Instructional videos can be used in many different ways to accomplish a number of purposes. With the level of computer technology integration in the Carbon School District we have resources that many educators around the country can only dream of to utilize this powerful tool.

For the purposes of this module, let's define some terms and clarify some ideas so we are all on the same page when we discuss instructional videos.

Instructional videos can be as short as 30 seconds and as long as a class period. They are used to teach, re-teach, demonstrate, clarify and provide access to principles, concepts and methods. They can be used in the classroom or outside of it. They can be used from a website, e-mail, LMS (Learning Management System), slideshow, document or just about any other way you can think of. They could even be used to show a guest teacher how to teach a lesson you are not there to teach. An instructional video can contain video recorded on any digital recording source: cell phone, Flip-cam, SmartBoard, computer screen, Swivl Cam, Youtube... The video and audio can be recorded during a class session, or alone at a computer work station or Chromebook. Video/audio files can be combined and edited, and drawings, screenshots and other images can be added.

Picture your students and their parents having access to your instructions 24/7 from an internet capable device. Or, your students having access to material they missed while out of class without you having to sit down with them individually to re-teach it. Imagine students being able to remediate themselves or extend themselves independently or just refresh their memories without you standing next to them. That is the power of instructional videos.

A short list of pros and cons (you will come up with more of your own):

• Pros
  • You control the content
  • Once done, you always have them to reuse
  • 24 hour access
  • You control the access
  • You control how much instruction is given
  • Parents see processes the way you taught them, not the way they remember them
  • Captions and scripting can be included
  • Videos can be shared many different ways
• Cons
  • Videos take time to set up and produce
  • Videos are only as interesting/boring as you make them
  • Videos take practice to do well
  • You may have to plan out ahead of time what you will do and say
  • You have to master the technology to create and share them

These things being noted, instructional videos are not the answer to all of our instructional problems. They can be, however, a great tool to solve many of them.

This module contains sections on:

• Introducing Screencast-O-Matic
• Recording and Editing Basics
• Saving videos and uploading to Google Drive
• Using editing tools like Draw and Zoom to improve a video
• Creating scripted videos to improve video quality
• Sharing your videos so they get to your intended audience
• Creating your final project for credit

Click Here to start learning how to do Screen Cast Videos