Creating Course/Unit Introduction Videos

Creating course/unit introduction videos to guide student learning

Instructional Challenge

In the article Assessing Teaching Presence in a Computer Conferencing Context, Anderson, et al. defines the role of instructors as consisting of three types:

  • designer of the educational experience, including planning and administering instruction as well as evaluating and certifying competence
  • facilitator and co-creator of a social environment conducive to active and successful learning; and
  • subject matter expert who knows a great deal more than most learners and is thus in a position to scaffold learning experiences by providing direct instruction.

As you find yourself teaching, there are methods and techniques you can use to build the online presence you need to facilitate that social environment that encourages student learning. This document focuses on creating course/unit introduction videos to build on comments or questions during synchronous meetings.

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Elements of Course/Unit Videos

A course introduction video is usually more formal and planned than an instructor feedback video. It is probably more planned and structured to ensure the content is well-organized and covers all the points you wish to address. A unit introduction video may be slightly less formal or scripted but still should be given thought and planning. Both types of videos, however, should provide students with information about the content being covered, the work they are being asked to do, and the order and ways in which they should complete that work successfully. These videos can greatly increase students' perception of your role in facilitating learning.

Example: Course Introduction Video

Briana Burton — Microbiology 470

Example: Unit Introduction Video

Jeremy Zima — German/Jewish 267: Yiddish Song and the Jewish Experience

Example: Unit Introduction Video

Dane Cook — Kinesiology 350: Introduction to Exercise Psychology

Example: Course Introduction Video

Peter Van Kan— Kinesiology 200: Introduction to Neuroscience

Example: Course Introduction Video

Alicia Hazen — INTER-HE 202: SOHE Career and Leadership Development

Tools You Can Use

There are several quick and easy tools you can use to create an instructor response video. Depending on your skills and the formality of the video, consider the following tools:

Less Formal

  • Kaltura Record WebCam Recording
  • Zoom

Formal videos

  • PowerPoint (Narrated Presentation)
  • Camtasia (Multi-source Video)

Citations/Resources

Anderson, T., Rourke, L., Garrison, D. R., Archer, W. (2001). Assessing Teaching Presence in a Computer Conference Environment. Journal of asynchronous learning networks, 5(2), 1-17.