Student Video Teaching as a Classroom Resource

This week, we are using our new work space in a completely out-of-the-box way! Each student was assigned a problem. They were responsible for working through this problem until they could do it in under one minute, while fully explaining the problem. Once the students were comfortable, I assigned them a twist: Another student would video them (using their cell phones) presenting the problems using our new workspace. The students then would post their videos on to Canvas in a discussion board. Over the upcoming weekend, students will watch and comment on four videos. 

Since this is our first attempt at all of this, we worked collaboratively on the problems as well as how to best facilitate the uploading. Since each student has a Chrome Book, we had several options! 

• option 1: Use the Chrome Book to video directly into your drive, then upload from your drive to Canvas.
• option 2: Use your cell phone to video, then save to drive app on the phone and use the Chrome Book to upload to Canvas.
• option 3:Use the cell phone to video, and use the Canvas app to upload directly from your phone to the discussion board.

Most students chose option 3, because it streamlined the process. (The issue with the Chrome Books was that to use the camera, it was awkward to hold and film.) Additionally, where the comments are concerned, we agreed as a class that for this first venture, our comments should be limited to production-relevant statements.

For example: 

• "The camera angle is not showing enough of the problem,"
• "We cannot hear you, please speak up."
• "I understand what you were doing in the problem, but I am afraid that if someone was confused on how to do the problem, they would not follow you. Maybe explain each step."

Our hope is that as we improve this process, each class will be able to use this as a review tool for tests and quizzes.

Some of the things that we found to be important over the course of the day:

1. Canvas takes care of showing who uploaded the problem, but a caption needs to accompany the upload with the problem number. This makes it easier to find the review problems for reference purposes. 
2. With everyone uploading at the same time, internet speeds are SLOW. Limit video length to 30-45 seconds to help with this issue. 
3. The phone to Canvas via the app was the most efficient use of resources. It was quick and simple.
4. I created an assignment in canvas with a link to the discussion board. This created some confusion with the students on where to upload the video. Some uploaded properly to the discussion, some uploaded to the assignment. This can be remedied by checking "no submission" in the canvas assignment. 

If you have any questions or suggestions, please do not hesitate to ask!

Until next time...