“Lectlets” Deliver Content at a Distance: Introductory Statistics as a Case Study

Abstract

A lectlet is a short Web streamed-audio lecture synchronized to an interactive text-graphics display. Lectlets can be used either as distance-education courseware or as enhancements to traditional classroom education. In this study, I compared lectlet-based distance education to traditional education for 4 semesters by simultaneously teaching 2 sections of introductory statistics: one lectlet based and the other in traditional format. Students in each format visited the other format and compared them. Student evaluation and course outcomes showed that (a) lectlets effectively presented content, (b) lectlet-based format was better than the traditional course in 6 specific ways, (c) the traditional format was rated as a better overall learning environment, and (d) lectlets were valuable as ancillaries to the traditional format. Lectlets may be useful in any content-oriented course.