Constructing a Streaming Video-Based Learning Forum for Collaborative Learning
An Article Review

There should be some way to allow distance learners to participate in video based collaborative learning strategies. That is the premise of the article ‘Constructing a Streaming Video-Based Learning Forum for Collaborative Learning’ by Chang, Chih-kai. Even though the article was written in 2004, the arguments are still valid, when discussing the use of videos in education today. Often videos are used to supplement activities that could not be duplicated in the classroom setting, rather than being interactive.

In addressing the issue of how to include distance learners in the collaborative learning strategies, the author introduced the concept of a screen camcorder. This allows learners to record their current activity on their computer as a video. Video is recorded in standard format that could me easily changed to streaming video. The experiment, conducted on 37 students, studying programming design in the Information Management Department during one semester. The conclusion was that most of the students thought the camcorder was useful, and easy to use. This study demonstrates the feasibility of using such devices in the classroom