Development of interactive video

[Rich]

This is an interesting development in interactive learning using tablets and a look into how the use of video will be increasingly be used to deliver training. _http://www.unit9.com/project/lifesaver-cpr It won several awards in various categories of elearning.

After watching this I then was quite surprised to see just how many interactive video's were now on youtube. _http://mashable.com/2011/01/30/interactive-youtube-videos/

They don't seem too difficult to produce and applications range from the 'choose your own adventure' type video story to games and training.

 

[paralleloscope]

Edutainment or 'serious games' is a potentially exciting field, one that I'm trying to get into myself, though I haven't tried anything that was really interesting yet (not too enthused with common game mechanics). Usually the multiple choice videos look like something that may just be an experimentation carried on the 'novelty' behind it, and done better or more fluent within a game engine, at least the choice and interaction part (illusion of freedom)- videos are still a bit dodgy to implement in game-engines though. The area is a big potential ready to tap (already has been) to reach the newer generation who were born with digital media in hand, ie; in Denmark students and classrooms are either being outfitted with iPads or laptop setups.

The first aid example you posted could be a nice way to digest the theory though I doubt it would make up for the practical hands on 'wiring' needed, though it probably takes the learning further than a text book and certainly looks more interesting with the tactile element added. The multiple choice videos are pretty simple to make on youtube I think, but the first-aid tablet example which uses the accelorometer/ magnetometer would require a programmer to do, OSIT.

 

[Rich]

Good points parallel, there is certainly a lot of novelty about education games and tablets. Whether they actually are any better than traditional teaching methods I don't know. I find it a little sad that learner attention spans of the current generation seem have dwindled to such an extent that its thought they need interactive flashy things to engage at all. :(

For me it was quite surprising to see just how rapidly technology has developed and in this case changing how people are trained.