Abstract
PowerPoint, a ubiquitous tool used by lecturers and customizable with
animation and now with video producing possibilities, and Microsoft Text to
Speech Application (SAP15 TTSAPP), now including the more naturally sounding
voices of Zira and David, have facilitated the setting up of a video lecture on
boiling and condensation, which was presented to a class of 45 fourth year chemical
engineering students in a computer laboratory. The original PowerPoint lecture
on boiling and condensation was used in this study, and augmented with
additional animation and audio to simulate normal lecture practice. The audio
was produced by typing the spoken words into the notes section of the Power-
Point slides, and processing these with the TTSAPP. The resulting audio wav
files were then included in the sequence on the animation pane, and the presentation
saved (also) as a MP4 file video. Students rated the video lecture relative
to a normal lecture and supplied additional, mostly positive, comments, and these
results are discussed and compared to their performance in the following test.
Hence it was concluded that there are initial indications that the learning of students
is not adversely affected by having lectures online. This can now be tested
for a whole subject, after which one may start thinking of collaboration with other
universities to ultimately aim for increased teaching efficiency.