Colleagues,
Recently I have been doing presentations in Georgia, New York, and a webinar for New Jersey. I have upcoming presentations in Massachusetts, and at the COABE national conference in New Orleans on how to use free online instruction videos suitable for adult learners in the classroom or to assign for viewing before or after class. These presentations have been very well received; I see a lot of interest around the country in using instructional videos.
One of the questions that has emerged from several of the sessions I have done, is What are the best ways to use instructional videos?
This is a great question, and one that I have some ideas about. However, I would also like to hear from others who may have thoughts on this. Please post your ideas here.
One problem in using instructional videos, of course, is that a teacher needs to review the videos before using/assigning them. This can take a lot of (usually unpaid) time. What strategies can we come up with to address that problem?
I will offer one idea with three variations below, but would like to know your ideas.
Many hands....
1. Perhaps a teacher could organize a group at her/his program of those who teach the same subject (ESL/ESOL, math, writing, etc) and same level and they could divvy up the review work and do it over several months. It might be helpful to have a common (simple, easy-to-use format) for reviewer comments, something like:
- Would you assign this to your students? If yes, continue; If no, stop.
- What subject and level?
- How many minutes is the video?
- What's the web address?
- Is there an accompanying assessment? If so would you assign this, too?
- Are there accompanying print materials that could be downloaded? If so, would you assign these?
- Rate this video: E = Excellent, G= Good, O= okay
2. A variation might be to organize this review group locally, or statewide, through a collaboration of adult education programs.
3. Another variation might be to organize this nationally/internationally by forming online workgroups using free Wiggio, Yahoo or Google Groups software. I wonder if anyone in this CoP would be interested in joining a national/international software review group if someone took leadership to form one. If so, send me your name and email, and what subject and level you teach, and if I get enough responses I'll set one up.
Where can I find instruictional videos suitable for adult learners?
I have begun to put a list together of web sites that have good adult-oriented instructional videos. You will find it on The Literacy List at http://home.comcast.net/~djrosen/newsome/litlist/Videos.html If you are interested in ESL/ESOL videos, websites that have these are now marked on The Literacy List ESOL web page at http://home.comcast.net/~djrosen/newsome/litlist/esolwebsites.html
David J. Rosen
djrosen123@gmail.com