Teaching Courses through Distance Education

Abstract

The experience of a professor in the hospitality program at Auburn University (Alabama) in taping classroom lectures and discussion has mostly been favorable. Moreover, offering courses via videotape has enabled students in remote locations to work toward advanced degrees while they continue to work (undergraduate courses are not so offered). Setting up classroom sessions for the camera places some restrictions on the faculty member, requiring considerable advance planning, reducing flexibility in class, and possibly inhibiting discussion among students in the classroom. On the other hand, live classes are more interesting to tape than studioonly lectures. Moreover, the camera goes along on field trips. Videos go to the distant students with little or no post-production editing. The faculty member reported that any negative aspects are more than offset by positive factors, primarily the efficiency of teaching via videos.