Lesson 7 - Choosing Media

4.2. Presentational Features

Although audio can be used on its own, it is often used in combination with other media, particularly text. On its own, it can present:

• Spoken language (including foreign languages) for analysis or practice
• Music, either as a performance or for analysis
• Students with a condensed argument that may
• Reinforce points made elsewhere in the course
• Introduce new points not made elsewhere in the course
• Provide an alternative viewpoint to the perspectives in the rest of the course
• Analyze or critique materials elsewhere in the course
• Summarize or condense the main ideas or major points covered in the course
• Provide new evidence in support of or against the arguments or perspectives covered elsewhere in the course
• Interviews with leading researchers or experts
• Discussion between two or more people to provide various views on a topic
• Primary audio sources, such as bird song, children talking, eye witness accounts, or recorded performances (drama, concerts)
• Analysis of primary audio sources, by playing the source followed by analysis
• ‘Breaking news’ that emphasizes the relevance or application of concepts within the course
• The instructor’s personal spin on a topic related to the course

Audio however has been found to be particularly ‘potent’ when combined with text, because it enables students to use both eyes and ears in conjunction. Audio has been found to be especially useful for:

This technique was later further developed by Salman Khan, but using video to combine voice-over (audio) explanation with visual presentation of mathematical symbols, formulae, and solutions.