Digital education has been there for quite a few years. People were using it briefly for distance education before, but it is only the pandemic that put more focus on digital or online learning. Many institutions realized the potential and importance of incorporating video learning in their classrooms. Where previously schools were only using projectors in their classrooms, they now tend to use video on demand and live streaming because they catch more attention from students. So let’s move forward to how schools and educational institutions can use video on demand to accelerate their classroom teaching.
Why Should Schools Use Video on Demand?
Children are now being introduced to modern technologies and a technologically advanced realm from the early stages of their lives. So incorporating technology into education seems like such a one-way street. According to several studies, video catches more attention than text and audio, in both adults and children. So it has become important for educators to learn how to use video streaming platforms and videos in general promote the acquisition of knowledge and increase engagement of learners.
What are the Benefits of Using Videos on Demand in Classrooms?
It’s so easy to say and claim videos on demand are the new way to go for schools and using them would be beneficial for learners. But how so? Let’s explore that.
Videos are by far more appealing than just lectures which learners might find boring sometimes. Videos also help learners to understand and comprehend both simple and complex matters and subjects easily and quickly. This increases the knowledge retention rates. On top of that, using videos on demand in classrooms supports different learning preferences and gives learners with disabilities more opportunities for equal participation. Videos on demand are also extremely cost-effective for institutions since the existing material can be repurposed many times. Several schools still to this day spend millions on paper and whatnot. So opting for videos on demand can be less expensive when the syllabus, curricula, and even exam questions are posted online. Last, but not the least, having the option for eLearning gives students from all around the world access to the learning materials.
How Can Schools Maximize Knowledge Retention with Videos?
People, including learners, watch videos online all the time. This has both advantages and disadvantages. Videos have made people more intrigued by what is being said. At the same time, applications like Instagram, and TikTok have decreased the attention span of users with their short and fast-paced concise video content. So being worried about schools providing lectures and other learning materials online is legit. However, by taking little measures, learning institutions can provide their learning materials without losing the attention of learners.
The first step in doing so is signaling. Tutors need to start highlighting the points that require learners’ attention the most while using on-screen graphics and texts. This will separate the material into appropriate-sized learning materials, without being too overwhelming for students. To achieve this, the video length must also be suitable and teachers might need to add pauses and breakpoints, allowing learners to take a break.
The next step would be for teachers to remove any kind of unnecessary information from the video content that disengages the students by cluttering the material. This process is known as weeding and by doing this, the learners’ memories will be enhanced since they are only learning about the important materials in the video. The last step would be to match modality which refers to a simultaneous and effective usage of both video and audio. For example, teachers can add narration to an animated video. This way they can increase the working memory of learners while avoiding cognitive overload.
Schools that choose to use video on demand for educational purposes must also know that this process can be demanding as well. So the content must include a healthy balance of text and visuals.
