About the video lectures.
I tend to expose my students to the original texts, with minimal guidance except for a few pointers and a few questions, to let them free to explore what they watch/read and their own reactions - responses (sort of a Socratic method.)
What do you honestly think? Would you preferred a more structured approach, with an outline of relevant issues to help you navigate areas you were not exposed to before?
And in that case, would you prefer video lectures or readings (textbook-like) as introduction to the topics?
COMMENT and REPLY.
Although I do enjoy the freedom to digest and process the material independently it is also helpful to have more a guided conversation afterwards. Materials that give a more structured approach may be more beneficial to dig beyond what we recognize at the surface level. For example in Decameron I was able to identify that the film felt very simple but did not have any idea why. After watching the short lecture video I understood the meaning behind the films simplicity that would have otherwise been unknown. The short video lectures are great and give good insight!
ReplyDeleteHi Crystal, I felt the same way. I watched the lecture first before the movie so I knew that it was based on different stories combined. It was interesting to watch because they were short and straight to the point. Also this movie was easy to understand with subtitles.
DeleteCrystal,
DeleteI have discovered that researching what the film is about before I watch it gives the movie context with which to better understand it. This is in addition to Professor's lectures. I also like to use the closed captioning to better understand the dialogue and characters.
I believe the process of learning and roaming by oneself is what leads to a more joyous learning process. However, I lose myself sometimes because there's a lot to learn about a topic and sometimes I need some small introduction to truly get into it. Your videos have been really helpful so far and I actually enjoy seeing them. I'd like to stick to video lectures. They're properly structured for a person who wouldn't know anything about history.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you. I also enjoy the process of self learning and exploring ideas.
DeleteI also agree that exploring on your own leads to a more joyous experience. And as someone who doesn’t know much about the topic I also feel the videos are perfectly structured for that.
DeleteI like the way this course is structured. It allows me to investigate the works carefully and analyze them in my own words. The video lectures do help to provide a much-needed background on the work at hand. I do however think that relevant textbook-like readings would be helpful in introducing the work.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you as the option to self-explore allows one to be more encouraged to learn about the topic at hand.
DeleteI like that you get to the point right away in every video to keep the students engaged. Also it's great that you keep the videos short. I rather watch a video than reading the text because I tend to drift away easily and get bored.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your ideas, I think the video is easy to follow.
DeleteDecameron is an interesting way of interpreting the psychological needs of a person. It is perceived as a collection of juicy stories about amorous adventures and sexual relations, going far beyond what is permitted. However, there is a hidden content-the whole concept of a person. I would prefer both, video lectures and readings, as introduction to the topics. Reading helps to form an individual opinion about the topic and then the video lectures help to consolidate or rethink the reading part.
ReplyDeleteI always think an outline of points to look for is valuable as a guide while watching a video. To tell you the truth, I am tired of the read a chapter, answer questions format most professors choose. I like the video/ questions format. I have been researching the topics to be able to answer the questions more thoroughly and would do that regardless of the extra support an outline would provide. I have found that the video/notes/ questions format has been taking me a lot of time to complete.
ReplyDeleteI agree, this format has been taking me a great deal of time as well. I know we can't make a film shorter, but I wish we could split the difference of how long the video lectures are and the length of the films.
DeleteI very much enjoy your video lectures and find them to be extremely clear, concise, and digestible. I prefer these to text book readings because I can get lost in huge swaths of text. The videos give me the broad outline I need and am then able to go off and research further any particular areas that really strikes my curiosity.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I believe it’s easier if a course has a more structured approach but I prefer the freedom to explore. I believe this gives us an opportunity to learn more than what we would if we were sent on a straight path because we have the ability to branch out and dive deeper into the topics we find on our own than interest us. I also prefer video lectures to reading because I find it is easier to comprehend when put into your own words as opposed to reading.
ReplyDeleteThe lecture videos that you provided are straightforward and easy to follow. The structure of this course gave me an opportunity to think and self-explore. I enjoy watching the films and I tends to find more inspiration in visual learning.
ReplyDeleteI prefer the short video. The short video lectures are great and give good insight to us, I can follow the lectures more easily. Sometimes it’s hard for me to pay attention on reading the text, but the video provides a more vivid way of studying a foreign language,because the text is boring. In addition, video can easily catch people’s attention and offer us a better opportunity to be more creative.
ReplyDeleteHi Qian, I agree on the short videos. I think, that short format allows to digest information easily and those lectures are usually easier to remember. I think, that breaking down the material more helps to study. I feel like studying for shorter period of time more frequently helps me remember course material better.
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ReplyDeleteI think, that the structure of this course is pretty easy to navigate. The lectures are pretty straightforward and I felt like I understand most of the material. The part, that I feel like I have problem with, is plot summaries. I find it difficult, to focus on the right details. So, I think that some guidance would help me to do better job.
Personally l think that the way the class is structured is perfect for this course because it allows me to explore expanded topics on certain events in the past. The way the class is structured allows me to watch certain videos then go and explore on websites such as youtube, on my free will, the videos the showcase different point of views.
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