The Specification and Presentation of On‐line Lectures

SUMMARY

Motivated by the need to increase both quality of service and efficiency, industry has seized on the opportunity to exploit Information Technology (IT) in order to remain competitive. But the higher education sector has remained more cautious and computer‐based learning techniques have failed to revolutionize the teaching and learning process in the University sector. The inordinate amount of time needed to author courseware remains the chief reason why IT has not been wholeheartedly exploited since the means was developed thirty years ago. This paper argues the case for a linearized multimedia lecture‐based methodology (with non‐linear access) for presenting the bulk of course material and concentrates on the method by which the course material is specified. Unless the University sector increases staffing levels, this methodology may be the only means by which the sector is able wholeheartedly to exploit information technology.