Trying to make sense of it all in education
Improving my vodcasts?
Science teacher goes wrong
For those that follow my blog over this past academic year I have been flipping my IB diploma Physics class. In a previous blog (I Launch myself onto You tube) I shared my initial vodcasts and the related reflection. So now a few months further down the line I am returning to further reflect on the vodcasts that I produce. I have happily continued to use the Camtasia software for recording and editing as I find it easy to use and crucially upload with.
The first improvement was quite straight forward. MOVEMBER was over so I could thankfully remove that ridiculous moustache. This took an even greater importance when I recognised the unnerving similarities between myself and the lead character of the excellent series Breaking Bad which unfortunately depicts a science teacher loosing their way.
The second issue I highlighted was my own hand writing. For this I did what I often do in the classroom used type text in some for of presentation software such as PowerPoint. I had been looking at other vodcasts on the net and was aware that some students had commented negatively about vodcasts which spent an excessive amount of time watching the presenter write things out. Yet had also seen examples where the teachers then rushed through content. With this in mind here is one the vodcasts I produced using these tools considering practical methods to deduce a specific heat capacity.
I selected this vodcast as it highlights two reflections of my own. Firstly I recognise that at the end as I am going through some calculation examples my explanation kind of tails off. I really should add some statements like “now consider this question….. and now pause and do you own calculations before the answer appears”. Secondly my discussion about practical Physics is not very practical – it is a PowerPoint and a floating head. To capture this aspect I will need to more carefully consider where I set up my webcam or bring someone else into support my filming. An example of the integration of techniques I am therefore considering is shown here with a vodcast by noted practitioners of the flipped classroom technique Aaron Sams and Jonathan Bergmanns who are discussing a similar topic.
With respect to my own class progression my first semester has been completed and the average class results are higher then in previous years as are those of the best students but this is a small and talented cohort some I don’t want to over analyse those facts. For now my flipped classroom journey goes on.
Hi Neil,
thanks for sharing your own experiences of a flipped classroom. I know there has been ups and downs and like any new way of doing something there will be obstacles in the way to challenge you. I am impressed that you have persevered with this controversial way of teaching with your class and clearly you have had good results.
You can see where there can be some improvements in your vodcasting, for example at the end to offer more questioning and at times get the students to pause. I would like to see a more recent vodcast of yours to see how it has changed. It would also be interesting to here feedback from your students. It is clearly not just a learning curve for you but for them as well.
From first learning about the flipped classroom I have had reservations or concerns. Primarily being the extra workload for the students. I can see though it is not just the students that have this it is also the teacher who needs to take time to prepare the material. I guess as time goes by there will be more and more instructional style videos that can be shared in the educational circuit. It is also clear that this would be more challenging with younger students. You are working K12 and this seems to be a motivation for them as they are in High school. You are providing them with the opportunity to do the best they can by providing online learning and then support in the class to meet the needs of the students as individuals.
Great work and keep it up, I look forward to hearing more!
Natalie