Professional Documents
Culture Documents
1.the Netflixization of Academia
1.the Netflixization of Academia
1.the Netflixization of Academia
Which things can you Which things might Which things are the
find in your classroom? you find in a university most useful for learning
lecture theatre? a language?
teacher (or lecturer)
data projector
TV
microphone
video recording equipment
loudspeakers
flip chart
whiteboard
textbook
2 Key words
Match the key words with the definitions. Then find them in the article to read them in context. The
paragraph numbers are given to help you.
1. someone who is wise and can tell you many useful things _____________________ (para 1)
2. people who teach or do research at a college or university _____________________ (para 2)
3. whenever people want it _____________________ (para 2)
4. the number of people who are present at an event or in a place _____________________ (para 2)
5. statements about what you think will happen in the future _____________________ (para 3)
6. the journey to and from your place of work or study _____________________ (para 4)
7. something that is usual or expected _____________________ (para 5)
8. a set of plans or actions agreed on by a government, educational institute, business or other group
_____________________ (para 5)
9. decide that you want to do something or be involved in something _____________________ (para 7)
10. a tall piece of furniture with a sloping surface where you put an open book or document when you are giving a
speech _____________________ (para 10)
11. happening in a natural way without being planned or thought about _____________________ (para 11)
12. a change in something _____________________ (para 15)
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NEWS LESSONS / ‘The Netflixization of academia’: is this the end for university lectures? / Upper intermediate
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‘The Netflixization of academia’: is this the end for university lectures?
Level 2 l Upper intermediate
‘The Netflixization of academia’: is 6 Since the intellectual property for the content
this the end for university lectures? of lecture recordings generally belongs to the
performer, it’s unlikely that recordings will replace
Chris Stokel-Walker
lecturers. This hasn’t made staff less worried:
4 December, 2019 Jisc, an organization which provides tech support
1 It’s a time of change for universities, with and advice to universities, has had to produce
rising student numbers and the growing use guidance for frightened lecturers.
of technology in lecture theatres. At many 7 The problem is that each university has different
universities, teaching is recorded through a policies when it comes to lecture recording. A
system called Panopto (or ReCap) and uploaded survey of 35 UK universities by Nordmann
to digital learning environments like Blackboard and colleagues found that 11 had staff opt in
so students can access the recordings in their to recording, 19 required staff to opt out and
own time. More than 1,000 universities worldwide four had different approaches depending on
use Panopto to record more than 100 hours of individual schools.
video every month. The old idea of “the sage
on the stage” that has been an important part 8 But the evidence is that students don’t want
of higher education for thousands of years is a teacherless classroom. “I don’t think that
disappearing. And some people are worried. interaction with the lecturer can be replaced,”
says de la Fuente. “It wouldn’t be welcomed by
2 Academics fear that on-demand recordings, the students.”
which some have called the “Netflixization of
academia”, will affect attendance. They also 9 “The community side of lecture attendance is the
worry about other consequences: it could be most important thing,” adds Nordmann. “Students
used to stop strikes, to monitor their performance can probably learn the same amount from the
and eventually it could replace them. But do they video, but it’s actually being there in the room
have good reason to be concerned? with the person that makes the difference.”
3 “I wouldn’t say the data proves them wrong,” 10 There are also concerns that the camera or
says Emily Nordmann, a University of Glasgow microphone near the lectern is a way to spy on
academic who has studied lecture recording staff members and check how they teach. In
technology. But she disagrees with the most reality, almost every university policy Nordmann
negative predictions: “It’s a tool in the same way has read states that recordings can’t be used for
a textbook is for a student.” performance management.
NEWS LESSONS / ‘The Netflixization of academia’: is this the end for university lectures? / Upper intermediate
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‘The Netflixization of academia’: is this the end for university lectures?
Level 2 l Upper intermediate
and explain why some lectures are recorded and for Panopto in Europe, the Middle East
some aren’t, they are generally fine with it.” and Africa.
14 Between 70 and 80% of British universities now 15 Nordmann describes the shift as similar to
have lecture recording technology in their lecture how PowerPoint transformed presentations.
theatres. “As video has become common in “Everyone uses it now,” she says. “That’s the
education, academics are using it like any other comparison we’re looking at.”
technology: they experiment with it, learn what
© Guardian News and Media 2019
it does well and find their own uses for it in the
First published in The Guardian, 04/12/19
classroom,” says Peter Ingle, general manager
3 Comprehension check
Are these statements true (T) or false (F) according to the article? Correct any that are false.
1. How many people are usually in _____________________ when you come to your English lessons?
2. How long was your _____________________ today?
3. What new thing has become the _____________________ in your classroom or lecture theatre?
4. What _____________________ do you have about how you will learn English in the future?
5. Would you like recordings of your English lessons to be made available _____________________?
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NEWS LESSONS / ‘The Netflixization of academia’: is this the end for university lectures? / Upper intermediate
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‘The Netflixization of academia’: is this the end for university lectures?
Level 2 l Upper intermediate
5 Finding information
Complete the table using information from the article.
6 Discussion
Make notes of your own answers to these questions, then discuss the questions with other students.
• In your opinion, what are the advantages of learning in a physical classroom with other students and with a
teacher or lecturer?
• How might video recordings of lectures and lessons be useful for you personally and help you learn?
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NEWS LESSONS / ‘The Netflixization of academia’: is this the end for university lectures? / Upper intermediate
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