A Research-Based Checklist for Development and Critique of STEM Instructional Videos

Abstract

The technical barriers to video production are decreasing and the popularity of video as an instructional medium in science is increasing. Although a large body of education research is available to inform the selection and design of instructional videos, this research is dispersed across journals, disciplinary traditions, and STEM fields, and the practical lessons are not readily accessible to readers. To guide the development and critique of science and mathematics instructional videos, our interdisciplinary team, with members from mathematics, physics, chemistry, and biology, has developed an instrument by synthesizing the relevant education literature and translating it into recommendations for practice. The user-friendly instrument is a 12-item checklist grouped into the categories of content and sequencing (concepts, logic, story, and language), cognitive supports (visualizations, signals, synchronization, segmentation, and streamlining) and affective considerations (relevance, rapport, and accessibility). The instrument provides a conceptual foundation and evaluation framework for designers of educational videos.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Sherry Seethaler

Sherry Seethaler ([email protected]) is the director of education initiatives in the Division of Physical Sciences University of California San Diego in San Diego, California.

Adam J. Burgasser

Adam J. Burgasser is a professor in the Department of Physics University of California San Diego in San Diego, California.

Thomas J. Bussey

Thomas J. Bussey is an associate teaching professor and vice chair of undergraduate education in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry University of California San Diego in San Diego, California.

John Eggers

John Eggers is a professor in the Department of Mathematics University of California San Diego in San Diego, California.

Stanley M. Lo

Stanley M. Lo is an associate teaching professor in the Section of Cell and Developmental Biology University of California San Diego in San Diego, California.

Jeffrey M. Rabin

Jeffrey M. Rabin is professor in the Department of Mathematics University of California San Diego in San Diego, California.

Laura Stevens

Laura Stevens is a professor in the Department of Mathematics University of California San Diego in San Diego, California.

Haim Weizman

Haim Weizman is a teaching professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California San Diego in San Diego, California.