Video Lessons

This is something I struggle with as well. I feel as if videos get a bit monotonous and students sometimes tune them out and don't pay attention unless they are connected to an assignment. I do feel that the information in them are vital an would like some suggestions on how to change it up occasionaIly. The tips Julianne gave was good. Have you considered doing a virtual discussion? Last year I created a google doc and shared it with all my students and prior to watching the video I gave them rules about our class doc, no innappropriate commentary, statements, or images. Everybody is required to write at least one question they have from the video, try not to repeat questions. I would type a few of the guiding questions through out and at the end of the video I would give them five minutes for everyone to attempt to answer one question from another student and any unanswered questions we would discuss aloud at the end of the five minutes. because I added 3-5 extra questions there was always unanswered questions. I would start with some of the answered questions and give kudos to students that answered then and give them the opportunity to provide more detail on their thoughts which would loosen the room up for open discussion.

Kamilah Williams I love the virtual discussion idea! Do you have an example that you could share? Do you have students put their names in their discussion posts, or do you allow them to remain anonymous and use the version history to ensure everyone has participated? 

Sorry I took so long to reply, the school year started rolling and I just now feel as if I had time to breathe. So It's just a google doc and I sometimes add the questions and assign it as a tasks to students at random and other times i just share it with everyone in class. At the end of the semester I delete all the tasks and unshare all my docs that I have shared throughout the semester so I don't have an actual example as I haven't done it this year. So if I assign the task everyone can see who is responding but if no one is looking while the person is typing then it could be anonymous. But the point of it is to get them to talk openly and this gives me a chance to let them know they are on the right track with their thinking and gives them comfort in knowing that what they would say is not wrong. Which in turn leads to an easier open discussion about what we are watching.

Sorry I took so long to reply, the school year started rolling and I just now feel as if I had time to breathe. So It's just a google doc and I sometimes add the questions and assign it as a tasks to students at random and other times i just share it with everyone in class. At the end of the semester I delete all the tasks and unshare all my docs that I have shared throughout the semester so I don't have an actual example as I haven't done it this year. So if I assign the task everyone can see who is responding but if no one is looking while the person is typing then it could be anonymous. But the point of it is to get them to talk openly and this gives me a chance to let them know they are on the right track with their thinking and gives them comfort in knowing that what they would say is not wrong. Which in turn leads to an easier open discussion about what we are watching.

Oh trust me, I hear you on that... I blinked and suddenly we are two weeks away from fall break! 

I love this idea!