Comments on: A question for you: what should I do with my lectures? http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2011/03/10/a-question-for-you-what-should-i-do-with-my-lectures/ Mon, 04 Feb 2013 17:13:44 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 By: Brian Too http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2011/03/10/a-question-for-you-what-should-i-do-with-my-lectures/#comment-15837 Brian Too Tue, 15 Mar 2011 01:06:35 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/?p=4145#comment-15837 Honestly I don't know. However this does put me in mind of something I saw recently. The current CEO of TED was being interviewed. He made the point that TED has prospered by opening up their material to the public. It's a not-for-profit anyways, but they thought that the conferences might be hurt by online availability. Not only was that wrong, but the conferences have gone worldwide and exploded in popularity. Since the TED model is of a 20 minute presentation, I suspect that you can ask this of an audience for your stuff too. You'll lose some if it's not Twitter length but it strikes me that your thinking process is not productively structured that way. Play to your strengths. My guess is that slides only, or audio only, will cost you significant audience share. Not enough senses engaged. Specialists and obsessives will watch (or listen) but everyone else will drop away. Honestly I don’t know. However this does put me in mind of something I saw recently.

The current CEO of TED was being interviewed. He made the point that TED has prospered by opening up their material to the public. It’s a not-for-profit anyways, but they thought that the conferences might be hurt by online availability. Not only was that wrong, but the conferences have gone worldwide and exploded in popularity.

Since the TED model is of a 20 minute presentation, I suspect that you can ask this of an audience for your stuff too. You’ll lose some if it’s not Twitter length but it strikes me that your thinking process is not productively structured that way. Play to your strengths.

My guess is that slides only, or audio only, will cost you significant audience share. Not enough senses engaged. Specialists and obsessives will watch (or listen) but everyone else will drop away.

]]> By: gc http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2011/03/10/a-question-for-you-what-should-i-do-with-my-lectures/#comment-15836 gc Sun, 13 Mar 2011 16:26:11 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/?p=4145#comment-15836 Video if under 10 mins, mp3 if over 10 mins. I listen to the longer stuff while hiking or driving. Video if under 10 mins, mp3 if over 10 mins. I listen to the longer stuff while hiking or driving.

]]> By: Travis http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2011/03/10/a-question-for-you-what-should-i-do-with-my-lectures/#comment-15835 Travis Sun, 13 Mar 2011 02:40:57 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/?p=4145#comment-15835 A video if it is less than 10 minutes, over 10 minutes usually is a bit intimidating. A video if it is less than 10 minutes, over 10 minutes usually is a bit intimidating.

]]> By: Daniel J. Andrews http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2011/03/10/a-question-for-you-what-should-i-do-with-my-lectures/#comment-15834 Daniel J. Andrews Sat, 12 Mar 2011 14:02:14 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/?p=4145#comment-15834 Given a choice I prefer to read than watch--much quicker. I see others above have said the same thing so ditto from me. Given a choice I prefer to read than watch–much quicker. I see others above have said the same thing so ditto from me.

]]> By: Rich http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2011/03/10/a-question-for-you-what-should-i-do-with-my-lectures/#comment-15833 Rich Fri, 11 Mar 2011 19:15:51 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/?p=4145#comment-15833 I prefer reading. Something I can do while running code builds or during lunch. Can't really watch video at work and once I get home my only time is a couple hours after the kids go down - which I set aside for reading & writing. I prefer reading. Something I can do while running code builds or during lunch. Can’t really watch video at work and once I get home my only time is a couple hours after the kids go down – which I set aside for reading & writing.

]]> By: Simon http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2011/03/10/a-question-for-you-what-should-i-do-with-my-lectures/#comment-15832 Simon Fri, 11 Mar 2011 17:02:48 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/?p=4145#comment-15832 Podcasts would be my top choice too, though this can obviously be challenging if slides form a key component for understanding. So I'd say podcast if we can get away with missing the slides, otherwise video & slides. Much appreciated whichever form it's presented in though! Thanks. Podcasts would be my top choice too, though this can obviously be challenging if slides form a key component for understanding. So I’d say podcast if we can get away with missing the slides, otherwise video & slides. Much appreciated whichever form it’s presented in though! Thanks.

]]> By: Sajanas http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2011/03/10/a-question-for-you-what-should-i-do-with-my-lectures/#comment-15831 Sajanas Fri, 11 Mar 2011 16:40:07 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/?p=4145#comment-15831 At work, I can read a blog post, since I have no speakers. At home, I'm reluctant to devote an hour or two hours to a lecture that I could read in 15 minutes. I know a lot of people prefer podcasts though, since they can listen in the car or jogging... so Both might be best. At work, I can read a blog post, since I have no speakers. At home, I’m reluctant to devote an hour or two hours to a lecture that I could read in 15 minutes. I know a lot of people prefer podcasts though, since they can listen in the car or jogging… so Both might be best.

]]> By: M Caro http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2011/03/10/a-question-for-you-what-should-i-do-with-my-lectures/#comment-15830 M Caro Fri, 11 Mar 2011 16:26:36 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/?p=4145#comment-15830 I prefer blog posts. If you must provide audio in order to reach people, please make it possible to download without video. My connection speed is slow and I can listen on an MP3 player. I especially enjoy audio when you are doing an interview because of the way the connection between two people comes across. I prefer blog posts. If you must provide audio in order to reach people, please make it possible to download without video. My connection speed is slow and I can listen on an MP3 player. I especially enjoy audio when you are doing an interview because of the way the connection between two people comes across.

]]> By: Aurora http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2011/03/10/a-question-for-you-what-should-i-do-with-my-lectures/#comment-15829 Aurora Fri, 11 Mar 2011 15:53:35 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/?p=4145#comment-15829 Like Kevin Bonham, I'm more likely to watch a talk if I can see the speaker. If it's just audio+slides I end up involuntarily treating it more like a podcast (i.e. I end up not looking at the slides). If images are really necessary/helpful, then a blogpost with the slides as images is probably more likely to keep me engaged. Like Kevin Bonham, I’m more likely to watch a talk if I can see the speaker. If it’s just audio+slides I end up involuntarily treating it more like a podcast (i.e. I end up not looking at the slides). If images are really necessary/helpful, then a blogpost with the slides as images is probably more likely to keep me engaged.

]]> By: Eleanor http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2011/03/10/a-question-for-you-what-should-i-do-with-my-lectures/#comment-15828 Eleanor Fri, 11 Mar 2011 09:50:14 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/?p=4145#comment-15828 I prefer reading to listening, partially as I can read a heck of a lot faster (and skip back and forth more easily). It looks like we might be split 50:50 though! I prefer reading to listening, partially as I can read a heck of a lot faster (and skip back and forth more easily).
It looks like we might be split 50:50 though!

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