Since the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, videos have become a more essential tool in the classroom as the learning environment shifted online. As institutions adapted to offer alternative methods of class delivery, such as the flipped classroom or the blended classroom, videos became an integral information-delivery tool in education, allowing students to learn from a visual and auditory source. This article will outline the key principles for instructors to design effective video content to maximize student engagement and retention, as well as how instructors can leverage YuJa products to guide students towards desired learning outcomes.
According to a study conducted by Cynthia J. Brame, an associate professor specializing in biological sciences in 2016, three elements contribute the most to video design:
- Cognitive load
- Student engagement
- Active learning
Cognitive Load
Cognitive load refers to the total amount of information that can be stored in our working memory—a type of memory that holds information temporarily, and processes that information to be encoded into long-term memory, which has a considerably larger, almost-unlimited capacity to retain information. In education, cognitive load theory helps instructors create course content that will not overwhelm and disrupt a student’s ability to process and retain information in their working memory, so information becomes more likely to be stored in long-term memory. Brame outlines four major recommendations according to this theory (2016):
- Use keywords, color contrast, or brief out-of-video text to highlight important elements, emphasize organization or relationship of information, and provide contextual explanations for learning objectives
- Segment videos into digestible chunks
- Eliminate excess elements, such as music
- Use auditory and visual channels in a complementary fashion, such as tutorial videos that combine audible explanations with visual illustrations
Student Engagement
A key aspect to the success of video learning is ensuring that students are actively watching and engaging with video content. According to various past studies, student engagement is observed to be the highest when a video is shorter than 6 minutes. Additionally, videos that are more conversational and enthusiastic often form a sense of social partnership between the student and the instructor, helping students feel more motivated to engage with course content and the instructor (Brame 2016).
Active Learning
Active learning is a collaborative process that is often student-centered and encourages students to develop higher thinking skills by placing student interests, experiences, and needs first. This allows students to monitor their own learning and discover any gaps or difficulties as they engage with course material, effectively deepening their understanding as they address any problems that arise. Brame outlines the following strategies to promote active learning (2016):
- Add interactive questions to improve student self-assessment and memory of concepts
- Use interactive features that allow students to have a sense of control over their learning, such as adding chaptering, captions, or transcripts
- Use guiding questions to facilitate deeper and broader thinking
- Incorporate videos into larger assignments that ask students to apply concepts from videos to improve information retention and concept application
How YuJa Products Enhance Video Learning Experiences
YuJa Panorama’s new Video Compliance Player allows instructors to embed videos with automated captioning, enhanced audio descriptions, and video chaptering capabilities. With this update, students can access accessible video content directly from their learning management system (LMS) without navigating away from the platform. While captions and enhanced audio descriptions provide additional context to improve the understanding of video content, chaptering automatically breaks up long videos into digestible chunks that are easier to navigate and review, effectively reducing cognitive load.
Additionally, instructors can track student engagement with video and audio content with the YuJa Lumina Video Platform, where instructors can also identify drop-off rates and hot spots to improve their video assets in the future. YuJa Lumina also allows instructors to embed video quizzes in formats such as multiple choice, true or false, and fill-in-the-blank, offering students opportunities to improve their memory and application of learned concepts.
By crafting effective video content, instructors can integrate non-traditional methods of course delivery and diversify the learning experience for students in the classroom.
Citation
Brame C. J. (2016). Effective Educational Videos: Principles and Guidelines for Maximizing Student Learning from Video Content. CBE life sciences education, 15(4), es6. https://doi.org/10.1187/cbe.16-03-0125
