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Editor's Note: Here is a thoughtful analysis of how to effectively integrate fundamentally different technologies. This is well worth exploring by both education and industry.

SIDEBAR - CD/Web Hybrids

David P. Diaz

So called "Browser based" CD-ROMs are technically referred to as CD/Web hybrids. I have used CD/Web hybrids for several years. My research on pros and cons of CD/Web hybrids is published in: "CD/Web Hybrids: Delivering Multimedia to the Online Learner. " It is the eighth article listed at: http://home.earthlink.net/~davidpdiaz/LTS/sitepgs/ltsdocs.htm

A friend of mine, Dr. Reid Holland has devoted some of his research to CD/Web hybrids and has a nice informational web site: http://training.mid.tec.sc.us/hybrid/

Reid and I presented at the California Virtual Conference this past year in which we demonstrated two different implementations of CD/Web hybrids. His was for teaching history and mine for teaching health education.

It is the "hybrid" nature of these discs that keep them from the death knoll of talking head syndrome. Because they can utilize web technologies, they can facilitate interactivity through links to listservs, message boards and other synchronous or asynchronous technologies.

A teacher still needs to design thoughtfully and reject too much passivity in the delivery of instructional content. I recommend keeping video lectures brief. Remember that when we lecture in a classroom environment, we take for granted the interaction and discussion that is sandwiched between the content portions. On the web, a lecture can become too passive from the student perspective. Thus, lectures must be condensed and the key points distilled. Students should not be made to endure 50 minutes of video.

David P. Diaz, Ed.D. davidpdiaz@earthlink.net, Faculty Distance Education Mentor, Cuesta Community College, 805-546-3215.