Speaking as a younger person, hour long lectures are fine and so are our reading skills. Where we fall short is on our reading stamina - reading through a whole book is more exhausting as many of us are not as used to it. The only way to overcome poor reading stamina is to read more books, and that takes a level of time and commitment not everyone is willing or able to give.
One of my sons told me about Gresham College a few years ago. In my late 70s, I find it so stimulating and educative. Except for quantum physics and the odd lecture which I can't get my head around, I cannot tell you how much I look forward to learning from your marvelous professors. Lectures? I love them, especially when I can keep my hands busy doing needlework at the same time. Bliss. My favourite topic? Astrophysics. 🎉
The hybrid idea sounds terrible, for me, what makes filmed lectures engaging is that they ARE filmed lectures, the relationship and energy between speaker and audience is there, removing it to a CGI screen would remove it, and remove a layer of trust. You say those CGI/technological changes would enhance the broadcasted/recorded version, to me it would diminish. There are channels out there that do that, what Gresham and other universities that upload filmed lectures is unique and shouldn't be replaced by attempts to align with different models of communication, which carry their own context and connotations that would shape how we, the internet viewers, interpret and absorb the information. Making it flashly and like a big broadcaster, would make it untrustworthy, not an academic sharing their work and knowledge but a broadcaster chasing views, clicks, money, etc. It would only diminish Gresham.
I actually really love listening to conversations between two experts and I think they can often tell you as much if not more. However, the great Ronald Hutton has shown lectures are definitely not dead!
I like these things. I'm glad I have access to them via TH-cam, as here in the middle of the US, we don't get stuff like this here. I mean, maybe in Ames or Iowa City on rare occasion, but there aren't very many and aren't reachable by most people.
I enjoy lectures. I will go to local lectures on subjects that are interesting to me, if it is held locally and when it fits my schedual. But the equalizing properties of online content is massive. I can engage in a lecture held in London, Singapore, Boston, Manilla, Johannesburg, anythere in the world. It does not matter where I am or who I am, as long as I have a device and an internet connection. I can parttake on my commute to work, or after the kids are in bed, I don't have to consider work schedual, baby sitters, transportation, parking, weather or if my "going to a lecture appropriate attire" is clean (I'm old enough that sneakers, sweatpants and a hoodie is inappropriate). I discover new subjects of intrest. I might not be all that interested in space, but I will binge all of Chris Lintots lectures because I am enthused by him and his passion. I would not go to a physical lecture or pay for a lecture about marketing strategies or discreet mathematics or agricultural methods, but I will attend one online, at my leasure.
I think public speaking was an utmost priority in Ancient Rome, because court required educated and fluent solicitors, who was a sort of morally and publicly commended people, so it was a programm to dictate young minds become well versed in law and step on the path of Femida. I think military success of Rome largely depended on this state "casting" which eventually was spinned to the fashion of God-given and politically correct upbringing of young advocates to the level of top-ranked individuals, who was considered as defenders in case of big deals. I think it was a government secret strategy to menace more weak and slaved them or even scared before the face of Rome and his patrons, to proclaim absolute control and absolute power. Also it was fashionable.
Speaking as a younger person, hour long lectures are fine and so are our reading skills. Where we fall short is on our reading stamina - reading through a whole book is more exhausting as many of us are not as used to it. The only way to overcome poor reading stamina is to read more books, and that takes a level of time and commitment not everyone is willing or able to give.
One of my sons told me about Gresham College a few years ago. In my late 70s, I find it so stimulating and educative. Except for quantum physics and the odd lecture which I can't get my head around, I cannot tell you how much I look forward to learning from your marvelous professors. Lectures? I love them, especially when I can keep my hands busy doing needlework at the same time. Bliss. My favourite topic? Astrophysics. 🎉
There can be no better venue for this question, given the history of Gresham College.
The hybrid idea sounds terrible, for me, what makes filmed lectures engaging is that they ARE filmed lectures, the relationship and energy between speaker and audience is there, removing it to a CGI screen would remove it, and remove a layer of trust. You say those CGI/technological changes would enhance the broadcasted/recorded version, to me it would diminish.
There are channels out there that do that, what Gresham and other universities that upload filmed lectures is unique and shouldn't be replaced by attempts to align with different models of communication, which carry their own context and connotations that would shape how we, the internet viewers, interpret and absorb the information.
Making it flashly and like a big broadcaster, would make it untrustworthy, not an academic sharing their work and knowledge but a broadcaster chasing views, clicks, money, etc. It would only diminish Gresham.
Superb! So much food for thought, about the present and future
Prof Elliott is such a tremendous person. I undertook an elective in GOSH twenty years ago and loved my time there.
I actually really love listening to conversations between two experts and I think they can often tell you as much if not more.
However, the great Ronald Hutton has shown lectures are definitely not dead!
I like these things. I'm glad I have access to them via TH-cam, as here in the middle of the US, we don't get stuff like this here. I mean, maybe in Ames or Iowa City on rare occasion, but there aren't very many and aren't reachable by most people.
I enjoy lectures. I will go to local lectures on subjects that are interesting to me, if it is held locally and when it fits my schedual.
But the equalizing properties of online content is massive. I can engage in a lecture held in London, Singapore, Boston, Manilla, Johannesburg, anythere in the world. It does not matter where I am or who I am, as long as I have a device and an internet connection. I can parttake on my commute to work, or after the kids are in bed, I don't have to consider work schedual, baby sitters, transportation, parking, weather or if my "going to a lecture appropriate attire" is clean (I'm old enough that sneakers, sweatpants and a hoodie is inappropriate).
I discover new subjects of intrest. I might not be all that interested in space, but I will binge all of Chris Lintots lectures because I am enthused by him and his passion. I would not go to a physical lecture or pay for a lecture about marketing strategies or discreet mathematics or agricultural methods, but I will attend one online, at my leasure.
I like listening to lectures on the computer-- I'm far away from britain and I don't have money either :b
I think public speaking was an utmost priority in Ancient Rome, because court required educated and fluent solicitors, who was a sort of morally and publicly commended people, so it was a programm to dictate young minds become well versed in law and step on the path of Femida. I think military success of Rome largely depended on this state "casting" which eventually was spinned to the fashion of God-given and politically correct upbringing of young advocates to the level of top-ranked individuals, who was considered as defenders in case of big deals. I think it was a government secret strategy to menace more weak and slaved them or even scared before the face of Rome and his patrons, to proclaim absolute control and absolute power. Also it was fashionable.