Create Your Own Instructional Videos

As you move to blended models of instruction, you will need  instructional videos that allow students to learn concepts independently online so that you can teach small groups. Content for videos may include:

• Introducing concepts or vocabulary
• Reviewing previously learned concepts or examining them in new situations
• Modeling or giving directions on how to complete an online or offline activity

Videos should be short in duration; I recommend > 3 minutes, with younger students needing shorter chunks of information. If you have more information or a more complex set of instructions you are giving, chunk the video into steps or parts.

You can find videos that contain academic content using resources such as YouTube, Discovery Education, BrainPop, Crash Course, and a number of others but I have found that sometimes creating your own can be more effective and less time consuming. You can spend a lot of time looking for a video that is the perfect length with the perfect content and in many cases it just doesn't exist. Also, I have found that when students know the person in the video, they connect more easily to the content. Here are 4 different methods for creating instructional videos:

Simple video from your mobile device

This is the easiest way to create an instructional video. You may stand at the board to present as you would with a direct teach or use paper or a white board under your device on a stand. If you want to demonstrate a game or how to use manipulative for hands-on activity this method is perfect. Students can re-watch if they forget a step.

How to Play- This 1st grade teacher demonstrates how to play math games in independent learning stations. Students can scan a QR code to review the directions.

Foldable Directions- a teacher records directions on how to complete a foldable for students to reference later. This took no additional time- she just recorded while she taught. This is then posted to her Google Classroom.

Algebra- Elimination Method Simple tutorial on how to use the Elimination method, posted to Google Classroom for reference.

Screencast

This is a great method if you need to demonstrate how to use a digital tool or process or to present a lesson from a slide presentation. Download the free Screencastify Chrome Extension and your video will automatically be saved to your Google Drive.

How to add content to your Google Site I created this tutorial for students to follow when working independently on creating a Google Site. Students can rewatch as needed. No need to pull everyone together to demonstrate whole group.

Voice over a Powerpoint- Elapsed time- You can use an existing presentation slide deck and screencast your lesson as you would traditionally do it with the whole group. Keep it short and try to keep it interesting!

Newton's Laws of Motion- too long but you get the idea! Design presentation to keep students engaged. A boring presentation is a boring presentation whether it is face to face or in video format!

Whiteboard apps

Whiteboard apps allow you to write, animate, illustrate or add video while doing a voice over recording. You can then publish videos to the internet. My favorite tool is Explain Everything but there are some free apps such as Educreations or ShowMe  that you can try out.

Elapsed time

Representing multiplication with arrays

Animation Tools

These include freemium tools such as PowToon or My Simple Show

How to get rich by Michelle Zuniga

Prefixes and Suffixes by Gabriela Calderon

Whichever method you use remember to keep it short, use easy to read fonts, sizes and colors and make it engaging!