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Instructional Television

If you've ever watched an educational program on a public broadcasting channel, local cable channel, satellite TV or other telecommunications channel administered by the FCC such as Instructional TV Fixed Service (ITFS), you have seen instructional television. It is one of the most efficient methods of instructional delivery as students can both see and hear what is happening as it is happening.

With this delivery method, transmission of instructional material is one-way. However, when instructional television is accompanied by an audio responding system and/or keypad capability, students are able to fully participate in the instructional session.

Remote students are usually able to interact with the classroom instructor by using a land-based telephone system that has incorporated an audio bridge. Transmission of instructional television occurs via microwave towers. Advancements in satellite internet protocol enable satellite broadcasts to travel across wide and local area networks.

With the proper equipment, students are able to fully interact with a learning session. Students can ask the instructors questions and they can interact with other students. In other words, students can feel like they are actually part of the class even though they are not physically present in the classroom. Instructional television supports a synchronous learning environment meaning that students are able to get timely responses to their questions.

With satellite, there are no bandwidth limitations and therefore the instructor is in no way limited by the number or type of instructional media that can be incorporated into a lesson. Satellite also facilitates the timely transmission of instructional material to a large number of students regardless of students' physical locations. In addition, the number of remote sites that can be supported by satellite is virtually limitless.

Because of the amount of equipment needed to record and deliver the instructional material, instructional television is very expensive to operate and maintain. A designated classroom must be outfitted with the equipment necessary to record the session. A skilled broadcast technician must also be present to do all the work that is involved in this type of instruction. The instructor also needs to have specialized training. All of these issues add to the total costs of instructional television.

Another limitation of instructional television is that it removes the flexibility in scheduling class work. The ability to study when it is convenient is one of the most important reasons why students choose distance learning. Therefore, although this method of instruction is very beneficial, some students will not be able to take part simply because they cannot tune into instructional television at the required time.

Instructional television is used for many different types of lesson. Instructors can deliver their lectures via instructional television and they're able to do so using descriptive narration. They can transmit guided instruction and they can use it for brainstorming and for presenting case studies. Instructional television is great for role playing, panel discussions, simulations, demonstrations and lesson practicing and drilling.