Short Form King: TikTok Logics for Video in Online Teaching and Learning

Concurrent Session 5

Session Materials

Brief Abstract

In this presentation, the authors will give an overview of the history of short form video, introduce various applications for using it for faculty development and in online classroom contexts, and provide resources and guidance for when and how to create short form videos-- in general and for specific scenarios.  

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.

Co-presenter: Ena Urbina, Florida International University

Ena Urbina is an Instructional Design Assistant at Florida International University. She is a recent graduate of FIU with a Bachelor of Science degree in Information Technology with a minor in Theater. Her interests include the application of game elements and digital game techniques to online courses.

Co-presenter: Jessy Arias, Florida International University

Extended Abstract

Description

Video has been long established as a common element in online learning environments, while in the past decade the wide availability of phone cameras and the particular characteristics of social media sites are constantly reimagining how students share and interact with video inside (and mostly outside) of the classroom. There is also evidence that video is an effective tool for student perceptions of both instructor engagement and their own learning in an online course (Borup, West, and Graham, 2012; Hibbert, 2014).

Developing an understanding of the use of video is important for all stakeholders in online learning. Instructional designers, educational technologists, and those involved in faculty development for online learning are in an important position to help facilitate careful, meaningful, and effective use of video for both faculty and students.

The recent emergence of TikTok is transforming how people share with social media and is influencing how video is being increasingly centered in social media sites such as Instagram (Frier and Stone, 2022). This new focus on video sharing in TikTok and other short form video platforms presents an opportunity to think again about uses of student and instructor video in online learning environments. This presentation draws from previous research that shows the limitations of student engagement with video in online classes and suggests how the “grammar” of short form videos may address some of these issues. 

After situating the “what” and “why” of short form video in online learning, the presenters will then shift to the “how” by providing examples of videos in online learning and the steps for students, faculty, and instructional designers to create and integrate them into learning environments. 

Who Will Benefit

Instructional Designers, Faculty, Educational Technologists, Administrators, and Students who create or consume video in learning situations should benefit from this workshop. The session should appeal to a broad audience and address in equal parts the theoretical issues and practical applications of using short form video.

Objectives

By the end of the session, participants should be able to:

  • Recognize a historical timeline of short form video and define its characteristics
  • Identify some examples as well as opportunities and challenges of using short form video in training and in online classroom scenarios
  • Follow steps for integrating short form video in various teaching learning situations and apply to specific situations

References

Borup, J., West, R. E., & Graham, C. R. (2012). Improving online social presence through asynchronous video. Internet and Higher Education, 15(3), 195–203. doi: 10.1016/j.iheduc.2011.11.001

Frier, S., & Stone, B. (2022, May 25). Mark Zuckerberg Is Blowing Up Instagram to Try and Catch TikTok. Bloomberg. Retrieved May 31, 2022, from https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2022-05-25/facebook-copies-tikto...

Hibbert, M. (2014). What makes an online instructional video compelling? Retrieved from https://er.educause.edu/articles/2014/4/what-makes-an-online-instruction...