Educational Potential of Television: An Analysis of Research Studies on Educational Impact of Television on People and Pupil

Television is often referred to as a medium of education, information and entertainment in that order. However the fact remains television is mostly being used for endless entertainment, to some extend for information and a very little or no education. Though audiovisual characteristics of TV makes it a very persuasive tool for education but its potential is lost in the prevailing mindset, that television is a “frivolous medium” and it corrupts the intellectual quality of educational content. People generally believe that television is a “non-serious medium” primarily for relaxation after day's hard work, while education is a very serious business. Nonetheless research is indicative, if not conclusive, that educational outcome of television is at par, if not better than, face-to-face teaching. Teaching through television has shown promising outcome in terms of cognitive learning and scholastic achievements of students under experimental conditions. Television together with teacher's intervention in classroom has demonstrated a higher degree of understanding of the topic by the students. This paper tries to identify and analyze a plethora of research on the impact of television in general and educational impact of television in particular on people and pupil.