Interactive Video

Interactive video is a rapidly growing technologywhich holds great promise for teachingforeign language and culture. Multimediacontextualization of the language and simulationsof typical cultural situations are powerfultools for language teachers and learners. Interactivevideo is often delivered with alternateworkstation designs: one with a single monitorto present simultaneous video and text, and onewith different monitors for video and computertext and graphics. This study investigates thepossibility that the workstation configurationsmight have a differential impact on studentperformance on a test of Spanish culture. Studentsin second semester college Spanish classesstudied five interactive video Spanish culturesimulations during the semester. Some studentsused a single monitor workstation and others adual monitor design. They were given pre- andpost-tests on Spanish culture and the resultswere analyzed for significant differences. Additionalfactors influencing workstation design(e.g., hardware and software costs, user friendliness)are also discussed.