Providing Clear Directions
We need to provide all of our students with "Good Direction(s)." For instance, trust falls have become a popular way to build trust because one person falls and depends on others to catch them. Simple, right? How could it possibly go wrong? Well, a Google search for "Trust Fall Fails" will provide you with more videos than you have time to watch--trust me I've tried. The following video is my favorite.
We need to provide all of our students with "Good Direction(s)." For instance, trust falls have become a popular way to build trust because one person falls and depends on others to catch them. Simple, right? How could it possibly go wrong? Well, a Google search for "Trust Fall Fails" will provide you with more videos than you have time to watch--trust me I've tried. The following video is my favorite.
Because we are familiar with trust falls, it's shocking to see someone doing it wrong. However, if you watch the video again you'll notice that she followed the directions perfectly. It was actually the sister and dad's fault for not telling her which direction to fall. If the directions were just a little more specific everything would have been fine.
Because we are familiar with trust falls, it's shocking to see someone doing it wrong. However, if you watch the video again you'll notice that she followed the directions perfectly. It was actually the sister and dad's fault for not telling her which direction to fall. If the directions were just a little more specific everything would have been fine.
Similarly, teachers who are highly familiar with tasks actually have a difficult time providing the level of detailed directions that students require. During in-person, whole-group guided practice teachers can easily see misconceptions and provide immediate redirection. However, that's harder to do in blended courses. Poor directions can cause a lot of frustration. As a result, you should error on the side of providing too much direction rather than too little. Video recordings can help to provide a lot of direction without overwhelming students.
Similarly, teachers who are highly familiar with tasks actually have a difficult time providing the level of detailed directions that students require. During in-person, whole-group guided practice teachers can easily see misconceptions and provide immediate redirection. However, that's harder to do in blended courses. Poor directions can cause a lot of frustration. As a result, you should error on the side of providing too much direction rather than too little. Video recordings can help to provide a lot of direction without overwhelming students.
Video Orientation
Video Orientation
In traditional courses, teachers commonly take a few minutes to orient students to activities that they will be completing in class. Similar orientations can be placed online using screencast videos, webcam videos, and a combination of both.
In traditional courses, teachers commonly take a few minutes to orient students to activities that they will be completing in class. Similar orientations can be placed online using screencast videos, webcam videos, and a combination of both.
Screencasts
Screencasts
Corey Teitsma at Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) created the following orientation videos for students. In the first video, he provided an orientation of a lesson in Google Classroom and in the second video he provided a unit and website orientation.
Corey Teitsma at Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) created the following orientation videos for students. In the first video, he provided an orientation of a lesson in Google Classroom and in the second video he provided a unit and website orientation.
Corey Teitsma, FCPS
Webcam Videos
Webcam Videos
Elizabeth Raff's orientation video below, only used a webcam but created a welcoming, warm orientation. Her orientation is a good example of how you can help to establish a sense of closeness while also orienting your students to course assignments.
Elizabeth Raff's orientation video below, only used a webcam but created a welcoming, warm orientation. Her orientation is a good example of how you can help to establish a sense of closeness while also orienting your students to course assignments.
Combination of Screencast and Webcam Video
Combination of Screencast and Webcam Video
Some tools like Screencast-o-matic allow you to combine a webcam video with a screencast video. In the video below, you can see how I used Screencast-o-matic to switch the focus on the video.
Some tools like Screencast-o-matic allow you to combine a webcam video with a screencast video. In the video below, you can see how I used Screencast-o-matic to switch the focus on the video.
Video Tutorials
Video Tutorials
While directions are commonly provided via text, when the task is complex you should use a screencasting tool to walk students through the process. When creating the videos, it is best to keep them relatively short--try to keep them under five minutes. If you need more time than that, chunk it into multiple videos.
While directions are commonly provided via text, when the task is complex you should use a screencasting tool to walk students through the process. When creating the videos, it is best to keep them relatively short--try to keep them under five minutes. If you need more time than that, chunk it into multiple videos.
In the following video Katie Bruechert, a librarian at FCPS, shows students how to sign into a website.
In the following video Katie Bruechert, a librarian at FCPS, shows students how to sign into a website.
Katie Bruechert, FCPS
