The Power of Instructional Video
We’ve certainly come along way in the digital age of teaching and learning. Our students are consuming information in ways we could only dream of and teachers across the globe have made the hard transition to fulfilling that consumption gap in their courses with the sudden shift to online/virtual learning. Don’t worry, this doesn’t mean you have to become a YouTube superstar (but that would be cool if you did!) but creating and using instructional videos can help you to connect with your students in the online/virtual learning environment, enhance their learning, and gives you power over the content your students consume. There are a lot of great instructional videos out there and we will give you links to some of those in the next section but you will find that you spend hours searching for that perfect video. Instead spend that time creating something special for your students that gives them access to your face, personality, and more importantly your expertise!
Below are a few examples of how you can use video in your course.
Video Introductions |
Explain a Concept |
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| An introduction video can humanize the online experience for all students, but especially for the more hesitant and new users. You can help students realize that their instructor is a real person with enthusiasm for the subject matter. When you establish a social presence with videos, you build rapport with students and foster a sense of community. | Creating a concept video is an excellent way to address gaps in understanding or to explain a concept in more detail. For example, if students consistently struggle with a particular concept, a short video that they can pause and replay can help to further their understanding. |