Teleteaching with large groups: A case study from the Monash experience

Teleteaching, though in a relatively early stage at Monash University, has the potential to provide a conduit for high level interaction between students and staff on various campuses in 'real time'. Whilst the technology holds valuable potential, there are unresolved discrepancies between 'what can be done' and the academics' understandings and common practice of 'what is actually being done' with teleteaching. It is only through research into current practices and attitudes that an understanding will be gained of the strategies that need to be adopted to ensure that teleteaching becomes an enriching learning experience for staff and students alike. This article focuses on the perceptions and practices of staff within the realm of current training and support. It aims to provide an understanding of difficulties experienced in the use of teleteaching, and to suggest solutions emerging from the research. To illustrate current practices and attitudes towards the use of teleteaching, this paper reports on a study conducted by Tennant (1997) into the use of teleteaching at Monash University to deliver lectures between two campuses. The paper concentrates on andragogical, interaction and training issues in teleteaching with large groups of students as seen through the eyes of both academic staff and students.