Finding small and easy ways to connect with our students doesn’t just help engage them in content, it also creates small opportunities in building relationship. Making videos can become an easy tool that you keep in your Batman Utility Belt. Check out some new ideas and strategies below on how to use videos in your classroom.
Building background / academic language
Instead of starting a unit with a video you found on youtube, make your own! Talk about how it connects to your prior unit so it activates prior knowledge or sparks engagement with a fun video of you going over academic language. You could also introduce a big project, record your classroom for the beginning of the year, or/and summarize your goals or objectives before a unit.
You may be thinking, “why would I waste time recording a video when I can just go over it during class?” Remember that utility belt we are working on. Recording videos is a skill that you can use for many things, starting off simple like going over objectives help you become comfortable with recording videos. This is also helpful for all of your students because if they’re absent, they know what you expect since you posted your video on Seesaw or Canvas!
Tech Tip #1: Record with your iPad and use iMovie to edit and add text over just like the video below.
Tech Tip #2: You can record videos right on Canvas and Seesaw if you want to do a quick announcement.
Check out the video below from a familiar face, Rachel Parker, a former EHS East teacher.
Lab Intro Video
If you are starting an extensive lab and want to make sure everybody is prepared, record a video of the instructions and maybe a demonstration so students know what to anticipate. This is great because if students aren’t “focused” while your going over directions, refer them back to the video. Another added bonus of recording lab instructions is you don’t have to stop everything for students who come in late, just have them watch the video.
Tech Tip: Just use your phone and upload it on youtube!
Another Resource to preparing students for science labs
While You Were Out Video or eLearning
This is helpful for all your planned days off or eLearning days. Instead of giving them written directions, try making a quick 1 to 2 minute video explaining what you want them to do. I know we all hate showing our face, but you know who doesn’t hate it, most of your students! I know that they don’t always show they care (this is coming from a 7th-grade teacher) deep deep deep down they do.
Choice 1: You can use the Canvas and Seesaw to record yourself giving directions.
Choice 2: Use screencastify or loom to record your screen and show your students what you expect them to do. Loom has a free educator account so make sure to check that out!
Feedback
We all have moments when we see student work and a hundred thoughts pop in your head and you wish you could give immediate feedback, instead you just type out a blurb and hope they read it. Why not try video feedback! Canvas and Seesaw have easy tools right in the program that lets you record your feedback quicker than typing it out. Check out the tutorials below!
