Guest Guide to the Interactive Television Classroom

Courses delivered via media technologies are becoming more common at the University of Minnesota.

Interactive Television (ITV) makes it possible to link two (or more) electronic classrooms that may be hundreds of miles apart and create one classroom environment.

When you walk into the class you will see cameras, television monitors and microphones. All this technology is remote controlled and allows everyone in one location to see and hear everyone in the other location (or locations).

There are a few small ways in which interactive television classes are different from the classroom situations to which we are most accustomed. This booklet will give you a handful of guidelines that will make your electronic classroom experience more productive and pleasurable.

PARTICIPATION:

In order to make participation easier, you should know that there is a delay between the time you ask or answer a question and the time that the next person will speak. You can usually expect a delay of three seconds, so don't worry if the response is a little slower than you expect. Because you might be addressing more than one classroom, it would be helpful to allot slightly more time for questions, comments, and general discussions.

HANDOUTS:

If you wish to provide handouts they should be developed as far in advance as possible. Last minute faxing may not be possible. Class handouts will need to be mailed ahead of time to your distant classroom(s).

OVERHEADS:

For best results, do not use transparencies (too much glare for cameras). You can instead use a paper copy (pale blue is best), printed in "landscape" format ("sideways" on an 8 1/2" X 11" letter size piece of paper). When preparing your overheads, keep these rules in mind:

• 6 to 8 lines of text only
• maximum of 50 words
• bold lettering
• plain font (sans serif)
• font size 30 points or larger

SLIDES:

Your 35mm slides may work in the ITV classrooms. Check ahead with the available support staff.

COMPUTER:

Computer presentations and connections are possible in most ITV classrooms with advance notification. You will need to make arrangements with the support staff. The rules for overheads also apply to computer presentations.

VIDEOTAPES:

You can use videotapes in ITV courses just like in a traditional classroom. The operator in the classroom will assist with this; please have the cueing numbers for the sequences that you want to use.

COPYRIGHT:

TEACHING OVER THE INTERACTIVE TELEVISION NETWORK IS NOT CONSIDERED FACE-TO-FACE TEACHING UNDER THE CURRENT COPYRIGHT LAW. THEREFORE YOUR ABILITY TO USE WORKS WITHOUT THE COPYRIGHT OWNER'S PERMISSION IS MORE LIMITED.

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