Tips for Creating Video Activities that Promote Deeper Learning

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Videos can provide an instant level of interest for any material. This is because videos invoke emotions and motivate students to learn in their own way. Videos can be used in course activities to promote deeper learning by helping students to pace themselves in learning about a topic, thinking critically and developing the knowledge to solve problems. 

When using a video, consider the tips below to ensure that the course activity is as engaging to students as possible.

3 Tools for Creating Online Course Activities

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Image: WikiMedia Commons

Oftentimes, teachers who develop courses online,
find it difficult to gauge WHAT and HOW MANY activities
they should include in their courses.

Many college-level teachers have no formal training in education or background in teaching. For instance, many adjunct teachers come from professional careers after many years and then start teaching online. It is assumed that they would automatically know how to design a course, develop course activities and deliver them in an engaging way to students. So, many teachers are left to figure out how to do this all on their own.

Creating an Instructor Toolbox in your LMS

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When teaching with technology, teachers have to act as subject matter experts, instructional designers and course developers all rolled into one person. Specifically, we not only have to know our subject, but we have to be able to effectively impart that subject to our students by creating a series of engaging and interesting course activities. While there are a variety of tools available out there to do this, the main tools for creating successful courses are the Internet and your school’s online learning management system or LMS.

At my current school, my online courses are developed in the Moodle LMS. Over the years, I’ve worked in many LMS environments and have found the need to create what I call an “instructor toolbox” in my courses.