Subject: Re: This is interaction!!
From: Lester Gilbert (lg1@canterbury.ac.uk)
Date: Tue 25 Jan 2000 - 10:49:41 MET
From: Lester Gilbert <lg1@canterbury.ac.uk> Subject: Re: This is interaction!! Date: Tue, 25 Jan 2000 09:49:41 +0000 (GMT Standard Time)
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On Mon, 24 Jan 2000 19:40:18 -0600 Muhammad Betz
<Betz@netcommander.com> wrote:
> I don't agree that the term, interaction, is a lot bigger or more
> encompassing than generally thought
by those, I would have said, engaged in instructional systems
development. I have a lot of sympathy with Muhammad. When
"interaction" is used loosely, it covers an amazing range of issues,
and its value as a useful technical term vanishes.
Technically, IHMO, "interactive something" involves the following
components. If any one is absent, we don't have "interactivity",
although we may well have very interesting courses, classes, and so on.
0. The student receives learning materials, both subject matter
content and meta-content about how to learn. (This is to be
interpreted broadly -- being immersed in an experiential scenario is to
be considered "receiving learning materials" as much as being given a
text to read, an exercise to complete, or a lecture to attend.)
1. The student actively processes the materials, actively constructs
their own understanding. (We assume that the student is motivated,
pays attention, values both the learning processes and the subject
matter, etc.)
2. In the course of learning, many choices are presented,
possibilities are offered.
3. At each choice point, the student must make a selection or must
differentially respond in some way.
4. The selection made or the response provided is judged or assessed
for correctness, quality, or whatever.
5. Feedback is given to the student about their selection or their
response. This feedback, to be maximally useful, must be specific,
immediate, and contingent.
(Points 2 to 5 cover the assumption that the instructor arranges the
learning situation such that active processing and construction are
encouraged and facilitiated, and that the instructor is not simply
transmitting "knowledge" to presumed empty vessels... A properly
constructed learning situation is precisely one which involves the
offering of choices, the making of a choice, the judgement of the
quality of that choice, and the provision of feedback -- ie one that I
have defined here to be "interactive".)
6. The student continues with their learning from step 0 again. (The
feedback they receive is itself "learning material" to be actively
processed.)
Lester
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Lester Gilbert l.gilbert@cant.ac.uk
Dept Maths & Information Technology Tel (01227) 767700 x2813
Canterbury Christ Church University College Fax (01227) 782 904
Kent, CT1 1QU, United Kingdom http://www.cant.ac.uk
Home page: http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/lestergilbert/
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