Canvas: Use Video for Effective Instruction
This article covers why and when to use three different types of video to engage students in an online course site. Media is everywhere in our society today and can be a powerful tool for teaching and learning. But to use it effectively, it is important to create and manage media strategically and efficiently.
Kaltura is the media management system available to all faculty and students to use in courses. It is also highly integrated into Canvas.
Create Lecture Videos
Creating videos of a lecture or presentation for your course has some advantages over face-to-face lectures:
- Students can rewind and review, as well as fast-forward, to specific points in the lecture.
- Videos published through Kaltura give students options for playback speed, which allows students to listen to the content at a faster or slower speed based on their learning needs.
- Videos captioned through Kaltura are searchable and allow students to access a specific point for content review purposes.
- Slides and other visual aids can be easier to see and review.
This type of recording combines video and presentation materials - such as slides or the use of a tablet - in a controlled environment. Presenters speak directly to the camera or provide voice-over narration. All video sources - lecturer, computer or tablet with PowerPoint - are integrated into a final composite product. Watch the ATSS Lecture Reel (0:49) for example lecture videos.
Research indicates that recording lengthy video lectures is ineffective. Studies demonstrate that students aren't watching them. Review the Recipes for Effective Online Teaching (Poster Presentation) for key research on the types of videos faculty should be creating and for strategies faculty can use to create focused video presentations.
Create Interview Videos
An interview is a conversation between two or more people during which the interviewer asks questions to elicit facts or statements from the interviewee. Many instructors invite guest experts to share specialized material with their students. Creating a video interview has many advantages:
- Allows an expert to share their specialty on a topic for many classes to come without repeated trips to and from an in-person class.
- Captures a guest speaker's ideas and perspectives for students to access multiple times for deeper analysis and class discussion.
- Brings expertise to your course to be easily shared with learners anywhere.
It is important for instructors to closely align these videos to the learning objectives to ensure students have a clear understanding of the importance and relevance of the content. Watch the ATSS Interview Reel (0:55) for example videos.
Create Demonstration Videos
Video is an excellent medium for recorded demonstrations because it:
- Provides every student a front-row seat for experiments and demonstrations.
- Can take students outside the classroom into the lab.
- Allows presenters to guide students through a process and show how it changes over time.
In some cases, a recorded demonstration can be even more effective than a live demonstration and can free up class time for other activities. These recordings can be used for many years and, in some cases, for more than one course. Watch the ATSS Demonstration Reel (1:06) for example videos.
- Instructors Should Consider Three Elements for Video Design and Implementation
- This article provides an in-depth analysis of elements to consider in order to create effective and engaging course videos.
- Academic Video Production
- This University-wide service is available to all faculty, staff, and departments at no charge to produce videos for your courses or other academic projects.