Engaging Students Through Videos

Last week we had a small workshop on how to create videos for your class. There are a variety of technologies available to use, but before you start make sure to know what your objective is in creating a video. We talked about 3 types of videos as:

• Spontaneous- videos with content that won't be kept more than 1 semester, used for feedback to the class, calling on specific students, or deadlines. They are instantly available to students.
• Step-by-Steps- screen captures that show a student a process, software, steps to complete a lab, etc. These are instantly available to students.
• Core Content- "rich" videos that are meant to be used multiple times, or in multiple courses. The production is more intensive, but the quality is better, and more professional. They may take 1-3 weeks to produce, but can include interviews, groups, special graphics and videos.

For instant "at home" videos, technologies include Adobe Connect, Blackboard and Camtasia Relay. For more professional videos, faculty can work with the CPCOM studio for support.

Finally, we discussed some best practices, like using a case study, or narrative to engage students in a story, and adding 'pop-up' quizzes to be sure students are actively watching the videos.

Thanks to Matt Robinson and Peter Van Leusen for some of the great resources we shared:

• MOOC study - How Video Production Affects Student Engagement: An Empirical Study of MOOC Videos (Guo, Kim & Rubin, 2014)
• PowerPoint Slides
• Videos in Blackboard