The Role of Video in Teaching

A few people have recently lamented to me that everything is "going video."

One man wrote, "my class keeps asking for video lessons because they think they'll learn more."Maybe they will, there are many factors involved. But do not make the assumption that video is more powerful than audio. Here's some information about the power of sound.

You can prove to yourself how important sound is by doing a quick experiment with your TV.

Watch a few minutes of a news program with the sound turned off. Now compare how much you information get by turning the sound up and walking into the next room where you can hear but not see the TV. Which way gave you more information?

The brain wiring is quite interesting. The eyes may be the "window to the soul" as Shakespeare put it, but the ears have a shorter and more direct connection to the brain. When you sleep the sense that your hippocampus is monitoring most closely is hearing. That's why sounds wake you faster than smells or sight. When you're starting to nod off in a classroom (or a sermon :-), you can still hear the speaker for a while, right?

There is good evidence that as people die hearing is the last sense they retain. Vision, taste, smell, and touch fail before hearing. Psychological tests demonstrate that humans can track multiple conversations by hearing (many people can monitorup to 4 conversations readily, and some can monitor 7!), but only two video inputs. You have no problem driving, working on bills, or cookingwhile you listen to the radio or music, right? How much can you multitask while you're watching TV? (I mean watching, not just glancing at it while you listen.)

Is vision a powerful stimulation? Absolutely. Just look at the effectiveness of TV ads. Movies have a powerful effect on us -- but don't forget that the audio trackhas a big influence. Don't get discouraged about teaching without videos. It is hearing the Word of God that is the most powerful means of grace -- by God's design.

Now should you avoid video altogether? No! But use video to draw attention to the Word of God, and support it. My concern is when people substitute video for teaching, instead of making it a tool to help people learn and understand.

My friend Tom Clark wrote me with an insight about hearing vs. seeing:

"[C]onstrasting the importance of our physical sight and our physical hearing, sight is often (not always) connected with doubt or temptation. Faith seems more connected to hearing and also to not seeing. Add to this that God is spirit and invisible, and you have an interesting perspective on the value of hearing over seeing. Second was to contrast God's way at looking at things with man's. .... Advertisers use visuals to get us to listen, and hopefully trust, them and their products. Bible teachers are wise to do the same!"

And then adds Hebrews 5:14 (NASB): "But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil."

So let's make sure we're helping our students train all their senses.