Getting Ready
If you are new to video you might be asking: "What should I think about? How should I prepare?" Here are a few important research-based concepts to think about when starting out and before pressing the "Record" button.
Learning Objectives
Think About the Most Important Things You Want Viewers to Learn:
-
What do you hope viewers will learn or take away from your video?
-
Think backwards. That way you will ensure your design reaches your original learning outcomes.
The Role of Content:
Although video instruction is easier to produce than ever, not all video is good video.
It does require forethought and lesson planning. Watch the short video below to learn more about the unique role of content in video design and what you as an instructor can bring with your expert voice. For more info, see Make It Stick by Brown, Roediger III, & McDaniel.
Think it Through
Aaron Johnson, Associate Dean of Educational Technology, Denver Seminary (2017, Jan 19). The Unique Role of Content in the Online Classroom [Video]. Posted by Permission from https://player.vimeo.com/video/138361464. Cf: https://denverseminary.edu/
Keep it Brief
Keep it Brief:
Numerous studies have shown that student attention spans are on the decline (Richardson, 2010; SBRI, 2015; Wilson & Korn, 2007). Video designers suggest, when considering length of video, keep it as short as possible. Consider the end-user and consider keeping it short and to-the-point.
Ideas to consider:
-
What are the most critical pieces of information that you want learners to know
-
How much information must be shared? Be willing to let go of unnecessary details. In what ways can you present this concisely through video?
-
How short should you go? Read some (brief) advice from Illysa Izenberg in "The Eight-Minute Lecture Keeps Students Engaged."
Page References:
Brown, P., Roediger III, H., & McDaniel, M. (2014). Make It Stick: The Science of Successful Learning. Cambridge, MA: Belknap Press.
Izenberg, Illysa. (2015, Aug 31). "The Eight-Minute Lecture Keeps Students Engaged." Faculty Focus. Accessed on
April 1, 2019, from https://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/course-design-ideas/the-eight-minute-lecture-keeps-students-engaged/.
Richardson, H. (2010, Jan). “Students only have ‘10-minute attention span’.” News.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved from http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/education/8449307.stm.
Statistics Brain Research Institute. (2015, Apr 2). “Attention Span Statistics.” Retrieved from http://www.statisticbrain.com/attention-span-statistics/.
Wilson, K. and Korn, J. H. (2007). Attention during lectures: Beyond ten minutes. Teaching of Psychology 34 (2), 85–89.