People Watching: (Re)Appearing through Video in Post-pandemic Online Courses

Concurrent Session 2

Session Materials

Brief Abstract

To better understand and design the use of video in online courses, this presentation compares insights from 1) a study conducted pre-pandemic which examined student and instructor perceptions of video discussion assignments, and 2) exploratory research conducted in the past year in which appearing synchronously on video became a norm.

Presenters

Lead Presenter: Randall Beaver, Florida International University - Miami

Randall Beaver is an Instructional Design Supervisor at Florida International University in Miami, Florida. As a part of FIU Online, he leads a small team to train and collaborate with faculty members in the design and development of their online courses. He is currently a PhD student in the School of Education and Human Development at FIU. He previously earned a Master of Education degree from the University of Florida and undergraduate degrees in anthropology and film production. He has taught ESL/ESOL and video production for learners in K-12 and Adult Education contexts and is the recipient of a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. He is currently engaged in multiple research projects related to online teaching and learning-- particularly in student and instructor use of video-- and has presented on these topics at various national and international conferences.

Extended Abstract

Description
In this presentation, the researcher will briefly discuss two studies involving student engagement with appearing in video in online courses. The first was an action research study conducted over the course of four semesters in which various modifications to a discussion forum were made and analyzed over time, including the use of student-generated video uploaded asynchronously to the course. The results included a reflection on the “if, when, and how” to best incorporate video discussions into online courses. This first, pre-pandemic study will be compared with new exploratory research about student and faculty experiences with appearing on Zoom in remote course settings and how this may inform future perceptions and use of video in online courses. Specific questions include: 

  • Have Zoom interactions in remote courses changed faculty and student expectations of online courses? If so, in what way/s? 
  • Are there elements of synchronous sessions that could or should be included in asynchronous, fully online courses? 
  • Can new, blended modalities capture and carry these remote learning experiences into the future? 

Who will Benefit
This session should appeal to anyone interested in the use of synchronous or asynchronous video activities in online or blended courses as well as those looking for ways to increase student interaction in online courses. The presenter will guide session attendees through various methods of education research, particularly from a practitioner perspective. With these outcomes in mind, the presentation should appeal to a broad audience and be of particular interest to instructional designers, teachers/faculty, education researchers, design thinkers, and administrators. 

How we’ll do it
The presenter will highlight some recent research and suggest novel ways of investigating issues related to learning design through the use of various inventive methods. The presenter will draw upon elements of visual storytelling in order to tell an accessible and unique narrative that suggests the possibilities of better understanding and practicing online teaching and learning. There will be opportunities for attendees to participate through a series of guided questions. A rich discussion about experiences and possible best practices will be shared among the presenter and attendees.