Week 11 Question #2

Why is it important to preview and evaluate videos? What tools should you use to be sure a video is communicating the intended message to your students? What are alternative learning systems? How might they enhance traditional education?

An educator must take the time to preview and evaluate videos because they first and foremost must be appropriate for the age of the class. Secondly, the educator must know how to plan the lesson around the video. If the educator does not know what they want the video to do for the class, then it could be a waste of time. If it is done correctly then the video will enhance the subject matter, because it has been strategically planned around the curriculum. It also has to be able to keep the class’ attention. It is recommended that the teacher use some form of evaluation technique for the video. A rubric is available on page 348-Table 9.6 (Lever-McDuffy, & McDonald). The educator should use a form of evaluation to decide how well the video will enhance and fit the subject matter. The teacher should also take into consideration the curriculum for the course. It is useful to have a student worksheet, or project to help the students follow along and pay close attention to the video. A video study guide is suggested in the text. The study guide for the video will help the student get the most out of the video.

Alternative learning systems are a type of learning that takes place outside the traditional classroom. Some examples of alternative style learning systems are online lecturing, course calendars, online activities, online interactivity, and web-based assessments. Each of the listed examples enhances independent learning. One huge advantage of the alternative learning systems are that they promote working at your own pace and allow the student to practice and review when their schedule allows. Online lectures allow the student to view missed lectures or just simply to review that part of the lesson. Course calendars allow the students to have access to due dates all the time. Online activities allow students to work ahead and work from home. Online interactivity allows the student to exchange information with other people, including people from all over the world. It also promotes group work from home. Email allows constant contact and exchange of information between students and student to teacher and even teacher to parent.

Lever-Duffy, & McDonald