Technology-enhanced Teacher Presentations via Video

The Value of Educational Videos

Teachers talk. It is one of the most fundamental skills of the teaching profession. Yet there is a huge variety of presentation styles, and each teacher must discover and create his or her own most effective presentation methods. Technology can provide a lot of support. It can add audio, images and interest in a variety of proven ways, as well as providing a resource that students can return to for added clarity or revision.

Teacher-made Video Content

By creating their own video content, teachers can provide direct instruction or other teaching content to students that they can then use in a number of different ways:

1. For example, a teacher-made video can be given to students for revision at anytime.
2. Teacher videos that are easily accessible on a teacher's blog, website or school's LMS can also help to cater to learner differences, providing resources for students who need support.
3. It can also be assigned as "homework" for a flipped class lesson, which then frees time in class to focus on student practice and student-teacher interaction. 
4. Another option is to use the video in class as a model or focus of learning, much like a PowerPoint, but with the obvious advantage of being 'multi-media'.
5. Students can also follow the example of their teachers to create their own student-made video content.

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5 Kinds of Video Content

There are five kinds of educational videos that teachers can make:

1. Talking Head

2. Narration

3. Role Play

4. Screencast

5. Video Lessons

Here are examples of how the five kinds of videos can be used in the context of an English lesson. These video styles give teachers access to a wide range of content and teaching approaches that can be created without much technical training or experience - they just require a little practice. 

1. SELF-INTRODUCTION (TALKING HEAD/ DRAMATISATION)

It is easy to point a camera or phone at your head and shoulders and talk. Get used to it! It's a very useful school for talented e-teachers. Then you can learn to enhance your videos with good lighting, background and simple dramatisations. Try it! Introduce yourself to your students, so they can get to know you. (You're also modelling how to use language at the same time!)

2. STORYTELLING (NARRATION)

You don't always have to show your face while teaching your students. You may want to show or demonstrate something. If you talk while the action is being shown, it is a "Narration" style video. The action can be as complicated as how to operate a machine or as simple as turning the pages of a book.

3. HOW-TO (ROLE-PLAY/DEMONSTRATION)

Here is an example of a "how-to" video I made in class one year and uploaded to YouTube in just a few minutes. Of course, if you include some preparation, organization and simple editing, it will take more time, but you'll also have a better video! After filming, I added the title screen and some simple text using iMovie in about 5 minutes. 

4. SCREENCASTING

Screencasting is a great skill for teaching videos. It is the modern-day equivalent to writing on the whiteboard. There are many apps that make it easy to screen record, including Zoom. Watch the brief tutorial introducing the Zoom screencasting features. You will be able to use it when you make your group presentation video for our class. 

Zoom Screencast Tutorial

 5. MAKE ANY VIDEO A LESSON - EDPUZZLE

Edpuzzle is a great tool for making any video on Youtube - or any of your own videos - into a lesson for your students. There are many great features of Edpuzzle, which you learn in the online training video. In this class, you'll first use Edpuzzle as a student. After you have that experience, you can learn all of Edpuzzle's features, and use it as a teacher with a video of your own choice. 

Complete the eTEACHERS Core Course Section 3.1 on Edpuzzle. Remember to post your evidence on your own personal blog.

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