I think videos are a great way to support learning. They are convenient – can be downloaded or saved and rewatched. For example in math last year, the instructor posted recorded lectures online that we were able to access and it was great because if you needed more time with a concept or needed to hear something slower you could watch the video and go at your own pace. It was great for reviewing at the end of the year for the final exam. Depending on where the video is posted, you also have access to captions or a transcript of the entire video and you can look through to find the concept or section you’re looking for.
Videos can also be very entertaining and easy to absorb – especially for kids. There are many ways to use video as well – could be a demonstration, experiment, lecture, informational, can be a screencast or a video of an instructor. They are a useful tool to attract kids attention and get them hooked into a topic as well. On the flip side, making videos can be a fun and engaging project idea for kids.
I don’t think videos should be the sole method of instruction but they are useful in many cases as a portion that contributes to overall learning outcomes. Additionally they are useful in instances where in person instruction is not an option.
