Using Videos for Instruction and Assessment

One of my personal technology goals is to incorporate the use of teacher-created videos for instruction and student-created videos for assessment. This morning I was able to attend two sessions that addressed each of those respectively.

The first session was called “Taking Educational Videos to the Next Level”. It involved a panel of presenters each with a specific specialty with respect to educational video production: sound, editing and maximizing views on YouTube. But before we heard from each specific category, we reviewed some video-making fundamental:

• 3 Point lighting
• Shallow depth of field 
• Rule of Thirds
• 180-degree rule

We then circulated in by stations to listen to the subtopics presented by each video-making guru.

Harrison – Secondary Audio/Sound Design

• Microphones
  • Lavalier – “Lavs”
  • handheld  microphones
  • Shotgun mics
• Recorders
  • Zoom 4M
  • Sound Devices
  • Mix Pre-3
• Editing
  • Audacity (Free)
  • Audition (Adobe)
  • Garageband (Free)

3 Parts of Sound

• 1 video track
• 3 audio tracks
  • Dialogue
  • Sound effects (SFX)
  • Music

The second session I attended was basically a demo of a new product called Bongo by a company called YouSeeU. It was essentially a program to help teachers to teach and assess soft skills (communication, critical thinking, collaboration, problem-solving) using video. The program looked pretty slick. It provided ways for students to do group work and to submit video presentations. No doubt this product is very expensive. Furthermore, I feel like we basically have the same capability through WeVideo and Google Classroom. However, the big takeaway for me was to start thinking more about how video can be used for assessment and peer review. This can not only eliminate some of the anxiety surrounding presentations but also can provide an efficiency in time. I also liked the idea of giving students access to each other’s videos so as to provide peer revies.