Some Lessons Learned about Teaching via Teleconference

Abstract

This article evaluates use of a teleconferencing system (the Optel Telewriter II©) to teach a senior level psychology course. The second author taught The Psychology of Thinking and Decision Making either on campus or via the telewriter. Multiple-choice examination scores were comparable for students in the telewriter and traditional lecture sections; however, telewriter students' course evaluations were less positive than those of on-campus students. The instructor's course ratings in subsequent sections of The Psychology of Thinking and Decision Making improved after his first course with the telewriter. Suggested modifications in class activities may produce more effective telelearning courses.