Why Use Desktop Recordings? Intro to Clipchamp

Using desktop recording as an instructor can greatly enhance your teaching effectiveness and student engagement for several reasons:

• Visual Learning: Desktop recordings allow you to record course content, software, or websites, making complex concepts easier to understand.

• Accessibility: Recordings can be made available for students to review at their own pace. This is especially helpful for those who may need to revisit certain topics.

• Engagement: Incorporating multimedia elements into your lessons can keep students more engaged. Interactive elements or real-time demonstrations can make learning more dynamic and engaging.

• Fostering Community: Creating desktop recordings with your class can create a sense of community, as students can see you and hear your voice, making it possible to connect with you. It can also make the classroom experience feel more personal and supportive.

• Support Diverse Learning Styles: Not all students learn in the same way. Some may excel with visual and auditory information, making recordings an excellent tool for accommodating different learning preferences.

• Feedback and Improvement: Reviewing your recorded sessions can help you evaluate your teaching style and identify areas for improvement, allowing you to enhance your delivery for future classes.

Overall, desktop recording can be a valuable tool to supplement your teaching and provide a richer educational experience for your students!

Clipchamp

What is Clipchamp?

Microsoft Clipchamp is an online video editor that simplifies video creation. It offers intuitive tools that make it easy to create videos without requiring extensive technical skills. Users can combine videos, images, and audio. Once editing is complete, videos can be easily saved to your device. Unlike many other editors, Clipchamp operates in your browser without needing software downloads.

Pricing: FREE
Paid subscription (access to premium features): Monthly $11.99, Yearly $119.99

Accessing Clipchamp

1. Start by going to https://app.clipchamp.com/ Please note: You can only use Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge

2. Create an account or signup with your email

Recording your Video

1. Click on Create a new video

2. Select Record and Create

3. Select the type of recording you will be doing. Make sure to enable your microphone and camera.

4. Click on the red button to start recording. You also have the option of turning on Speaker Coach. This will analyze your recording's speech, including pace, pitch and use of filler words.

5. Choose what you want to record, you will see your current browsers tabs, windows you currently have opened or the option to record your entire screen

6. When you've finished your recording, simply click on either (1) Stop Sharing or the Stop button. You'll then be prompted to either (2) Save and Edit your recording or to redo it.

Please note: If you haven't upgraded your account, you'll need to (3) save the recording to your local hard drive. This means you'll need to either work on the same computer every time you want to work on your project or save the file to an external hard drive, allowing you to access it from any computer you use.

Editing your Video

You have a wide range of options to enhance your video, including:

• Resizing, cropping, or trimming to perfect your video

• Adding text, transitions, or selecting from a variety of templates to seamlessly integrate into your media

• Incorporating video filters, images, or background music

• Adding captions for improved accessibility and engagement

Explore these features to make your video stand out and check out the Clipchamp YouTube to find helpful videos that will show you how to use Clipchamp like a pro!

Exporting your Video

Once you’ve completed your recording, you can easily export your video and begin using it in your class right away!

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In conclusion, incorporating desktop recordings into your teaching strategy can enhance the learning experience for both you and your students. With tools like Clipchamp, educators can create more engaging learning environments.

Desktop recording offers both flexibility and convenience. Whether you share introductory psychology insights or more advanced topics, using multimedia resources can lead to a more enriching learning experience. So, start recording and sharing your unique teaching style. Your students will thank you!

A Guide to Using Google NotebookLM for Course Design

What is Google NotebookLM?

Google NotebookLM allows users to easily create, organize, and share notes. It acts like a virtual assistant that uses existing information to summarize details, clarify complex ideas, and generate relationships based on selected sources. It can handle various content types, including text, images, graphs, and diagrams.

Benefits of Using Google Notebook LM for Course Design

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Organized Planning

Instructors can create separate notebooks for course outlines, reading materials, assessment plans, study guides, and course lectures. This organized structure simplifies the planning process and allows for easy navigation and access in the future.

Resource Compilation

It allows you to compile links, articles, videos, and other materials in one place. You can save links directly into your notebook, annotate them for future reference, and classify them according to topics.

Collaborate

It supports collaboration by allowing multiple users to edit and comment on notes in real time.

Easily Accessible

Since Google NotebookLM is cloud-based, you can access your notes anytime, anywhere, and on any device, allowing you to brainstorm ideas anywhere!

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How to get started with Google NotebookLM

Let me walk you through how to start Google NotebookLM!

Creating a Notebook

1. Go to https://notebooklm.google.com/ and login with your Gmail account.

2. You will see your Google NotebookLM Dashboard with all the different notebooks you have created so far.

3. To create a new Notebook select "Create New"

Adding Content to your Notebook

1. It will prompt you to upload documents, google drive files, text, audio files, website links and YouTube videos. If you are not ready to do that, you can click on the X to close the window.

