action model

1. ACTIONS Model
For selecting educational media technology
Tony Bates
TV Broadcasting
Access
 How accessible is a particular technology for learners?
TV is broadcast or one-way technologies, learners can not access any time
because TV broadcasting is time dependent. The instructor should tell the
learners about the channel, time and subject that will broadcast for them.
 How flexible is it for a particular target group?
It needs specific time and place to receive the content from the TV.
Moreover, it is necessary for the learners to have TV machine with the
instructional channel.
Costs
 What is the cost structure of each technology?
The cost of producing the visual media (TV, video) and of using them are
very much higher. It needs equipment, human and technical support,
financial and instructional materials that used to deliver the content.
 What is the unit cost per student?
AC(N) = F/N + V = 4500/30 + 2000 = 2150
This unit cost for one month.
 What are the opportunity costs vs. other technology choices?
It is cheap compared to other technology like video conferencing and mobile
learning.

2. Teaching and Learning
 What kinds of learning are needed?
It could be used in distance learning, individual and collaborative learning.
 What instructional approaches will best meet these needs?
The presenter delivers the content using different types of media and the
learners receive it. Sometimes instructor can receive questions from the
learners. Also, the learners can take notes and do activities.
 What are the best technologies for supporting teaching and learning
in this environment?
There are many technologies that support teaching and learning in TV
environment such as:
Telephone line (enable learners to ask questions and receive feedback), Fax
and E-mail, smart board and satellite.
 Can the content be adapted to the technology?
Yes, Content is suitable to TV .we can use different materials to explain and
deliver the content.
 What skills does the technology develop?
This Technology can the Listing skills, Focusing skills (attention), writing
skills (Note taking), and Thinking skills.
Interactivity and User-friendliness
 What kind of interaction does this technology enable? (Synchronous
or asynchronous)

3. TV broadcasting is synchronous and asynchronous because its life by using
telephone line (synchronous) and students can communicate with each
other or the instructor using or fax or e-mail (asynchronous)
 How easy is it to use and learn?
Learners can use TV broadcasting by them selves without any difficulties. It
is very easy and learners can receive and gain the information in multi-
format easily.
Organizational Issues
 What are the organizational and Institutional requirements to
provide stability and support?
It require technical support, maintenance, production team ( teacher,
photographer, editor, director and course designer)
 What are the barriers to using this technology successfully within
the institution?
TV broadcasting needs electricity or power. Also, learners can not record the
lesson, and it is not available at any time (there is a specific time for
broadcast the lesson).
 What changes need to be made within the organization to
incorporate the technology?
The organization should repeat the lesson more than one time and tell the
learners about that. Also, it must provide expert team to deliver the
materials.
Novelty
 How new is the technology?
TV broadcasting is popular and used from long time, but it still effective
medium.
 What are its technical capabilities?
Screen size (LCD screen), quality of pictures and sound (stereo).

4. Speed
 How quickly can courses be created and distributed with this
technology?
TV is an effective medium for spreading education, because the language of
TV is rich, powerful. It can reach a wide number of learners in short
time.
On the other hand, creation and development of course take time and needs
effort and skills.
 How quickly can materials be changed?
It is easy to change the materials quickly. The instructor can modify the
content by adding new information and multimedia materials ( videos,
pictures, animations and audio).