Hi Blog!

For this week I am looking into how educational videos can be used to support learning! This idea is something that really resonated with me as I tend to be more a visual learner and audio learner rather than a reading and writing learner! For example, this year when I got my iPad rather than reading about different note taking apps and their various features, I watched countless video tutorials on YouTube to decide which notetaking app was best for me. Another example of how I use educational videos in my own life is the platform Khan Academy. Throughout my math education whenever I have needed a refresher on a concept or a complete review, I frequent this site which offers math lessons and audio recording – both of which I find extremely helpful in comparison to textbook readings.

What are Educational Videos?

Educational videos are content videos that provide instruction and promote student learning! They offer an avenue for students to engage with content on their own time allowing them to review, refresh, and replay even when the teacher is not around. One of the main features that draws me to include video into my own teaching practice is the ability for students to rewatch and continue learning topics at their own pace. Whether a student misses a class or just needs a refresher on a certain topic, educational videos can support these learners. Another feature of educational videos I really enjoy is the ability to support diverse learners in their preferred learning styles or provide additional support for learners with hearing impairments by offering captioning on these videos. Additionally, educational videos allow for the possibility of blended (online and in-person) teaching or remote teaching as well. I think this is a great technology tool to integrate into my own classroom to offer increased support to my students and to open avenues within my own teaching career.

Some Examples of Educational Video Use in the Classroom:

Lecture recordings, screencasts, and class recordings all supplement student learning by offering on demand instructional videos which can cover a wide array of content and subjects. Simulations and animations can be utilized to help learners understand abstract concepts and enhance student engagement!

My First Screencast:

Below I have linked a brief screencast I did explaining the free online website Unsplash which has been a resource I have used multiple times throughout this course to access copyright free photos for my blog!

The platform I used to develop my first screencast is a browser extension called Screencastify. It was very user friendly in terms of downloading and also extremely easy to get started with creating my own screencast. After finishing my screencast I realized that the top browser search bar did not display during my screencast, so I used the Screencastify editing function to add in some text. I decide to try to take my video a step further by adding both an introduction and closing title, using the iMovie app! After creating my own screencast – I couldn’t help but get excited about the possibility of using this technology in my own classrooms – especially in relation to mathematics. Math tends to be one of those subject’s people either hate or love. I think by offering math lectures online as a supplementary resource for students, in a similar style to Khan Academy videos, where teachers can simultaneously explain and demonstrate concepts on demand would make the worlds difference in students learning.

That’s all for this week, but I can’t wait to learn about more avenues educational videos offer in supporting student learning!