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Teleconferencing

This strategy enjoys considerable popularity today. It might be called two-way video, in that video goes in both directions between the two (or more) groups involved.

But expenses with the present approaches make it difficult to use. This is particularly a problem in large groups. And it does not supply a high degree of interaction for every student in a large group situation. Most current teleconferencing is for conferencing, rather than for learning.

Newer approaches may accomplish the same results. It is already possible to have limited video over the internet, without use of current video techniques. and at a much lower cost than two-way video. As we move to digital video, and to networks carrying more information, these possibilities may become more important.

However, the principal problem is the effectiveness of this approach as a learning approach. Two classes, each in a teleconferencing environment, with one instructor, differ only slightly from one very large class. So we are reduced to a large lecture-based class with limited interaction possible. As more students are involved, there is less possibility of individualized aid to each student. This approach will not scale to large numbers of students.

It may be possible to develop approaches other than the lecture approach, but so far these approaches do not exist. So teleconferencing does not seem to be a reasonable approach to widespread distance learning.