Too much to explain, but too little time: many teachers will know the struggle. Inge Rabeling does as well. “We couldn’t manage to cover everything within the lectures we had. Students came to us afterwards with questions and a request for extra explanation.” Planning extra lectures was not an option, so she looked for an alternative. Her solution? Knowledge clips: short videos in which she explains the course material in small, easy-to-digest chunks.
Small clips, big effect
The knowledge clips granted a lot of room in the lecture. “I no longer feel that I have to rush. I could finally explain the things that I did find important, but for which I never used to have the time,” Inge says. It also works great for students. “The nice thing about the knowledge clips is that it covers small parts at a time, meaning it stays manageable for the student. Some students don’t like to simply read the books, they say. They find it old-fashioned,” Inge adds.
The knowledge clips also provide a way to connect with students who have different learning styles. “In some knowledge clips we purposefully explain the material in a different way than the book does. If one explanation doesn’t make sense to you, you might understand it if you see it through a different approach.” It is not compulsory to watch the knowledge clips. “If you understand the book, it might not even be necessary.”
If I enjoyed being in front of a camera, I would’ve become a YouTuber.
Knowledge clips made simple
Making knowledge clips takes a lot of time. That is why Inge made it easy: “I write out all my text and then record it per slide on the PowerPoint. I only use audio, no video of myself. That saves a lot of time: you don’t need to book a studio and you can do it at a moment that works for you.” Furthermore, Inge thinks that being in front of a camera might be a threshold for some teachers. “If I liked that, I would’ve become a YouTuber.”
An additional advantage is that the clips are re-usable. “The content of the statistics courses rarely changes. A clip I record now, can still be used in five years.” The time investment thus pays off in the long-term. Inge’s tip? “I really recommend knowledge clips for topics that won’t change any time soon.” She emphasises that it is not a replacement for lectures, because the direct contact with students is indispensable. “But it is a useful addition. And you really don’t have to go into that studio!”