Course of Action for an Instructor

C.

When faced with a situation where learners are not understanding a complex technical topic, the instructor should take steps to identify and address the source of the confusion.

Option A, giving the learners a break and then re-teaching the topic, can be effective if the learners are simply experiencing information overload or fatigue. However, if the learners are not understanding the material due to a fundamental knowledge gap or lack of clarity in the instruction, simply re-teaching the topic may not be enough to resolve the issue.

Option B, administering a short quiz to see where the confusion is, can be a useful diagnostic tool to identify specific areas of misunderstanding. The quiz can also provide an opportunity for learners to apply what they have learned and receive feedback on their understanding.

Option C, presenting a video clip of the topic in question, can be helpful in providing visual aids to reinforce the concepts being taught. However, relying solely on a video clip may not address the root cause of the confusion, and may not be effective for all learners.

Option D, asking general questions to check understanding, can help the instructor assess the learners' comprehension of the material and identify areas that require further explanation. However, general questions may not be sufficient to identify specific areas of confusion or address underlying knowledge gaps.

In summary, the best course of action for the instructor in this situation would be to use a combination of options B and D - administer a short quiz to diagnose specific areas of misunderstanding, and ask targeted questions to check understanding and address any knowledge gaps that are identified.