Teachers have been integrating video into their classroom instruction since the first educational VCR tapes came to be available for popular in the 1980’s (Geist, 1985). Now, videos offer easier-to-use, on-demand access to educational films and documentaries to amplify learning and retention. Videos offer an immersive, flexible, engaging, and stimulating experience, with the ability to integrate information in ways that are fun, entertaining, and easy to understand. So, how well do videos work in the classroom, and how are teachers using them to drive learning? Just look at what the stats have to say.
What are the Video Trends for Students in America?
Students are watching more videos at home every day. In fact, the number has doubled, according to a survey of 1,677 young Americans, ranging from 8-19 years of age. That breaks down to an increase from 24% to 56% for ages 8-12, and from 34% to 69% for those teens, ages 13-18 (Irvine, 2019). Those stats are part of an overarching trend toward increasing digitization of kids, with 40% of parents reporting that their children have smartphones (Watson, 2019), while Common Sense Media finding that a whopping 89% of teens are likely to have a cell phone (Robb, 2019).
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Do Institutions & Organizations (School Districts) Approve Video Use in Classrooms?
Institutions and organizations across the US are seeing the value of multimedia and video in the classroom, which is leading to more widespread adoption of digital and multimedia resources. Now, an estimated 99% of institutions report that their teachers incorporate videos into their classroom curriculum, with outstanding levels of success (Kaltura, 2019). With that level of wide-spread use and success in the classroom, 93% of institutions indicate that video-use increases student satisfaction levels in relation to their education and learning experience. It also increases achievements for students, according to 85% of institutions (Sandle, 2017).
What are the Video Trends for Teachers in America?
Teachers have evolving roles both in and out of the classroom. Beyond their primary role, they can become a role model and mentor, a resource, a support, and an advocate for students. That role becomes more complicated and demanding with the addition of digital media and videos in the classroom. Some 82% of teachers say that students now demand video instruction and integration, and 90% see video as playing a “critical role” in education (Kaltura, 2019). With unprecedented levels of demand for video content, 97% of teachers say that they use videos in their classroom regularly, with 55% even assigning video-viewing as homework and 20% using videos as part of their daily instruction (Kaltura, 2018).
What are the Benefits of Videos in the Classroom?
The use of videos in the classroom has been linked with better cognitive results and learning outcomes, compared with more traditional teaching methodology (Chi, 2013). Students already spend around 6-9 hours immersed in digital media every day, so teachers are using that connection to reach students. (Robb, 2019). Some 83% of teachers recognize the benefits for students, but also acknowledge how their teaching experience is enhanced with video use (Kaltura, 2018).
- Videos offer standardized information, but it can also be viewed more than once. So, students can better retain the knowledge or check the veracity of the information they’ve learned.
- The repetition and visual aspects support various learning styles, without disrupting the flow of class instruction and discussion.
- Cross-platform access and distribution allows a teacher to support independent study and group learning simultaneously.
- Videos also offer the information as a quick snapshot, so it takes less time and resources within the scope of classroom instruction.
What are the Biggest Challenges Teachers Face in Using Videos in the Classroom?
More than 60% of teachers feel frustrated by the time and restrictions involved in searching for educational videos for their students (Boclips, 2019). With that challenge in mind, nearly 80% of teachers believe that access to a dedicated website of educational videos and news clips archives would be beneficial, particularly if it were organized by curriculum and grade level. There is a challenge to find enough time to use videos, which is part of the reason why half of teachers use short (less than 5 minutes) clips (Boclips, 2019).
Conclusion:
Despite the many challenges that teachers face with integrating video into the classroom, it’s not a trend that is likely to slow down or go away any time soon. The benefits are just too overwhelmingly positive, which is why 92% of teachers say that they use digital content, ebooks, or audiobooks to deliver individualized instructional content or for independent student-choice reading (ASCD, 2019). Video and digital content captures the students’ attention, while empowering them to direct their own learning experiences (ASCD, 2019).
References
ASCD (2019). The 2019 K-12 Digital Content Report. Retrieved on February 6, 2020 from https://fs24.formsite.com/edweek/images/WP_2019_OverdriveReport.pdf
Boclips (2019). Access Denied: Teachers Struggle to Access Safe Video Content. Retrieved on February 6, 2020 from https://www.boclips.com/lp-access-denied-one-pager
Chi, Donald. L., Pickrell, Jaqueline. E., & Riedy, Christine. A. Student Learning Outcomes Associated with Video vs. Paper Cases in a Public Health Dentistry Course. Journal of Dental Education, 78.1. (2013): 24-30
Denning, David. (2020). Video in Theory and Practice: Issues for Classroom Use and Teacher Video Evaluation. Academia. Retrieved on February 6, 2020 from https://www.academia.edu/4666293/Video_in_Theory_and_Practice_Issues_for_Classroom_Use_and_Teacher_Video_Evaluation.
Geist, Allison. (1985). About New York; The Invasion of the VCR Owner. The New York Times. Retrieved February 6, 2020 from https://www.nytimes.com/1985/01/09/nyregion/about-new-york-the-invasion-of-the-vcr-owner.html.
Gorman, N. (2017) Survey Finds Teachers Spend 7 Hours Per Week Searching for Instructional Materials. Education World. Retrieved on February 6, 2020 from https://www.educationworld.com/a_news/survey-finds-teachers-spend-7-hours-week-searching-instructional-materials-490526015
Irvine, Martha. (2019). Survey: Number of Kids Watching Online Videos Soars. AP News. Retrieved on February 6, 2020 from https://apnews.com/6d2694d32a7d44bf9619172d26c674da.
Kaltura. (2018). Fifth Annual State of Video in Education 2018. Retrieved on February 6, 2020 from https://corp.kaltura.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/The_State_of_Video_in_Education_2018.pdf
Kaltura. (2019). Sixth Annual State of Video in Education 2019. Retrieved on February 6, 2020 from https://corp.kaltura.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/The_State_of_Video_in_Education_2019-1.pdf.
Pearson. (2018). Beyond Millennials: The Next Generation of Learners. Retrieved on February 6, 2020 from https://www.pearson.com/content/dam/one-dot-com/one-dot-com/global/Files/news/news-annoucements/2018/The-Next-Generation-of-Learners_final.pdf.
Purcell, Kristen. (2013) Bringing Technology into the Classroom. Pew Research Center. Retrieved on February 6 from https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2013/02/28/part-iii-bringing-technology-into-the-classroom/.
Robb, Michael. (2019). The new normal: Parents, teens, screens, and sleep in the United States. San Francisco, CA: Common Sense Media. Retrieved on February 6, 2020 from https://www.commonsensemedia.org/sites/default/files/uploads/research/2019-new-normal-parents-teens-screens-and-sleep-united-states-report.pdf.
Sandle, Tim. (2017). Interview: The State of Video in Education. The Digital Education. Retrieved on February 6, 2020 from http://www.digitaljournal.com/tech-and-science/technology/interview-the-state-of-video-in-education/article/504610.
Vega, V., & Robb, M. B. (2019). The Common Sense Census: Inside the 21st-century classroom. San Francisco, CA: Common Sense Media. Retrieved on February 6, 2020 from https://www.commonsensemedia.org/sites/default/files/uploads/research/2019-educator-census-inside-the-21st-century-classroom_1.pdf.
Watson, Amy. (2019). Children and media in the U.S. - Statistics & Facts. Statista. Retrieved on February 6, 2020 from https://www.statista.com/topics/3980/children-and-media-in-the-us/.
