education materials are static or involve complicated Flash based development or high end servers, complicated authentication and expensive software licensing just to allow multi-user interaction.
As a result of this type of ‘interactive’ materials, so much of a student’s time is spent on their own, working through usually text and image based materials, simple self-assessment quizzes, Flash interactions and more recently with video based materials.
I have spent many years involved in the development of online educational materials, working with teachers, developers, instructional designers and many other very talented educational experts. Often with large budgets and very large organizations involved in the resource development.
The end result is some great content with perfectly linked outcomes that if understood and implemented by the student, would qualify them for their chosen certificate or diploma.
But the learning that comes from the personal and real interaction with real people in real time is where many of the most valuable lessons can be learnt.
I am striving to give teachers the tools and students the experience that will more than just provide them with the theoretical knowledge for their chosen career. This will allow teachers to have contact with their students in real-time, so they can pass on their personal experience and knowledge in a way that is truly interactive.
A typical reason for low online completion results often comes down to motivation. A person doing an exercise or weight loss program is far more successful if they have real contact will real people to motivate and keep them accountable. In the same way, real communication and real time activities with teachers and other students can go a long way to motivate and add accountability to a student’s studies. Sometimes the freedom to study ‘when you want’, ‘in your own time’ also gives you the option to not study when you want in your own time.
Real Time, Real Interaction might be the solution to Real people getting a Real education.
If it obviously would make a huge difference, then why do we not use this technology more?
Ricoshae Richter