As a defining feature of academic lectures, explanations help learners grasp complex and challenging disciplinary concepts. This chapter focuses on the multimodal dimension of explanations in an instructional setting where visual input has an important role: online video-recorded lectures. Using corpus techniques and multimodal annotation software, I analyzed the linguistic features of explanations in OpenCourseWare humanities lectures, as well as accompanying nonverbal signals (i.e., prosodic stress, gaze and gestures). The findings suggest that the humanities lecturers prefer complex argumentative forms over simpler explanatory devices (e.g., exemplification) and use nonverbal signals in a synergistic way to facilitate and reinforce comprehension.

Elaborating Explanations during Open CourseWare Humanities Lectures: The Interplay of Verbal and Nonverbal Strategies.

CRAWFORD, BELINDA BLANCHE
2015-01-01

Abstract

As a defining feature of academic lectures, explanations help learners grasp complex and challenging disciplinary concepts. This chapter focuses on the multimodal dimension of explanations in an instructional setting where visual input has an important role: online video-recorded lectures. Using corpus techniques and multimodal annotation software, I analyzed the linguistic features of explanations in OpenCourseWare humanities lectures, as well as accompanying nonverbal signals (i.e., prosodic stress, gaze and gestures). The findings suggest that the humanities lecturers prefer complex argumentative forms over simpler explanatory devices (e.g., exemplification) and use nonverbal signals in a synergistic way to facilitate and reinforce comprehension.
2015
Crawford, BELINDA BLANCHE
File in questo prodotto:
File Dimensione Formato  
Routledge chapter AM.pdf

accesso aperto

Descrizione: Articolo principale
Tipologia: Documento in Post-print
Licenza: Tutti i diritti riservati (All rights reserved)
Dimensione 755.88 kB
Formato Adobe PDF
755.88 kB Adobe PDF Visualizza/Apri

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11568/622070
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? ND
  • Scopus ND
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? ND
social impact