Using videos with classes

Below is some info on how to use the videos, what benefits they may have for teachers and learners and what difficulties you may encounter when first running video sessions.

What benefits can I expect for classes?

Different projects on the site may have specialised information on how to best use the bideos. However, students & teachers can also benefit by in these ways:

1. They can use vision, paralinguistics, sound and subtitles to understand the language used
2. Students may, when familiar with opening videos, become extremely engaged in the activities, often quiet, focused and studying by themselves for 20-40 mins, even with a short video file.
3. The resources can appeal to different learning styles - those who learn best with words, have the subtitles, those who prefer to listen, have the sound and music, those who prefer visuals have the speaker on screen as well as the overlays and animations.
4. Teachers can benefit when students are comfortable studying with videos, because they are freed up in the classroom to monitor, offer advice and move around the cohort. They may move to being a facilitator, not just always the centre of attention
5. There are also strands of research and educational theory supporting the notion that use of audio visuals can motivate learners, where black and white text often does not - this is possibly related to the popularity of TV, mobiles and computer games.There is currently no research I know of regarding this with Arab speaking students in particular, or EAP learners in particular.

 

What difficulties should I expect with classes?

In your first session with classes, they may not be familiar with using videos on computers. Ask them beforehand about it - some may know about this. In the first 20-30 mins students may have problems with

1. Using volume and headphones correctly
2. Finding the video files
3. Using the Video player - eg Windows Media Player

To solve these problems, simply treat the first sesion as a practice one, and tell the students so. Use the first session to train students by having them come around your computer first, or showing them on the LANschool program (UGRU staff)or on a projector screen. Once started, move around and help them, and get confident students to help set up the first session.

By the second or third session, most students will be much more comfortable, as will you, and generally you should have a quiet, on task, focused class, knowing how to use the materials well.

 

Links for online activities, making av content etc

Sites where teachers can develop materials for classes

1. Blackboard (license needed)
2. Nicenet
3. english to go
4. quia
5. blogging
6. pandoras box

   Sites about producing av content

7. imovie by apple
8. movie shaker for windows
9. more complicated packages and sites
10. film techniques
11. editing techniques
12. production and compression info
13. using av media with classes

How do you open them in (an UGRU, UAEU) class?

If you plan to use the videos and transcript with your classes, you can copy them, or this whole disc, to your Z drive in your office, and then open the Z drive when you log on to your computer in your lab room.

When you see the files on your Z drive, simply copy them to the room's X drive - then students will able to see and open them. (Delete from lab's X drive at end of session)

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