The Value Of Recording Directions and Lessons For Your Class

Two examples of how recording your directions and lessons could be beneficial to students:

1. In a science class where the teacher is giving directions on how to perform an experiment.  Although the teacher was out near the center of the room, some students strained to see her giving directions.  Also, the students are at different angles of viewing, making it difficult to see the directions.  When the students are asked to complete the experiment, a few students are stumped because of their inability to observe the directions.  They tried asking their classmates, who were busy with their own experiment.  Students raised their hand, hoping the teacher will would repeat the directions, but she is busy answering questions from other students.  Needless to say, the students are frustrated.

2. In math class where the teacher is explaining how to solve an equation.  He explains each of the steps.  At the conclusion of the example, he asks the students to solve the same type of equation.   Although the students can see the example on the board, a few couldn’t remember exactly how the teacher arrived at certain numbers in the steps of the equation.  A student raises her hand asking “how did you get the 5 again?”  Again, like the science example, the student checks with her neighbor, who is busily trying to solve the equation.  She raises her hand, and patiently waits for the teacher, who is helping other students.  

The two scenarios show the value of recording your lessons and/or directions.  But how can a teacher record their lessons or directions to a project?  There are a number of digital whiteboard apps that can be used for math, such as Educreations, ShowMe, and Explain Everything.  The math teacher can record themselves working out the problem beforehand, then post it to the class LMS, such as Google Classroom for students to review.  It works great for not only students that may need a second or third viewing of the process of solving and equation, but it’s also great for those students who may have missed that days lesson.  They can access the recording as if they were in the classroom. 

For the science class, record the directions on how to perform the experiment beforehand using a smartphone.  Then, post it YouTube or Vimeo.  From there, upload the video to your LMS.   

Great for Study Time

And...Having videos of the teacher explaining concepts can be beneficial for students to review when test time rolls around.