3 steps to increase student engagement through video

The advantages of educational video

There are a number of reasons to incorporate educational video in the classroom.

First and foremost is the ability to blend traditional learning and the digital space. Video is effective because it allows students to not only engage with the content, but it fully immerses their senses, allowing them to process information better and faster ¹. In fact, studies suggest that video accompanied by narration directly correlated with better student outcomes than traditional written material only ¹. What’s more, learning through video tackles the obstacle of addressing different learning styles, particularly catering to the visual and auditory learners ¹.

It’s clear that this type of learning provides many benefits to students. In summary, video:

• Increases student engagement and learning motivation
• Allows students the opportunity to learn at their own pace, at their own time
• Gives students the ability to revisit content until understanding is achieved
• Utilises both verbal and non-verbal processing, enhancing memory and learning
• Harnesses the power of storytelling
• Addresses multiple intelligences such as spatial, musical, interpersonal and verbal-linguistic ²

For teachers, video is also an efficient source of ready-made content that can be leveraged throughout the year to help save planning and preparation time.

Now that it’s clear why teachers should use educational video in the classroom, the question is how?

Here are three easy steps to get started.

Step 1: Consider your teaching style and the role of video

There are many successful methods to introducing video to learning so the first step is to understand your preferred teaching style, since the role of video will vary accordingly. In this section we will discuss two common approaches: blended learning and flipped classroom.

Blended learning is a method of teaching that combines face-to-face, mobile and online learning ³.

The Department of Education for Victoria conducted a study on blended learning, investigating the advantages and benefits of blended learning in Victorian government schools. In summary, the study found that blended learning enhanced learning outcomes through:

• Addressing individual’s needs, and allowing for personalisation
• Increased access to resources, experts and learning opportunities
• More student driven tasks being incorporated into the curriculum
• Higher student engagement
• Greater opportunities for collaboration
• Exposure to a wide range of web technologies and development of modern literacy skills
• Giving students the ability to learn anywhere, anytime at their own pace ³

How educational video is used in blended learning: Video is utilised as part of this model to promote students learn at their own pace, at their own time and as many times as they need to process the content. Teachers can use video as part of their teaching or as revision for the students.In contrast, the flipped classroom model allows students to digest content in their own time, and at their own pace first, so everyone comes to class with the same amount of knowledge. Teachers can then use classroom time to explore previously learned content more deeply, and actively engage students in student-centred learning activities ¹.

Wiley, Jacaranda’s parent company, conducted research on the flipped classroom and found many benefits for students and teachers. While the study focused on university students, the findings are general enough to apply to secondary school students as well. Specifically, the research revealed that the flipped classroom:

• Increases students class attendance, learning, and the perceived value in participation
• Allows for personalisation, catering specifically to individual needs
• Enables students to learn at their own pace
• Gives students the ability to revisit content until understanding is achieved
• Leaves classroom time free for active learning²

How educational video is used in a flipped classroom: Video can be incorporated as a tool for students to independently engage deeply with content. Teachers can then revisit content in class, and students can gain a greater understanding and spark conversations and debate ideas on the topic.

Now that you understand how you’ll use video in your classroom, it’s time to consider what exactly you’re looking for.

Step 2: Know what type of educational video content is right for your classroom

Finding educational video and interactivities that are accessible, with suitable content, and fit the curriculum can be a challenge. The design, pedagogy and structure of the video are essential influences to determine how effective it will be in improving student outcomes ².

Before incorporating educational video into the classroom, consider these two elements:

1) The lesson(s) that would most benefit from video

While it may be tempting, video isn’t necessary for every single lesson. Start small and focus on a few key areas (topics and/or sub-topics) where video can really enhance a lesson for students.

2) The quality of the videos

While there’s no shortage of content (free and paid), not all is created equal. In general, the educational video content that will be most effective in the classroom meets the following five considerations:

1. Addresses specific learning objectives and curriculum
2. Has minimalistic design to reduce cognitive overload
3. Is ideally under 3 minutes to promote engagement
4. Has text and highlighted content to emphasise essential learning materials
5. Includes teacher teacher-based instruction to enhance the content ²

Importantly, content needs to be aligned with the learning objectives and curriculum ─ content for the sake of content may overload and inhibit students’ understanding of the subject. Now, with a clear vision in mind, time to source the content!