10 Tips for Using Video in your Classroom

With so many new technologies, it can be difficult to know what things to incorporate and when. One of the best tools that you can use in your classroom (no matter the format- online, hybrid, traditional, or flex) are video lectures or presentations. Recording your lectures has a variety of benefits for both you and your students.

1. Say goodbye to long lecture videos!
1. Are you recording lectures that are 40 minutes long? Throat sore from talking too much? If your lectures can fit in smaller chunks, it is beneficial for both you and your students to trim them down! This doesn’t mean throwing out valuable content or talking faster, instead, you may just need to focus on certain concepts in one video. If Chapter 1 has three important ideas, then you may want to break that lecture down into three separate parts. This makes the content easier for students to digest, and more meaningful for them in the long run.
2. Don’t be afraid of adding personality to your videos
1. Videos don’t just have to be long, monotonous lectures for your students to dread listening to! If you’re teaching a fully online class, let students know who you are by posting an introductory video (and perhaps turn it into an assignment for them!). Consider adding a facecam in your lecture videos so students can see your facial expressions as you talk. Don’t be afraid to add your spin on topics, your students will appreciate the effort.
3. Flipping lessons
1. Consider using videos as a way to initiate a flipped classroom setup. Have your students watch the lecture before they come to class, and spend valuable face-to-face time answering specific questions, going over examples, and discussing the topic. Students will come into the classroom equipped with the basics, and you can focus on the more challenging parts of the lesson.
4. Teach, even when you can’t be present
1. Sick kid? Sick dog? Sick you? No more fretting over missed class time; direct your students to the class website or LMS and post a lecture video for them to watch and take notes on. This works in the opposite direction as well; if you have a student who is sick or unable to make it to class, having the option to watch the video online allows them to catch up on any topics they may have missed.
5. Verbal grading
1. Tired of writing long-winded comments that your students may (or may not) read? Create a short grading video instead! Saying what you mean is a lot easier than trying to scribble in the margins, and it may make the comments more meaningful to students if they’re hearing your feedback rather than passively reading it. This is also a great option for students who may feel a little anxiety when you break out the red pen; students are able to see that your comments aren’t meant to be cruel or dismissive.
6. Create demonstrations that students can re-watch
1. Teaching a more hands-on course? Have a cool demonstration that you want all of your students to have access to? Create a video! This way, fully online students have access to the same kinds of instruction as face to face students, and students have the ability to watch the demonstration as many times as they need.
7. Have students create videos
1. Many students don’t like writing papers, and many teachers don’t like grading them. Give students the option to create a video instead! Videos can be more engaging and make class time more enjoyable, especially with student created content. Videos are a great option for group projects, and can allow students to express themselves more than they could through a paper or text presentation. Another great idea is to have students create introductory videos for fully online courses. This heightens the sense of community among students, which often suffers due to the asynchronous nature of many online courses.
8. Videos as a study tool
1. Video lectures can double as a study tool for students once you upload them. Instead of creating a 15 page study guide for your students, they have access to lectures whenever they need it. Students can review a topic easily, as many times as they want.
9. Make videos interactive
1. If you’re worried about students getting bored halfway through your lecture video, think about adding an interactive portion to your videos. Include a poll that students can take, or give them a pop quiz to help them check their understanding. If you’re especially tech savvy, you can add these features directly into your video or presentation with apps such as Echo 360.
10. Identify confusing content and confused students
1. With tools such as Echo 360 and video analytics, it’s easy to see which students are watching your videos, which students aren’t, and which students seem to be re-watching a specific video. Using this information, it’s a lot easier to find the students that are struggling, and what they’re struggling with. Class time and study time can then be utilized to your, and your students’, advantage!

Adapted from “10 Ways You Can Use Video to Enhance Your Digital Learning Content” by Dayna Amboy.