I just got back from San Francisco, where I gave a keynote lecture about how our bodies are like ponds, and why doctors need to think like ecologists. It takes a lot of time for me to put these talks together, and so I like to share them afterwards with more people than those who were physically in the room with me. Sometimes the people who invite me videotape the lectures and put them online. (Example: A talk I gave about science and the media.)
Other times, I make an audio recording and merge it with the slides to create a video. (Example: A talk about Neanderthals.) Still other times, I turn my lecture notes into an essay, illustrated with some of my slides. (Example: a piece on why we get old.) Either way, it takes a fair amount of time and so I want to make sure I’m actually making something people want to watch or read. But it occurred to me that I don’t know audience psychology well enough to know what the best course of action is.
So, if you don’t mind, let me foist this quick little poll on you. I’d really appreciate your answers, which I’ll post in a few days. And I’ll use the results to figure out what to do with my latest talk.
How do you like lectures online?online survey
Originally published March 10, 2011. Copyright 2011 Carl Zimmer.