Fully integrating video lectures into undergraduate teaching

Martin Turner & John Erskine

Psychology, Sport and Exercise

Introduction • Tasked with writing a new level 6 module - N = 45.

• VoiceThread already prominent on MSc Sport & Exercise Psychology and Sport & Exercise Science Awards

Wanted to: a. Move to more active student centered pedagogy via increased

engagement of level 6 studentsb. Maximize the attainment of level 6 studentsc. Develop a “21st century” module

Outcome: Adopt a ‘flipped classroom’ approach to this new module using VoiceThread!

Why Flip the Class?

Concerns about traditional lectures….

• Attentional span of students• Effectiveness of ‘information transmission’ approach re

learning/understanding• Early starts vs. parking• Illness• Attendance - Part-time work to pay for education

Why Flip the Class?

Concerns about traditional lectures….

Flipped Classroom 1

• Description:a learning environment in which the activities traditionally completed outside of class as homework are now completed in class during instruction time. And, the activities traditionally completed in class are now completed on students’ own time before class. In many definitions and models, this means students watch a video of prerecorded lectures before class. Then, when they arrive to class, they work through assignments or activities with their peers and the instructor.

Flipped Classroom 2

• An emerging trend in education ….

University of Sheffield replaced lectures with short videos

“…not only did students watch the vast majority of the videos on time, but attendance improved dramatically…we had added somewhere between 4 and 12 marks to the average grade of a student.”

Khan Academy

Flipped Classroom 3: Why use VoiceThread to flip?

• VoiceThread is a web based platform that allows lecturers and students to upload images, video, PowerPoint or documents and comment on these resources via video, audio or text and invite others to record their responses to these comments.

• Simple to use/adopt….- Recording starts on each slide – not one big recording.

- Once recording is completed, a link is provided.

- Paste link into Bb so students can access it.

What did we do?Replaced 50 minute lecture with 2-3 short video lectures (VLs)-Retained 2 hour seminar-Included tasks and activities for seminar

Each seminar commenced with a recap/mini quiz based on the VL.

Took feedback early in module to make sure students didn’t hate it!

What did we do?

• VL went live every Friday for the following week (based on student feedback)

• Student use was monitored (statistics tracking)

• Issues with videos communicated via discussion board by students

• Students asked to indicate 2 areas for further exploration for the seminar

An Example VL

Dual comments https://voicethread.com/myvoice/#q.b6059229.i31100478

Tasks for workshops

https://voicethread.com/share/6139216/

Live Demo

1. Uploading PowerPoint to VoiceThread2. Adding comments and video to VoiceThread3. Creating your link4. Linking video lecture to blackboard. 5. Monitoring video usage

Student prep for workshops

The Psychology of Competitive PerformanceVideo Lecture Notes template

Section 1: General notes on the video lecture/s

Section 2: Discussion Points (cut and paste this section into the “Discussions” section in Blackboard for this module and for this week). • For the workshop (to be completed and pasted into the Blackboard

discussion board)• Two/Three things that I would like to discuss further in this week’s

workshop are…(one sentence max; enter a minimum of 2 points)

Contentious IssuesValue for Money

- Watching a film at the cinema vs. owning the film on DVD- If students CANT attend, they haven’t missed out

Isn't personal human interaction important?

- Yes – we kept the seminars for this.

- “Real lecturing is irreplaceable in the same way that live theatre or musical performance is irreplaceable – seeing and hearing each other in real-time and working together on something they both value.” - Bruce Charlton, Evolutionary Psychologist:

- This is the world we/they live in.

Feedback from students

“Some weeks I have missed them as been busy and forgot but I wouldn't of forgot to go to a normal lecture.”

Strong agree

Agree Somewhat agree

neither Some what disagree

disagree Strong disagree

VLs were enjoyable

3 7 3 2 0 1 1

VLs were beneficial

7 4 2 2 1 1 0

VLs better than normal Ls

6 1 2 3 0 2 2

VLs allow learning flexibility

7 3 3 0 1 1 2

Conclusions/Questions

• VoiceThread is a useful way to flip the classroom.

• Easy to use and access by lecturers and students.

• Most students enjoyed and engaged in the new style.

• Attainment: – Mean grade = 63% – Good Degrees = 59.6%