Faculty Resources

Teaching Resources

Using Videos Effectively

General Questions to Consider when Using Videos

• What happens to student accountability when you turn on a video and turn off the lights?
• What information will you hold students accountable for?
• What do you want students to learn from the video?
• Why do you think this video is important?
• What do you expect students to react to?

Think of the video viewing experience as a three-step process

1. Pre-Viewing - Provide a viewing focus

• Introduce the video. Give students a context for what they are about to see.
• Provide a rationale for viewing the video. Why are you showing it? Why is it important?
• Hand out a worksheet with comprehension questions (link to example) for students to fill out during the viewing.
• Preview the questions with students. Students understand and remember more when they have a specific listening purpose.

2. During the video – Keep the students engaged and accountable

• Consider leaving some lights on so students can complete the video comprehension worksheet, write down ideas, take notes, or write reactions to topics presented in the video.
• If you have students who speak English as a second language, consider turning on the closed captioning, if possible, so students can better follow the dialogue.
• Point out important segments in the video to focus students’ attention accordingly.
• If the video clip is short and time permits, consider multiple viewings to increase student accountability.
• Allow students to move their chairs closer to the screen.

3. Post- Viewing – Discuss what was just viewed

• Clarify students’ understanding of the video
• Give students a couple of minutes to individually write down their reactions to the video before opening the floor to a whole class discussion. This allows rehearsal time for students to formulate and articulate their thoughts.
• Tell students to turn and tell a classmate what they especially liked, disliked, or reacted to.
• Use your video comprehension worksheet as a general discussion tool.
• Allow time for partner, or small group discussion to take place.
• Discuss how this video relates to concepts presented in the class.
• As a way for you to evaluate students’ understanding of the video, consider having students write a one- page response for homework and collect it the following meeting.