by:Jeanne Aimerie on: January 29, 2024As the world of education is evolving fast these last few years with the growing use of technology in and out of the classroom, educators benefit from a valuable opportunity to rethink their teaching practices to provide students with a better learning experience.
Today, I’d like to talk to you about something that I read - a teaching practice - that actually makes a lot of sense! In this article (sorry it’s in french), a Junior High School teacher explains how he uses audio feedback to grade his student’s papers. Basically, instead of using a red pen to write down his feedback, he records his voice and prints out a QR code that he staples on the student’s paper. After giving his class back their papers, each student can scan the QR code with their smartphones and listen to the valuable feedback of their teacher.
That’s smart! And it made me wonder how this could go one step further. The answer is quite simple and can be summed up in one word: video!
I genuinely think that incorporating video as a way of grading student assessments can truly work, and more importantly that it can improve the student’s overall experience in terms of engagement, efficiency and understanding. Curious to know how? Let me explain everything to you in the following lines…
1- Engagement
First, I’d like to start with why I think video should be favoured instead of the audio format. Don’t get me wrong, audio is great (I’m a fan of podcasts myself): it’s a more attractive way to learn content than reading, it’s flexible and it can be a useful alternative for students who have a better auditory memory. But when it comes to grading, I think that would be a wasted potential to only use audio.
Video is the best way to share knowledge and information to someone quickly, in an homogeneous way, and without isolating your audience. And this is precisely the latter that differs from the audio format: watching a video makes everything more personalised, warming, friendly, human etc. And by doing this you make your viewers feel emotions, which in the case of grading papers is highly important as you want your students to feel motivated, reassured, inspired and confident about their work even as you critique and offer advice for improvement. By using video, you will establish a real connection between you - the educator - and your student.
2- Efficiency
That being said, here’s another reason why you should provide video feedback on student work: it will save you (precious) time!
Indeed, to produce individualised video feedback, you’ll only need a screen recording tool which offers a more time-efficient alternative to traditional written reports. As you know, using your voice is way more efficient than writing what you want to say. Take Whatsapp for example, how many times did you choose to record a quick audio to your best friend to tell her/him about your last misadventure instead of typing a very long text longer than the Harry Potter books? It’s undeniable: audio/video recording is a life-changer!
A screen recorder is a basic tool that captures video of your computer screen (you can often add your webcam too if you want) allowing you to scroll through a student's paper and highlight parts of the work you refer to as you speak to the student.
So how to do it? Just make sure to have a screen recording tool, a webcam and preferably a microphone so the quality of the audio is not too bad.
If you want to go one step further, a video platform might be the right pick.
With Nudgis by UbiCast and its screen recorder called the WebStudio, you can record yourself in one click from your private video platform or directly from your LMS (Learning Management Systems) like Moodle or D2L Brightspace for example. Just capture your screen, your webcam or both, give your video a title and press record. It’s quick and easy and does not require any special software or specific skill. After recording your video, your media is automatically available online on your private video platform, just waiting for you or your students to add a touch of interactivity (you can add chapters, comments, questions, links and attachments).
Once you have recorded yourself and uploaded your video online or sent it over to your students, the great thing is that they benefit from immediate access to the feedback! This accessibility empowers them to review the feedback promptly, bringing their reflections to in-person meetings and fostering a continuous learning experience.
3- Understanding
When considering the advantages of individualised video recordings, a significant aspect to explore is the impact on comprehension.
Individualised video recordings bring a visual dimension to feedback. By using a screen recording tool, educators capture video of their computer screens, facilitating a dynamic approach to grading. This method allows teachers to scroll through a student's paper, highlight specific areas, and verbally guide the student through the assessment. Thus this approach does not only ensure that expectations are clearly communicated but also foster a deeper understanding of the assessment criteria.
Moreover, the ability for students to watch video feedback multiple times is a noteworthy advantage. This allows learners to absorb the critique more thoroughly, offering a unique opportunity for self-paced review. I’m sure many students would find a great value in revisiting the feedback, taking notes, and reflecting on the provided advice for improvement.
Conclusion
I believe the integration of individualised video feedback presents a compelling alternative to traditional written assessments. This innovative approach not only streamlines the grading process for educators but also creates a more engaging and meaningful learning experience for students. By incorporating video recordings of lecturers discussing assignments, this system promotes a personalised and motivating environment that values learning and improvement over mere grades.
The benefits are evident, as this method proves to be quicker for assessors while providing consistently clearer feedback for students. The personal touch of the teacher's voice and image adds an extra layer of connection, making the learning experience more impactful. Furthermore, the interactive nature of video feedback fosters a deeper understanding of assignments, allowing students to revisit the recordings, take notes, and reflect on the advice given.
By embracing technology to enhance education, teachers can not only transform the assessment and grading processes but also contribute to a more connected and student-centred approach to learning. So go for it! :)
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