UH Learning & Teaching Conference 2010
“Use of video to enhance
learning opportunities for
engineering students”
David Germany
School of Engineering & Technology
Video – A time-tablers Guardian
Angel!





AADE Cable 2 Project
Video
Video
Video
Video
to
to
to
to
support lab work
provide academic feedback
promote student support
provide flexible learning
School of Engineering & Technology
Laboratory experiments - a vital
part of Engineering Education





Academic View - Highly Motivational
Student View – Improves Employability
Institutional View – Expensive “Use it or lose it”!
Task: Cable 2 goal “Increase the use of Labs
without increasing demand on staff time.”
Solution: Use video methods to prepare,
instruct and provide feedback to students.
School of Engineering & Technology
Pre lab videos – “Year 1 Fluids”




An introductory video shown in
a lecture
After lecture the video made
available through StudyNet
Students conduct experiment in
small groups on an open access
basis using an additional
instruction sheet (i.e. no
academic present!)
Health & Safety over seen by
technical officers.
School of Engineering & Technology
Courtesy of Dr Liz Byrne
Pre lab videos – Year 4 “Engine Build
Assignment”



5 short videos to introduce a
lab assignment to automotive
students
The group task is to dismantle
a high performance engine, rebuild the engine and test its
performance.
Videos available over the
internet for students to watch
in their own time prior to
attending a lab session.
Courtesy of Jeff Peters
School of Engineering & Technology
Pre lab videos – Year 4 “Engine Build
Assignment”

Staff benefits:
• only give introduction once
rather than repeating for
each group. (Note: large
cohort split into 12 groups)
• Confidence that all health
and safety warnings have
been given.
• Significant reduction in
queries from students.
Courtesy of Jeff Peters
School of Engineering & Technology
Pre lab videos – Year 4 “Engine Build
Assignment”

Student benefits:
• Easier to understand what is
to be done by watching
rather than reading
instructions.
• Fine detail can be seen, not
always possible in a live
demonstration.
• Videos can be watched
repeatedly, even after the
experiment to aid
preparation of the
assessment report.
School of Engineering & Technology
Courtesy of Jeff Peters
Video in an open access laboratory –
Year 1 Material Lab Instruction




Courtesy of Brian Wibberley
School of Engineering & Technology
School policy is to use open
access labs where possible.
This video is available on a
computer next to the Tensile
Test equipment.
Students can stop and start
the video as they wish and
replay when necessary.
Allows 300 year 1 students in
groups of up to three to
complete the experiment
within a four week period.
Video in an open access laboratory –
Year 1 Material Lab Instruction

Benefits to staff:
• Staff contact time
significantly reduced
• No need for extended
laboratory rotas.
• Improved timing of lecture
content with experiment.
• Reduced repair and
maintenance for
technicians due to
improved student
understanding of
instructions.
Courtesy of Brian Wibberley
School of Engineering & Technology
Video in an open access laboratory –
Year 1 Material Lab Instruction

Benefits to students:
• Flexibility in timetable.
• Opportunity to repeat
experiment if mistakes are
made.
• Improved clarity of
instructions = improved
self confidence.
• Improved understanding
encourages independent
learning.
Courtesy of Brian Wibberley
School of Engineering & Technology
Assignment Feedback – Year 2
Controller Design



School of Engineering & Technology
This video was developed
using Camtasia - excellent for
demonstrating software
applications
The video shows what should
have happened and explains
some of the common
mistakes.
Note the audio commentary
was particularly important in
this video.
Assignment Feedback – Year 2
Controller Design

Benefits to staff:
• Much easier to show
students what they should
have done than explain in
words.
• If a large cohort, it is
quicker to produce a video
than write comments on
each script.
School of Engineering & Technology
Assignment Feedback – Year 2
Controller Design

Benefits to students:
• Feedback is more detailed.
• Feedback covers all parts
of the experiment, not just
the parts the student
attempted.
• Video can be replayed,
whilst live feedback can
only be experienced once,
hence a valuable revision
aid.
School of Engineering & Technology
2008/9 Student Lab Questionnaire





All students had watched at
least one video
Half had watched 3 or more
videos more than once.
All students consider videos
helpful (85% very helpful).
Some students reported
difficulty watching videos
off campus.
All students felt video could
be used to support all lab
work in one form or
another.
School of Engineering & Technology
Video for Student Support
No timetabled
period when all
year 4 students
are together.
 Lecture time too
precious for nonacademic material
 Repeatability

Courtesy of Zahra Carnochan
School of Engineering & Technology
Other uses for video

Recording Visiting Professors lectures
Courtesy of Prof Richard Folkson
School of Engineering & Technology
Other uses for video
Recording Visiting Professors lectures
 Recording student presentations

Courtesy of
School of Engineering & Technology
Other uses for video
Recording Visiting Professors lectures
 Recording student presentations
 Students producing videos as part of the
assessment
 Recording lectures/seminars

School of Engineering & Technology
Tips for staff wishing to use video





Keep video clips short
Do not worry about producing a perfect video
First video may take several attempts but you will get
quicker.
Recommend using Camtasia for editing video’s
particularly with PowerPoint.
For UH staff – post videos on the StudyNet Video
Portal as:
• Only students will have access
• University retains copyright
• Video streaming means students do not need to download the
whole video before watching
School of Engineering & Technology