Let us go on a visual adventure and experience the power of video together!
In addition to this article, I have created a video version to watch, available below and on the Sovorel Educational Blog YouTube channel (be sure to like and subscribe if you found the video helpful). It provides multiple visual examples pertaining to the topic of the power of video especially with regards to education.
This article will explain 7 key ways in which video is a powerful educational tool that all instructors, at all levels, should incorporate into their teaching.
- Informative: Video can be extremely informative by creating a visual example of what is often abstract in the classroom, it helps content come alive. Minimal informative text placed with explanative video can greatly help students understand the material (Miller, 2014). An example would be a demonstration of Force such as a martial artist breaking a concrete slab and how it is calculated (F=ma).
- Interesting: Video has a unique power of captivating students by presenting interesting content and letting us see things, places, and cultures we don’t often get to observe. This then becomes a motivating factor. Interesting colors, movements, and situations are often stimulating and makes us wonder and want to see more. An example would be a video showing Tibetan monks and their special traditions and way of life.
- Emotion: Video creates an emotional connection. It’s one thing to talk about things like the politics and use of war, it is another thing entirely to actually see and feel its effects and consequences. By invoking emotion video gives us a great appreciation of what we are learning. Seeing hurt soldiers and civilians as a result of war helps us see the real consequences that occur when political solutions aren’t obtained.
- Empowering. Video gives us the power and ability to understand so much more. Many concepts or topics would be dangerous to actually see in real life. Video allows us to safely observe from a distance. We can see and learn without fear or apprehension. We can observe and learn about powerful exotic animals like lions or see how volcanos erupt all within the comfort of the class.
- Revealing: The advanced technological power of video allows us to see and learn things that we might never have been able to grasp with the human eye. It helps us better understand life itself. Thanks to modern visualization technologies, we can now see a developing embryo within a mother’s womb.
- Memorable: Impactful video, especially with a well-crafted, pertinent story greatly helps us remember instructional content. Imagine a veteran tell his personal story, his first-hand account about how his legs were blown off while serving in the military.
- Student Content Creation: Yet with all these great abilities of video there is one more thing; a true superpower of video. Video has the ability to allow students themselves to create content. That is maximum engagement! Creating video has become easy and affordable allowing students to be part of the teaching and learning experience. By giving students the opportunity to create creative videos they become much more active and part of hands-on learning. They learn how to think and explain not just what to think. In creating they truly live the educational process, real experiential learning.
Also, be sure to note that video can be successfully used to address every aspect of the Revised Bloom’s Taxonomy. Every part of the taxonomy, from Remembering (allowing students to watch instructional videos as often as needed to remember) to Creation (giving students projects individually and in groups to create content, demonstrating mastery) and be enhanced and address by incorporating video (Anders, 2017; Krathwohl, 2002).
I hope you enjoyed our visual adventure, but the journey isn’t over. Now it falls on us as educators to use the great power of video to make our classes come alive with motivation, emotion, understanding, clarity, engagement, and creativity to make the best educational experience possible.
How have you used the power of video to enhance learning in your instructional adventures? Comment below to help the rest of the world.
Reference
Anders, B. (2017). How to enhance instructional presence: Research & experience based techniques to improve both online & face-to-face instruction. Manhattan, KS: Sovorel Publishing.
Krathwohl, D. R. (2002). A revision of Bloom’s taxonomy: An overview. Theory into practice, 41(4), 212-218.
Miller, D. (2014). Minds Online: Teaching effectively with technology. Cambridge, MA: Harvard Press University.