Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Vodcast - Instructional Digital Videos

Here are two examples of digital videos that would be suitable for use within an Industrial Design and Technology learning experience. Both of these digital videos provide an instructional demonstration for specific processes in contextual workplace circumstance. These demonstrations are given by professionals with high levels of expertise which makes them ideal examples for learners to critique and evaluate.





The issues these type of demonstrations present (particularly with the woodturning demonstration) are those in relation to safety. Some of the practices these professionals implement would not be suitable for students as they are potentially hazardous and pose work place health and safety issues. On the other hand the fact that these safety issues are prevalent within the videos allows for their use as an aid for learner awareness of these issues. Learners could be set tasks where they are required to analyse the safety issues and miss-practices that the podcast presents, effectively engaging learners in higher order thinking processes such as investigating.






On the other hand there is a great deal students can learn in relation to technique, materials and processes by examining these professionals at work. Even examining simple technique such as how to hold a marking gauge in an efficient and effective manner (something that learners often have difficulty mastering) makes incorporating this style of demonstrative video an effective learning tool.