Original videos are valuable educational resources for many course subjects. These features can uniquely enhance students’ learning experiences and facilitate deeper engagement with course content. Through the use of original video, authors can bring textbook concepts to life and support multiple modes of learning, while also engaging more directly with their audience and sharing information in an easily accessible format.

Original videos allow instructors to demonstrate processes or provide tutorials in a medium that can be revisited or played back by students at any time. They can also serve as an effective way to review materials before an exam. For these reasons, original videos are ideal features to include with your textbook package. To provide students with the maximum benefit, consider pairing original videos with reflection questions, skill-building exercises, or quiz content that asks students to apply and assess their understanding of video topics.

Getting Started

The most important contributor to an effective film is the content. Reflect on your reasons for creating the film: what lesson can be learned from watching something in action that students cannot get from the text alone? How closely can you capture a genuine interaction on film? How much exposure to that interaction do students need to see? Videos are most effective when they show authentic interactions in a concise format. What this means for each subject will differ: a video showing the steps in building a simple circuit may be short, while a counseling session may be most effective if viewed at length.