General Audio Tips

• Don’t use audio presentations in place of print materials

• Avoid long presentations because of attentional fatigue

• When using recordings, don’t repeat since students can rewind as necessary
  

Audio Presentation Overview

Use the chart to select a type of audio presentation and then click on the name to find out how to implement it.

Recorded

Lectures

Audio

Tutorials

Radio

Language

Laboratories

Design Strategies

• Provide printed notes to go with the recorded lectures

• Use compressed speech (word rate faster than normal conversation). People can understand faster than normal conversation (150-250 words per minute). Faster speech can indicate expertise and thus inspire confidence. Compress speech by either speaking more rapidly or by using sound editing software (eg. Macromedia’s SoundEdit 16)

• Design it as a programmed guide to direct students’ attention to materials

• Use informal, conversational speech

• Have the students stop the tape periodically. Use an sound effect as a signal.

• Use a well structured sequence of learning events

• List activities (hard copy)

• Assign activities to different kinds of sessions

• Keep it simple

Radio

• Use as a supplement to text

• Use compressed speech (see Recorded Lectures)

Language

Laboratories

• Acquire a language software package that allows students to record themselves using instant playback (student response is repeated within .5 sec) for translation

• Have students practice as often as possible (daily)

• Use with formal ear-training when teaching a language so students can self-correct

Instant Playback Example