Digital video - Here's one i prepared earlier

backing track: Smooth Rider by Dave Mathews Band

This is the digital video I composed in movie maker. It focuses on a basic process within bicycle mechanics, the removal of a cassette. On reflection, the use of a digital video could easily take the place of a PowerPoint presentation. Both of these tools are capable of presenting content in a similar slide show style progression but movie maker seems to have the definite advantage of being easily able to incorporate audio and moving video.

Digital videos could also be used within assessment items. Learners could be set tasks where they are required to develop instructional videos demonstrating their understanding of processes within a task. This could also be implemented within portfolio style work where learners are required to develop a running port folio of their progress. In developing an activity where learners are required to reflect on and examine their own progress it is possible to incorporate aspects of higher order thinking. Marzano and Pickering (1997) suggest that in developing higher order thinking skills learners are better prepared to deal with real life problem solving and evaluation. This in turn contributes to moulding and effective lifelong learner.

Another important aspect that can be incorporated into the production of digital videos is terminology focus. Through developing their own and viewing other digital videos, learners are required to familiarise themselves with fundamental terminology. Digital videos are also an effective method of linking imagery to terminology in order to further consolidate learner understanding. By having learners undertake tasks where they are required to construct a digital video displaying the processes they have undertaken along with descriptive instructional terminology, it is possible for the learning manager to depict the level of understanding the learner has of the process.


Here is a complementary YouTube feed for removing a cassette...



The incorporation of tutorial videos has the obvious potential to aid learners in constructing meaning, catering for a variety of different learning styles.

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.