Microlecture Videos
What is it?
A microlecture is a brief (under five minutes) video recording that explains a single concept or topic.
Why should I do it?
The microlecture format encourages educators to leverage what we know about the science of learning. Effective microlectures scale content down to the essentials learners need to know and understand to be successful. See our notes about Designing for Learning for more information about helping learners manage cognitive load.
What tools do I need?
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webcam/microphone
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a free recording application
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free video hosting
What does it look like?
Microlectures videos are usually talking head style, narrated slide presentations, screencasts, or pencasts.
How do I organize it?
Begin by formulating your objective and creating a solid plan, storyboard, or outline for your video. The style of microlecture we endorse uses a Pause Procedure format (see the template). Reflective moments, activities, and formative assessments can be built into your video using a free application.
Microlecture Video Template
Tips for Success
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Stick to your objective and avoid references to specific chapters, page numbers, dates, or assignments unless you plan to refresh this video every term.
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Keep these videos brief, around 4 minutes is ideal but do not exceed ten minutes.
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Embed video content such as microlectures into the learning modules along with text annotations that put the content of the video into the context of the lesson.
Example Microlecture Video (Screencast)
References
Educause. (2012). 7 things you should know about microlectures [pdf]. Retrieved from
http://net.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/ELI7090.pdf
Faculty Innovation Center. (2016). Microlecture [pdf]. Austin, TX: University of Texas at Austin.