2. Make sure to name your Notebook.

Summarizing content using NotebookLM

Once you have uploaded all the content you want for the specific Notebook you created, you can use the "Chat" feature to ask questions about the different content. You can easily select the content you want to include by checking or unchecking the corresponding boxes next to each item. NotebookLM also offers you prompts to choose from, making it easier to develop your content. Please note: Content might not be accurate, so make sure to check for any mistakes.

How to Use Google Notebook LM for Course Design

Google NotebookLM is a powerful tool for organizing and developing course content and can enhance and fine-tune your existing ideas. You can use Google Notebook LM as a starting point for your course content. It will provide a solid foundation for you to build upon the ideas and suggestions it offers to make them even better and more tailored to your specific needs.

• Create Course Objectives: create course or module objectives based on selected content. You can enter prompts like, “Create objectives for a module on [topic]” to get customized suggestions.
  

• Develop Lesson Plans: outline the main concepts for each lesson. For instance, input, “Create a lesson plan for teaching [specific topic], including objectives, materials, and activities.”
  

• Create Study Guides: use prompts like, “Create a study guide for [topic] that includes key concepts and questions.” NotebookLM can help summarize important information and develop study questions.
  

• Create Discussion Prompts: generate discussion prompts based on content selected. You can input, “What are some engaging discussion prompts for [topic]?” to stimulate thoughtful discussions in class.
  

• Create Rubrics and Criteria: determine what you will assess (e.g., projects, participation, etc.). Input requests along the lines of, “Create a rubric for assessing [specific project or assignment] that includes criteria for [aspects such as creativity, understanding, effort, etc.].” This will produce a structured assessment guide that you can further customize.

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You can effectively use Google NotebookLM to streamline your course design process, enhance student engagement, and collaborate with others in the educational field! Happy designing!

Optimizing Learning Objectives with AI

With the increasing integration of AI (Artificial Intelligence) into the educational landscape, instructors can now use AI for content creation, such as developing clear learning objectives and assessments. Well-defined learning objectives clarify expectations for students and ensure that assessments are closely aligned with those goals.

In this blog post, we'll take a look at some helpful AI tools for developing course objectives and walk you through the process of creating them.

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Understanding Learning Objectives

Learning Objectives are important parts of any course. Learning Objectives communicate to students what the instructor expects and what the course accomplishes. Learning objectives are good practice and make for a well-designed course.

How Can I use AI in Creating Learning Objectives?

Alignment with Standards

Ensure learning objectives align with accreditation requirements or educational benchmarks. This helps maintain credibility and relevance in course offerings.

Feedback and Iteration

Provides suggestions for improving learning objectives based on student feedback or performance data. Continually improving course objectives helps them remain current and impactful.

Analyzing Learning Outcomes

Analyze existing course materials to identify important outcomes. By processing large volumes of data, AI can suggest relevant knowledge and skills that should be included in your objectives.

Generate Content

Generate initial drafts of learning objectives based on input from instructors. Instructors can focus more on refining content rather than starting from scratch.

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AI Tools to Use to Create Learning Objectives

• ChatGPT - AI chatbot that can generate human-like responses to different prompts

• Google Gemini - Helps to write, plan and learn and responds with information it already knows or from other sources

• Grammarly - Uses AI to enhance your writing and offers personalized guidance

• Claude AI - Can generate human-like responses to text or image inputs.

• Microsoft Copilot - Allows you to generate text or create images based on text prompts

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Incorporating AI into Your Learning Objectives

To get started with using AI for creating course objectives, follow these steps:

1. Determine Course Themes: What is the primary focus of your course? What learning outcomes can students anticipate? For instance, if your course is in Environmental Science, consider whether your central theme revolves around sustainability.

2. Select the Appropriate Tool: Select one or more AI tools that best fit your needs. Take time to explore their features to see if they can assist you in aligning and generating objectives.

3. Draft Objectives: Use AI to generate preliminary course objectives. Make sure to refine the objectives with your insights and expertise.

4. Seek Feedback: Share your objectives with colleagues for feedback. AI can assist in analyzing this feedback to improve your objectives.

5. Align and Finalize: Ensure the objectives align with your teaching strategies and assessment methods before finalizing them.

Bloomy Taxonomy

Bloom’s Taxonomy Verbs by Fractus Learning is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Verbs in Bloom's Taxonomy are measurable and help instructors create quantifiable assignments and assessments. These verbs are helpful in planning lessons and curriculum.

AI will help you to:

• Understanding Bloom's Taxonomy: Clear explanations of the different levels of Bloom's Taxonomy.

