Using Video

From my past experiences the use of instructional videos has been a great tool to use when incorporating it with other teaching methods. Being a visual learner I personal benefit more from watching how to do something on video media rather than trying to learn the same skill from text.

Certain strengths that video brings to learning are:
· The concept of what is to be learnt is realised by the learner more instant than by text instructions.
· Incorporation of visual instructions holds audience attention longer.
· Video instructions can be paused, slowed down, rewind, fast forwarded or replayed for easy clarification of the desired skill.

Video can be used for:

· PowerPoint presentations
· Documenting lab results
· Video and broadcasting cooking lessons
· Used to improve sporting skills
The list of ways to incorporate video into education is endless. It comes down to how creative you are.

Gardner (1983, 1993, as cited in McMillan & Weyers, 2006) illustrates in his multiple intelligences table that one of the nine ways people process information best is through the use of visual imagery. Dale’s Cone (1969, as cited in Active Learning Online, 2000) theory shows motion pictures and television to have minimal to medium affective learning attributes for students when used alone. However, if video was incorporated with direct hands on lessons (video and broadcasting a cooking lesson) more effective active learning could be achieved.

Thanks for listening

Jim Price

Active Learning Online. (2000). Why use active learning? Retrieved August 5, 2009, from http://www.acu.edu/cte/activelearning/whyuseal2.htm

McMillan, K., & Weyers, J. (2006). The smarter student: study skills & strategies for success at university. Harlow, Essex, England: Pearson Education Limited.

Photo: Retrieved August 10, 2009, from www.freedigitalphotos.net