In Secondary English classrooms, mobile videos can bring literature and language to life by helping students explore novels more deeply, keep track of changing plotlines and events, break down complex characters, analyze relationships, and summarize chapters. During a 10 minute break inbetween classes, for instance, students can use their iPhone to search a TikTok video on a Shakespearean soliloquy before a test, demonstrating the immediacy and accessibility of mobile videos. Once they watch it, several more suggested videos related to the topic will show up on their screen when they scroll down, offering opportunities for additional exploration. Furthermore, learning from videos, compared to reading, does not require the same range of basic language skills to comprehend the learning content (Delgado, Anmarkrud, Avila, & Salmerón, 2022, p. 5251). Therefore, videos might give the learner a greater possibility to allocate attention and processing capacity to the content itself, rather than the reading processes required to construct meaning from text (Delgado et al., 2022, p. 5251). While literacy skills and the ability to analyze texts are important, there are instances where content is the focus, and videos can provide students with an opportunity to access such information if they have difficulty with their reading.
Mobile-friendly platforms like the YouTube app offer a wide variety of educational videos and channels that provide analyses, summaries, creative interpretations of text, as well as audio-narrated chapters of various novels. Students can use the YouTube app to review learning content not understood in the classroom, find information and explanations when completing homework, prepare for tests and exams, and as a general source of knowledge (Delgado et al., 2022, p. 5250). Additionally, channels like TED-Ed (which can also be viewed on mobile devices) provide engaging animations of literary concepts, writing techniques, themes, and summaries of texts. These can aid students in developing their understanding of various forms of literature and literary devices, as well as polish their grammar skills. Lastly, mobile platforms like TikTok and Instagram also house millions of videos that can be used to make content more creative and engaging for students. Within these platforms are literary interpretations, student-led projects, and literacy lessons, making content more relatable.
Therefore, by combining visuals, sound, and narrative, mobile videos make challenging literary concepts tangible, promote discussion, and offer multiple entry points for learners with diverse needs. When thoughtfully integrated into lessons, mobile learning can support comprehension, critical thinking, and create an interactive classroom environment where students can engage with literature in ways that extend beyond the page.
References
Delgado, P., Anmarkrud, Ø., Avila, V., & Salmerón, L. (2022). Learning from text and video blogs: Comprehension effects on secondary school students. Education and Information Technologies, 27(4), 5249–5275.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639- 021-10819-2
TED-Ed. (2016, April 12). Does grammar matter? - Andreea S. Calude. (Video).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wn_eBrIDUuc&t=36s
TED-Ed. (2019, December 12). Why should you read “Lord of the Flies” by William Golding? - Jill Dash. (Video). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NnnZ6y1HPqI&list=PLJicmE8fK0EiUroVhuEyeOYkAGAAB58Xx