How to create and use online
video content to benefit student
learning
TILT seminar, 9/25/2007
David G. Alciatore, PhD, PE (“Dr. Dave”)
Mechanical Engineering
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Presentation Outline
• Example online video demonstrations
• Instructional benefit of online video
demonstrations
• How to find video content
• Posting resources in and outside of RamCT
• Demo of video capture, edit, production,
post
(time permitting)
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Example video demos used in class
• video_demos.colostate.edu
– selected “Hall of Fame” clips
– Mechatronics clips and example student project
– Camtasia MathCad demo (under
“Mathematics”)
• high_speed_video.colostate.edu
– equipment
– selected “Hall of Fame” clips
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Instructional benefit of online
video demonstrations
• Students get excited about videos in class.
– can be fun and interesting.
– change of pace (and delivery mechanism) is good
• Clips can provide concrete, real-world examples
– students can relate to these
• Students can view the demonstrations as often as they like
– the clips are available on the Internet
• Clips can provide “access” to equipment and hardware not
readily available or safe for in-class use.
– a video clip can serve as a time and cost effective alternative (but
not substitute) for a field trip or lab work.
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Instructional benefit of online
video demonstrations
• Live in-class demonstrations have their disadvantages.
– things might not work properly
– things can break or get “lost”
– it can be difficult or inconvenient to obtain and/or transport the materials
and equipment.
• Past student project demonstrations can be captured for future students
to see.
• Demonstrations can be projected onto a large screen for the whole
class to see.
• Super slow-motion reveals hidden physics
– you can see phenomenon and interactions not normally visible to the
human eye.
– this creates excitement (a feeling of discovery)
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How to find video content
• YouTube: www.youtube.com (great resource)
– Examples: Tacoma Narrows Bridge, Ford Pinto
exploding, human slingshot
– See fun stuff in Miscellaneous video_demos
– WARNING: YouTube can be an addicting time-sink
• Google search
– Example: “physics video demonstrations”
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Example course website
• www.engr.colostate.edu/~dga/mech324
(RamCT for quizzes only)
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See “course website” and “lecture resources”
See Student View in RamCT
See quiz 2 as example (in Build view)
Online database-driven quizzes
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Custom question and value selection for each student
Encourages class attendance and reading
Automated grading, instant feedback
Despite course policies, students still “work together”
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RamCT vs. non-RamCT online content
Non-RamCT:
• Don’t need to learn advanced
RamCT
• Dreamweaver basics are easy
• File management more
straightforward (with college
support)
• Offline presentation easier
(copy website locally)
• Accessible to all
• Useful for non course stuff
(research results, publications,
book websites, etc.)
• RamCT is sometimes
cumbersome and slow
RamCT:
• Auto class roster
• Grade posting
(with auto stats and plots)
• Grade recording
(required as of F ’07)
• Great tools: online quiz,
assignments, chat, organized
content, discussion, etc.!
• Auto organization and layout
• Protected content
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More Demos / Q&A / Discussion
• Pinnacle Studio (free alternative: Windows MovieMaker)
– digital video editing and production
• YouTube
– video posting and embedding
• Camtasia (~$140)
– narrated computer demos
• Dreamweaver
– web content editing
(easy with edit of any “Save-As template”)
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Thank you for coming
• URLs:
– video_demos.colostate.edu
– high_speed_video.colostate.edu
– www.youtube.com
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