College launches 60-second 'microlectures'

12.03.2009
Students who take online courses at San Juan College in Farmington, New Mexico no longer have an excuse to fall asleep during class.

The college recently launched a for several courses where professors deliver lectures in short 60-second bursts that are available online.

The college's occupational safety online degree program uses microlectures exclusively. The feature has also been introduced in online reading, tribal governance and veterinary studies courses at the college.

"Overall, the response has been favorable," David Penrose, the online-services manager for San Juan College told The Industry Standard. "Students report liking the focused content and clear identification of important details for each learning unit."

He added that some students also requested longer presentations and more information.

Jeff Seaman, CEO of Sloan Consortium, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving online education, said microlectures were best suited to well-defined, solitary concepts.