YouTutorial: A Framework for Assessing Instructional Online Video

Abstract

User-generated tutorial videos are quickly emerging as a new form of technical communication, one that relies on text, images, video, and sound alike to convey a message. In this article, we present an approach—a rubric—for assessing the instructional content of tutorial videos that considers the specific roles of modal and multimodal content in effective delivery. The rubric is based on descriptive data derived from a constant comparative study of user-rated YouTube videos.

Keywords:

• assessment
• instructional video
• multimedia
• tutorials
• YouTube

Notes

IRB exemption (February 2010).

All videos were sampled just before YouTube changed its rating system from a 5-star system to thumb up/down.

Usability and validity were verified by an instructor of technical communication who rated six sample videos, as the authors had done.

As of June 30, 2011.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Matt Morain

Matt Morain is a doctoral candidate in the Communication, Rhetoric, and Digital Media program at NC State University. His research examines the intersections of rhetoric, Internet culture, and social media.

Jason Swarts

Jason Swarts is an associate professor of technical communication at North Carolina State University. He researches networked communication, computer-supported cooperative work, and mobility. His book, Together with Technology, was published by Baywood in 2008.