Ways to Improve: Microlectures and Screencasting

Microlectures and Screencasts, a type of microlecture, are an integral part of online education.  While you can include technology in the classroom without these aspects, the benefits of each would hopefully persuade you otherwise.  Microlectures are “short, recorded, audio or video presentations on a single, tightly defined topic.”  (7 Things You Should Know About Microlectures).  These presentations are concise in nature. Rather than a full lesson or lecture in the classroom, these short videos “chunk” the information, making it easier for students to learn.  The microlectures could be uploaded onto a learning management system for students to view. 

“Microlectures provide a self-help resource for students, either at the time of the lesson or later for review, explaining key concepts or demonstrating techniques that might be di­fficult to master.” (7 Things You Should Know About Microlectures).  I think one of the best benefits of using microlectures in the classroom, is that the students can watch them outside the classroom.  If I were to make a video on multiplying fractions, my students could view it as many times as necessary in class and at home, even showing their parents if they need assistance with their homework. “These short lectures encourage a self-directed model of learning, allowing students to select lessons to watch and to move through them at their own pace, stopping and replaying a recording as needed to ensure understanding of the content.” 7 Things You Should Know About Microlectures). 

Here is an example of a microlecture, a screencast, which I created about Lattice Multiplication:

You can see that I go through each step of the process with the students carefully, making sure to explain exactly how to draw the lattice, multiply, and add the numbers.  Students can watch the video as many times as they need to in order to understand the process.  Microlectures can help to assist struggling students when the teacher is not available, or just as a supplement or review tool to enhance learning.  They would be a very useful and practical way of incorporating technology into the classroom.

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Resources:

7 Things You Should Know About Microlectures. (n.d.). EDUCAUSE Homepage. Retrieved October 1, 2014, from http://www.educause.edu/library/resources/7-things-you-should-know-about-microlectures