Interactive means similar to a socratic dialogue where the presentation is altered depending on how the student reacts to an image or question. This approach is about trying to find a way to relate to students and to build on their interests. The approach is based on the pedagogical principle that people tend to remember what they are interested in. The course is available as a series of recorded lectures but these are used only as a back up in case the student has to miss a class. Unfortunately, there is no way to make a recording as interesting and engaging as an interactive conversation.
Students generally do just as well in the Web course as in the interactive course.
However, they tend to prefer the interactive course. While some of the sections consist of multiple page slide shows, many will require the viewers to use the back arrow on their browser to return to this Index page. The site is organized this way primarily because it matches the organization that the course would have in Blackboard , the course management shell that will be used to present this course on the Internet. There is a 40 page handout for Visual Arts, a 16 page handout for music, and a 50 page hand out for Theater Arts. Each student receives a copy of the handout.