Professors at research universities prefer teaching with old-fashioned whiteboards

[FarCenter]

29. I can't recall physics or chemistry as being particularly interactive

Lecture halls for freshman and sophomore classes were 250 to 1000 seats. The interactive part was interacting with your classmates to work the problem sets. Interaction with the professor was essentially non-existent. Lab sessions were smaller, but they were not covering the material that was in the lectures, and they were taught by grad students.

Upperclass sections were smaller -- 25 to 50 students. They were not particularly interactive either. Professors moved through the material at whatever pace they saw fit. By then, the students had learned to fend for themselves.

On-line courses would have the advantage that you can actually see what is going on at the front of the lecture hall, you can actually read the material, and you might get a professor who speaks English intelligibly.