• Generate Action Verbs: Suggest specific action verbs associated with each level of Bloom's Taxonomy, helping instructors create precise and measurable learning objectives.

• Customizing Objectives for Students: Analyze student data and suggest customized learning objectives that meet varied learning styles and levels of understanding.

• Providing Examples: Generate examples for learning objectives based on the subject area and educational goals, serving as a starting point for educators to refine as they see fit.

• Facilitating Alignment: Aligning learning objectives with curriculum standards, assessments, and instructional strategies.

• Feedback: Offers constructive feedback on drafted objectives, suggesting improvements and revisions to enhance clarity and effectiveness.

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Sample Prompts for AI to Generate Course Level Objectives

• Generate a list of course objectives for a [Subject/Topic] course aimed at [Target Audience]

• What are some measurable learning objectives for a [Course Title] focused on [Key Theme/Concept]?"

• Create detailed learning objectives for a lesson on [Specific Topic] that align with [Educational Standard or Framework]

• What are three learning objectives for a unit on [Topic/Skill] for students in [Grade Level or Course Type]?

• Suggest learning objectives using action verbs from Bloom's Taxonomy for a course on [Subject]."

• How can I formulate objectives at the [Choose Level: Remembering, Understanding, Applying, etc.] level for a course about [Topic]?"

• What learning objectives can I use to ensure my course on [Topic] is aligned with [State/National Standards]?"

• Analyze the following draft objectives for clarity and effectiveness: [insert your draft objectives]. What improvements can you suggest?"

• What revisions can enhance these learning objectives for a course on [Topic]? [insert your objectives]

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AI provides solutions to create meaningful course objectives. Embracing AI in education saves time and empowers instructors to focus on delivering high-quality learning experiences. So why not take advantage of these advancements and elevate your course design today?

The Power of Social Learning: How to Incorporate Social Learning in Your Classroom

People learn by watching other people. Social learning theory states that we learn from anyone we come in contact. Humans can learn from anyone, including family members, coworkers, and celebrities! The same concept can be applied in education. Students learn through social interactions with other students. As students interact with one another, they also learn from each other. 

We will explore how you can use social learning in your teaching strategy.

Social Learning Benefits

• Retention: when learners discuss how they have applied what they have learned with each other, this helps to enhance content retention.

• Participation: learners interacting with each other helps improve learning and increases participation.

• Collaboration:  improves collaboration by allowing learners to collaborate and share ideas.

• Expanded perspectives:  can expand learners' perspectives by exposing them to different viewpoints and experiences.

Way to Incorporate Social Learning in Your Class

Use social media!

Learners can connect to do assignments, share resources, or discuss topics.

1. X (formerly known as Twitter) - students can research different topics by using hashtags or keywords

2. LinkedIn - students can research different topics, create a LinkedIn group for students to learn from each other, or create their profile and build their network.

3. Facebook - create discussion topics so students can communicate with each other and the instructor. You can also use it to send messages or reminders.

Online Discussion Forums

Online discussion forums can be used to facilitate social learning. Learners can ask questions, share ideas, and collaborate with each other. You can use the discussion tool in your Learning Management System, like Canvas or Blackboard, to encourage student communication and collaboration. 

Benefits of discussion forums: 

• creates a community

• encourages classroom participation

• allows students to contribute better to the discussion by giving them time to formulate their responses

Group projects 

Learners can work together to complete a project and learn from each other. Students can share ideas, collaborate, and build on each other's strengths by working in groups. 

Benefits of Group projects:

• Encourages students to take ownership of their learning and develop essential communication, problem-solving, and time-management skills 

• Helps students develop a sense of community and belonging within the classroom, which can improve the overall learning experience

Peer Review

Learners can review each other's work and provide feedback, enhancing learning and collaboration.

Benefits of Peer Review:

• Encourages learners to engage with and critically evaluate each other's work can help them identify gaps in their understanding and deepen their knowledge

• It can help learners develop critical thinking skills by requiring them to evaluate and analyze each other's work, which can help them develop the ability to assess arguments and make informed decisions

Sample Peer Review Assignments:

• Essay peer review - students can be assigned to read and provide feedback on each other's essays

• Group project peer review - students working on a group project can be asked to provide feedback on each other's contributions and overall performance within the group.

• Presentation peer review - students can be assigned to watch and evaluate each other's presentations.

• Code review - for computer science or programming courses, students can be assigned to review each other's code and provide feedback on style, readability, and functionality.

Mentorship

Learners can be paired with a mentor who can provide guidance and support.

