Student Perceptions of a Two-Way Interactive Video Class

Use of fiber optic cable to provide high-quality interactive distance learning is increasing. An August 1995 survey by the Software Publishers Association noted that, "School use of distance learning services, including ... fiber optic cable ... will increase dramatically in the 1990s.[1] A 1995 survey of senior administrators at 407, colleges and universities concluded that use of distance learning had increased over Iowa is one of the states most heavily invested in this technology, leading Newsweek to publish an article entitled, "We've Seen the Future: It's in Iowa."[3] Iowa has completed a fiber optic backbone linking all 99 counties with 150 sites. When the third phase of the project is completed it will link 500 sites including all Regent Universities, Area Education Associations, high schools, many libraries, armories and other public sites. The University of Northern Iowa (UNI) is currently offering four graduate programs and 13 classes per semester over this system. The research reported here was designed to investigate students, perceptions of their experience in a class offered via the statewide Iowa Communications Network (ICN). * The Survey In the spring of 1995 seven classes (six graduate, one undergraduate) were offered on the ICN by the University of Northern Iowa (see list in Figure 1). All were taught by a different instructor, each of whom had participated in a three-day workshop to prepare for teaching in this setting. All 168 students were surveyed; 103 responded. * Survey Results Student demographics revealed that 76% of the respondents were male, 23% female. Students ranged in age from 21-57 and only 2% were classified as minority. Since UNI offers three graduate degrees via the ICN, only 24% of the students were taking their first class in this setting, with 19% taking their fourth or fifth. Students reported their instructors used a variety of teaching strategies - with lecture (94% of the students reported its use) and discussion (95%) as the two most common. This mirrors the results of a study of instructional methods used by undergraduate instructors in which faculty reported discussion, (70%) and extensive lecturing as (54%) as the two most commonly used strategies."[4] In spite of this emphasis on lecture and discussion, a variety of strategies were used including: case studies (59%) demonstrations (47%) story telling (28%) simulations (22%) and role playing (18%). Student evaluation of teaching strategies over the interactive video medium indicated a general perception of effectiveness. Lecture was perceived as effective or highly effective by 61% of the students, discussion by 91%, demonstration by 80%, role playing by 76% and case studies by 79%. …