3 ms·

Video is horrible for learning, because the combination of two sensory cues into a single passive medium puts said cues into a constant state of distraction wit

by RNCTX 5y ago

Video is horrible for learning, because the combination of two sensory cues into a single passive medium puts said cues into a constant state of distraction with each other. The visual tends to distract the viewer from the aural, and the presence of the visual invites the producer of the video to put less effort into aural exposition. Audio-only is not as bad as video, in my experience. Probably still less-than in comparison to reading, but certainly an acceptable compromise particularly for people who struggle to read due to some disability.

derekjdanserl 5y ago
For those unaware, parent comment is a pretty good layman’s version of Marshall McLuhan’s position. See: the concept of hot and cool media https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Understanding_Media https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Understanding_Media
- RNCTX 5y ago
  You got me! I've read McLuhan and while I think he can be a bit overdramatic in his proclamations, his way of looking at media as whole user experience rather than just content in isolation makes a lot of sense. It's relevant in this discussion because the content and the user's environment both determine whether a thing is "good" or "bad" (or as McLuhan would say... cold or hot). I personally don't listen to podcasts as a passive activity, I try to concentrate as if I were reading them to follow along with the concepts, but that's a function of what I'm listening to, I tend to favor theoretical discussions of concepts rather than people making jokes about the news or analyzing sports highlights or something that is more divided into discrete sections. I can listen while driving a car, because driving a car is purely reactive (the GPS is telling me when to turn, and otherwise I simply react to signs, traffic lights, and other vehicles without thinking much). But listening while coding doesn't work, I'll have to constantly rewind to a section of stuff that I've tuned out while reading docs or thinking about something else. On the other hand, if someone prefers listening to analysis of the previous day's NBA games and because they live in Houston they don't care about the Bulls vs the Knicks, who cares if they tune that part out and miss most of it? Listen while you're watching TV or cooking dinner if that's what floats your boat.
  - derekjdanserl 5y ago
    Cheers! I could not agree more. McLuhan nailed it.

by RNCTX 5y ago

derekjdanserl 5y ago

For those unaware, parent comment is a pretty good layman’s version of Marshall McLuhan’s position. See: the concept of hot and cool media https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Understanding_Media https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Understanding_Media

RNCTX 5y ago
You got me! I've read McLuhan and while I think he can be a bit overdramatic in his proclamations, his way of looking at media as whole user experience rather than just content in isolation makes a lot of sense. It's relevant in this discussion because the content and the user's environment both determine whether a thing is "good" or "bad" (or as McLuhan would say... cold or hot). I personally don't listen to podcasts as a passive activity, I try to concentrate as if I were reading them to follow along with the concepts, but that's a function of what I'm listening to, I tend to favor theoretical discussions of concepts rather than people making jokes about the news or analyzing sports highlights or something that is more divided into discrete sections. I can listen while driving a car, because driving a car is purely reactive (the GPS is telling me when to turn, and otherwise I simply react to signs, traffic lights, and other vehicles without thinking much). But listening while coding doesn't work, I'll have to constantly rewind to a section of stuff that I've tuned out while reading docs or thinking about something else. On the other hand, if someone prefers listening to analysis of the previous day's NBA games and because they live in Houston they don't care about the Bulls vs the Knicks, who cares if they tune that part out and miss most of it? Listen while you're watching TV or cooking dinner if that's what floats your boat.
- derekjdanserl 5y ago
  Cheers! I could not agree more. McLuhan nailed it.