ACTIVE REVIEWING TIPS
for Dynamic Experiential Learning

Active Reviewing Tips 1.4   Playback | High Tech vs. Low Tech. From the editor: HIGH TECH vs. LOW TECH Reviewing Tips: PLAYBACK 1 ~ 8 Site News Other Web Sites Other Ezines

A C T I V E . R E V I E W I N G . T I P S ~~~~~~ Volume 1 Issue 4 Welcome to Volume 1 Issue 4 of ...   ~~~~~~ A C T I V E . R E V I E W I N G . T I P S   ~~~~~~ the free monthly ezine linked to the web-based   ~~~~~~ 'GUIDE TO ACTIVE REVIEWING AND DEBRIEFING'   CONTENTS (TOP) ~~~~~~ From the editor ~~~~~~   H I G H  . T E C H  vs. L O W . T E C H   Reviewing can be 'high tech', 'low tech' or 'no tech'. 'Low' or 'no' technology methods often provide the best opportunities for reviewing - especially when they are simple, straightforward, versatile and adaptable. Nice to know if you have limited resources!   With 'high' technology reviewing methods there are risks that the technology takes over, or is unreliable or less accessible (perhaps learners are unskilled in its use or need to take turns to view it or use it).   One of the worst misuses of 'high' technology in reviewing is video playback. Used well, video is a wonderful resource for reviewing - but a straight playback is rarely the best use of reviewing time.   Here are some options for more creative and effective uses of video as a reviewing aid. Most options also apply to the use of audio tape recorders - a much overlooked 'medium tech' aid to reviewing.   CONTENTS (TOP) ~~~~~~ Reviewing Tips ~~~~~~   P L A Y B A C K . 1 ~ 8   Before pressing the PLAYBACK button on your video or audio tape recorder, consider these options:   PLAYBACK 1: CHARTS Ask everyone to make individual HAPPY CHARTS during the playback. The recording is played back with about ten pauses. At each pause, everyone marks a cross on their graph. The completed charts are compared and discussed. They can also be redrawn onto a giant HAPPY CHART to see what other patterns appear. It is possible to chart themes other than happiness such as confidence, effort, influence, motivation etc.   PLAYBACK 2: QUESTIONS During the playback, press the pause button every minute or two, or whenever requested to do so. Ask everyone to write down questions each time the playback is paused: "Questions you actually asked at the time." "Questions in your mind at the time." "Questions you would like to ask now - to anyone or everyone." Everyone reads out their questions while the reviewer quickly notes down the subject of each question on a poster. Repeat this process for each pause, starting a new poster each time. (The sequence of posters produces an interesting profile of the activity and there will also be plenty of questions to discuss!)   PLAYBACK 3: CHANGES During the playback, anyone can request a 'pause'. The individual requesting the pause now proposes something they would like to have changed: "I wish I had ..." "I wish you had ..." "It would have been better if ..."   PLAYBACK 4: SOUNDS REPORT: A microphone (dummy or amplified) is passed round in turn while a video is played back without the sound. The holder of the microphone provides a 'voice-over' commentary on the action in the style of a news reporter or sports commentator THINKING ALOUD: whoever is on-screen is passed the microphone and speaks aloud what they were thinking at the time. MISSING SOUNDS: the viewers provide the missing sounds and words.   PLAYBACK 5: SIGHTS Before playing back the audiotape (or video soundtrack) explain that "the picture has been lost", and you are asking the group to provide the 'silent film' to go with the soundtrack. A space for ACTION REPLAY is cleared and it is explained that no props are to be used. The audio-tape (or video soundtrack) is replayed. The group re-enact what happened, synchronised with the soundtrack.   PLAYBACK 6: BRIEFING If there is a verbal briefing of about 10 minutes before a particularly special or challenging activity, then record it! During the review, play back this recording, pausing it every minute (or when requested), and ask each person to recall what they were thinking or feeling at the time.   PLAYBACK 7: STATEMENTS Before the activity, each person records a brief statement about their hopes, fears, expectations, responsibilities, predictions etc. These recordings are played back after the activity. (This is less formal and more dramatic than referring to written statements).   PLAYBACK 8: INCIDENTS If a key incident has been captured on film, then everyone is given the opportunity to provide a commentary during the playback or to explain what they were doing or thinking at the time.   If you want to know more about the HAPPY CHARTS or ACTION REPLAY mentioned above, you will find these described in the 'Online Guide To Active Reviewing'. Type the words into the site search engine at <http://reviewing.co.uk> or in 'Playback: A Guide to Reviewing Activities' where the 8 tips above were first published. For more about 'Playback' see: <http://reviewing.co.uk/pbk.htm> or send an email (mentioning your interest in Playback) to: institute@outdoor-learning.org   If you have any interesting experiences (or tips) about the uses of high technology in reviewing (video, electronic meetings, electronic flip charts, electronic diaries, video/telephone conferencing etc.) please write in.   If you prefer 'low tech' reviewing, be patient - there are plenty of low tech tips on their way - in addition to those already on the website.   CONTENTS (TOP) ~~~~~~ Site News ~~~~~~   The interactive tutorial was up for a short while. It's now offline while some technical problems are being fixed. Watch this space for news of this 'high tech' problem getting fixed! :-) Meanwhile your interactivity is always welcome - please write in with comments, tips, questions etc.!   CONTENTS (TOP) ~~~~~~ Other Websites ~~~~~~   Thank you to the reader who recommended Supercamp at: http://www.supercamp.com/ Their approach to developing learning skills is clearly explained. The principles apply to all ages even though their market is clearly young people. This is _their_ intro: "SuperCamp Is The Leader in Student Success -- Changing the Lives Of Over 25,000 Students Worldwide Imagine A place of nonstop work and play, learning and growing, classes and outdoor challenges. It's renewed confidence emerging from a sense of belonging. It's intense days of discovery and motivation from wake-up to lights out. A program taught by experts, offering skills that last a lifetime. Imagine experiencing success every step of the way. That's SuperCamp."   CONTENTS (TOP) ~~~~~~ Other Ezines ~~~~~~   The *other* free monthly ezine associated with this site is: ===> SiteFinder: The Experiential Education Directory Ezine ===> which you can sign up for at: <http://reviewing.co.uk/index.htm#ez2> It carries news and views about other sites   [I am interested in finding other ezines that cover similar or related subjects. Perhaps you are too? If you know of any, let me know and I'll list them here.]