Benefits of Mentors:

• improved grades - guide students on test-taking strategies

• increased self-esteem - having someone who believes in them will make them more confident in their abilities

• creates a feeling of community - introduces students to new experiences and ideas and to people who share similar interests

• increased connection at school

• career guidance - support students in their careers by providing them with job search strategies and networking opportunities

Social learning allows your students to engage more with you and each other, creating more communication and collaboration, leading to more memorable learning experiences. Creating a sense of community is important for supporting learning, especially in online or remote teaching environments.

ANATOMY OF A LEARNING OBJECTIVE

Designing your online course is not merely about creating content and sharing your passion for the subject you are teaching. You also need to make sure that what you are teaching is being learned. How do you ensure that this happens?

Learning Objectives are essential parts of any course module and course. Learning Objectives communicate to the student what they will learn after completing a learning module and be confident they will make measurable progress. They also help define what the instructor expects of them for the particular lesson and what the course accomplishes. Learning objectives in each of your course modules are good practice and make for a well-designed course.

When designing your learning objectives, you should ask yourself the following questions:

• What will the students be learning?

• What level of thinking will be used to process the content?

• What observable student behavior will serve to show that the student has learned what they are supposed to?

• What are the conditions (materials, time limits, etc.) that the student will expect to work under?

• What is the level of mastery? What will satisfy you?

Bloom’s Taxonomy

Bloom’s Taxonomy Verbs by Fractus Learning is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Created in 1956 by Psychologist Benjamin Bloom, Bloom’s Taxonomy is the most extensively used scale to demonstrate the level of expertise required for measurable student outcomes. Verbs in Bloom’s Taxonomy are measurable and help instructors create assignments and assessments that are quantifiable. These verbs are useful in planning lessons and curriculum.

There are six levels of knowledge in Bloom’s Taxonomy:

1. Knowledge -is measured by asking questions to see what they have remembered from a lesson—for example, a multiple-choice test.

2. Comprehension – determines their level of understanding by asking students to summarize, describe or discuss a topic.

3. Application – students apply what they have learned in real-life situations.

4. Analysis -students analyze a problem and provide supporting evidence as to how they solved the problem.

5. Synthesis – students merge information they have learned to provide new ideas and solutions.

6. Evaluation – students use the knowledge they have acquired to evaluate and apply their learning using evidence, observations, and other criteria determined by the student.

Bloom’s Taxonomy by Vanderbilt University Center for Teaching is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 Generic license.

1. Remember -is measured by asking questions to see what they have remembered from a lesson—for example, a multiple-choice test.

2. Understand – determines their level of understanding by asking students to summarize, describe or discuss a topic.

3. Apply – students apply what they have learned in real-life situations.

4. Analyze -students analyze a problem and provide supporting evidence as to how they solved the problem.

5. Evaluate – students use the knowledge they have acquired to evaluate and apply their learning using evidence, observations, and other criteria determined by the student

6. Create – students merge information they have learned to provide new ideas and solutions.

Let’s break it down!

Sample Objectives

Sample 1: Learning Objective (Text)

Students will be able to draw on Sketchpad the four life cycles of a butterfly after reading The Very Hungry Caterpillar.

• Conditions – Sketchpad, reading The Very Hungry Caterpillar

• Cognitive Process – draw (Remember) (Knowledge)

• Content – life cycles of a butterfly

• Observable Proving Behavior – drawing on Sketchpad the life cycles of a butterfly

• Standard of Mastery – drawing the four life cycles of a butterfly

Sample 2: Learning Objective (Text)

After a lesson on Linear Algebra, students will be able to correctly solve at least 8 out of 10 algebra problems using Linear Algebra.

• Conditions – lesson on Linear Algebra

• Cognitive Process – solve (Apply) (Application)

• Content – Linear Algebra

• Observable Proving Behavior – correctly solve algebra problems using Linear Algebra

• Standard of Mastery – at least 8 of 10 Linear Algebra problems

Sample 3: Learning Objective (Text)

Given the website, Linkedin.com and Chapter 4 in their textbook, students will create a Linkedin profile to effectively navigate the Linkedin interface and assess how Linkedin can be used to connect with peers and professional networking activities.

• Conditions – Linkedin website, Chapter 4 of textbook

• Cognitive Process – create (Create) (Synthesis)

• Content – assess how Linkedin can be used to connect with peers and professional networking activities

• Observable Proving Behavior – Linkedin profile

• Standard of Mastery – effectively navigate the Linkedin profile

Objective Builder

Developed by the University of Central Florida , use the Objective Builder Tool and create your objectives with this easy-use tool!

While it can be a bit daunting creating learning objectives, correctly done objectives are the first step in creating a high-quality course module and instruction.

What difficulties have you encountered creating learning objectives? Hopefully, this post has provided helpful information! Please let me know what other topics you would like for me to discuss in the comments below. See you in the next post!