While one minute lectures may be beyond the scope of imagination for any veteran teacher, Shieh reports on the piloting of the concept at San Juan College in Farmington, N.M. The concept was introduced as part of a new online degree program in occupational safety last fall. According to Shieh, school administrators were so pleased with the results that they are expanding the micro-lecture concept to courses in reading and veterinary studies.

The designer of the format, David Penrose, insists that in online education “tiny bursts can teach just as well as traditional lectures when paired with assignments and discussions.” The microlecture format begins with a podcast that introduces a few key terms or a critical concept, then immediately turns the learning environment over to the students.

To learn more about micro lectures or to hear an example micro lecture on english composition from the Chronicle of Higher Education.

What do you think about the micro-lecture concept? I see them being delivered soon by iPhones and other mobile devices. The site 5 minutes uses a relatively similar concept.

I wonder how the micro-lecture could be expanded either with interaction, application, or innovative games or assignments. I’m also curious to see the social application in online networks. For that application however, I think the last 10 to 15 seconds should focus on creating a topic for conversaion for students perhaps via a question.

Update: Learn more by exploring the Micro learning resources @ the Micro learning blog.

What do you think about micro-lectures? What do you see as the best applications of the micro-lecture format?