Post-Primary - Creating Video

Video in a Blended Learning Classroom

In a blended environment, educational videos are one of the most important technologies that can increase student engagement (Kazanidis and Eleftherios, 2017).

Video can be used to introduce, supplement and reinforce the learning outside of the classroom through online and offline tasks.

Benefits of using videos in a blended learning environment:

Learners come to class prepared and with some prior knowledge.
Teachers are available to support learners when they need them most - completing tasks/applying knowledge.
Learners can view and review videos at their own pace.

Video Recording

Introductory Approach

Teachers use pre-made videos as a means of introducing a topic and/or supplementing the learning. The teacher continues to deliver much of the content during contact time. Some of these sources include Teachertube, WatchKnowLearn, TedEd and Khan Academy. You can find more sources of video here.

Intermediate Approach

Teachers record a video based on a topic and share it with the learners prior to class contact time via the school's learning platform. The learners arrive to class with prior knowledge of the topic and the teacher builds upon this. Video creation tools include Adobe Express, Canva, Flip, Loom and Screencast-o-matic.

Advanced Approach

Teachers create an interactive video which includes questions and prompts for a self-paced learner experience while at home. Learners arrive to class with a deeper knowledge of the topic and the teacher facilitates further learning. EdPuzzle and Nearpod are two such interactive lesson creation tools.

What is Screencasting?

Screencasts can be is described as the “digital video-recordings of a computer’s on-screen activities” (Séror, 2012). These recordings are also often accompanied by narration which can be captured during the recording session or added to the recording thereafter.

Screencasting enables:

a learner-centred approach to learning
an effective channel of feedback (Anson et al., 2016)
critical thinking and meaningful educational experiences (Meyer, 2003; Garrison and Kanuka, 2004)

Screencasting Tools

Loom is an online tool and Chrome extension which can be used to create screencasts. Suitable for teachers to create screencasts and to narrate over existing teacher resources. The pro-version of Loom is now free for educators forever.

Screencast-o-Matic can be used to create screencasts and narrate over existing teacher resources such as Google Slides or Powerpoints.

This tutorial demonstrates how Screencastify can be used to provide feedback to learners on work submitted. Teachers can include closed captions to make the screencast more accessible.

Recording Demonstrations

Recording demonstrations is a simple way to generate video content to share with your school community.

Teachers can:

produce a recording showing a particular skill or technique that students can access at any time
collaborate with peers to produce a library of subject specific demonstrations

Equipment you may have in your school that can be used to record demonstrations include mobile phones, tablets, visualisers, laptops, microphones and tripods.

Practical Considerations for Recording Instructional Videos

When creating an instructional video, there are a number of factors worth considering:

Scripting: this will provide focus for your video and ensure alignment with lesson’s learning objectives.
Context: be aware of any references that may date your video and prevent it from being re-used in the future.
Content: images/resources used in videos should be copyright-free and available for sharing/re-use.
Timing: videos should be within the 3-5 minute mark to maximise engagement.
Sound: be aware of environmental sounds as well as clarity, pace and tone.
Lighting: if recording live, face a source of direct light.
Editing: iMovie or Openshot can be used to edit your video.
Animated videos: can be created on sites such as Mysimpleshow, Moovly, Powtoon or videoscribe.

For other sources of pre-made educational video content click here.

For a selection of video tutorials from the Oide Digital Technologies team showing a range of online tools which can be used to support teaching, learning and assessment click here.

Curricular Examples of Recorded Demonstrations

Art: showcase a detailed sketching technique.
Geography: Sketching a diagram
Home Economics: demonstrate how to do a crochet slip stitch.
Maths: Bisecting a line
Technology: demonstrate how to solder a 6 pin switch to achieve forward and reverse direction
Technical Graphics: Inscribing a circle inside a hexagon
Woodwork: demonstrate how a mortice and tenon joint is constructed

Bisecting a line in Maths or Technical Graphics

Inscribing a circle inside a hexagon - Maths

Effective use of screencasting as Gaeilge - Science

Copy of Waterfall Diagram iPad.mp4

Sketching a Diagram - Geography

Copy of Thinking Quilt.mp4

Demonstrating an Activity - Geography

Case Study A:

Video Recording

The Maths department in a large second-level school are collaborating to record simple demonstrations of Maths concepts that learners can review at home. They take photos of each step of the process and narrate the strategies using Adobe Creative Cloud Express Video. These videos are uploaded to Edpuzzle and interspersed with a variety of questions to check for understanding.

Case Study B:

Screencasting

A 2nd-year Geography teacher in an urban Gael Choláiste wants to create an interactive lesson to introduce plate tectonics to his class. He created a Google Slide presentation on Nearpod and supplements it with engaging polls, collaboration boards and Flipgrid topics to ensure maximum learner engagement. To inform his lesson, he then reviews the learners work via the assessment tool prior to contact time with his learners.

Case Study C:

Recording demonstrations

A DCG teacher in a post-primary school in the midlands regularly uses a visualiser purchased by the school to record live drawings. In her recording, she outlines processes and key information. She then posts the link to her instructional recording on the school's VLE so that learners can access these resources from home.

Report abuse