Digital Video

The use of digital videos in the classroom can be an important element of engaging learners in the content of a lesson.

I delivered a Primary Connections science lesson last year to grade 2 students on Change. We did an investigation on popcorn and how heat changes its features. During the lesson we popped the kernels and discussed the process. This discussion was limited as they couldn’t see the process unfolding in the popcorn machine, they had to guess. If I had used this video it would have not only have given the students a view of the process but it is slow motion so they are able to analyse what is happening. Videos also give the flexibility of being able to rewind and discuss what is happening as many times as is needed.

Sites such as Youtube, Teachertube or Google Videos provide teachers with access to a wide range of valuable resources. The caution that comes with using these resources, as with all web resources, is to check the content first. I have viewed many clips that look fine in the beginning but if viewed in their entirety, have inappropriate content.

Carefully selected videos can be a powerful mode to convey information, emotion, content and context.

Another element to the use of digital videos in the classroom can be students creating their own digital videos to demonstrate their understanding of a concept. Creating their own videos has been shown to increase: understanding of the content, engagement in the task, active and collaborative learning, flexibility for different learning styles and digital literacy skills (Schuck & Kearney, 2004).

Schuck and Kearney (2004) outline that students can use digital video in the classroom:
- to communicate an idea or information
- for observation or analysis
- for reflection on learnings

Digital videos provide teachers with another mode to engage students, present and consolidate information and assess students developing understanding. This is a very flexible, accessible, user friendly digital tool that I will be using in my classroom.

The journey continues,

Lynn

References

High speed video of popcorn popping. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CXDstfD9eJ0

Schuck, S & Kearney, M. (2004) Students in the director's seat. Retrieved from http://www.ed-dev.uts.edu.au/teachered/research/dvproject/pdfs/ReportWeb.pdf