ERIC Number: EJ1018927
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2014-Mar
Pages: 13
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1469-7874
EISSN: N/A
Screencasts: How Effective Are They and How Do Students Engage with Them?
Morris, Cecile; Chikwa, Gladson
Active Learning in Higher Education, v15 n1 p25-37 Mar 2014
The use of screencasts as an instructional technology is increasing rapidly in higher education. While there appears to be a consensus around students' satisfaction with the provision of technology-enhanced tools, there is limited evidence revolving around their impact in terms of knowledge acquisition. Moreover, the reasons why students choose to engage (or not) with these resources remain largely unreported. The study assessed the effect of using screencasts on undergraduate students' understanding and engagement with learning material in one of their modules. Customised screencasts were used as optional additional learning and teaching resources. Grades obtained in a test module (with screencasts) and a control module (without screencasts) were compared to gauge the impact of screencasts on knowledge acquisition. Furthermore, the reasons for students' engagement (or lack thereof) with the screencasts were explored using questionnaires. A modest but significant impact of screencasts on knowledge acquisition was found, and students' perception of the screencasts was overwhelmingly positive. Students suggested that screencasts should be kept short to summarise lectures or delve in-depth into complex concepts but should not replace whole lectures. Reasons for not using screencasts revolved around a lack of understanding of what the resources were and also a reported lack of fit between the nature of the tool and self-assessed learning style.
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Tutorial Programs, Computer Mediated Communication, Electronic Learning, Higher Education, Educational Technology, Student Attitudes, Technology Uses in Education, Grades (Scholastic), Questionnaires, Positive Attitudes, Undergraduate Students, Measures (Individuals), Student Surveys, Online Surveys, Integrated Learning Systems, Correlation, Gender Differences, Learning Strategies
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: United Kingdom
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A