Video podcasts: Real learning or virtual learning?

I've recently volunteered to take part in a trial of video capture of lectures. However some background reading has suggested that although video podcasts have improved students' perception of modules, there has been little improvement in academic outcomes.

Hill and White (2012) reported on investigations aiming to provide empirical evidence of the learning utility of video podcasts. They reported "no significant difference in exam performance prior to and post-adoption of podcasts" and found that their work supported Heilesen (2010), in that there was little evidence for podcasting producing consistent beneficial effect on student exam performance.

Heilesen surveyed a body of literature on the subject dating from between 2004 and 2009, and concluded that there was nevertheless "a general positive impact on the academic environment" and that "students experience podcasts as a genuine improvement to the study environment".

Interestingly Heilsen remarked that one effect of video podcasting was "opening up for experimentation with known forms of teaching".

So if there is no great evidence of improvement in student performance, why am I still interested in video capture, or video use in general? Is this just a solution looking for a problem?

In answer, I would say that it's about doing something differently. Here are some possibilities:

• Flipped classroom - Experimenting with a partially "flipped classroom" by producing a few short concentrated videos - "learning objects" - for students to view in their own time, as preparation for classroom activity.
• Blended learning - Combining online materials with conventional teaching.
• Guest lectures - Recording guest lectures in a "richer", more integrated format. Previously I had made audio recordings and published these alongside the guests' Powerpoint slides, but I made no attempt to integrate the sound and visuals because of the time involved.

You may notice that none of these involve videoing myself delivering conventional lectures in the classroom, which is the basic presumption of the trial.

Another idea I have is using video to bring the outside world into the classroom. Jenny Hill showed some excellent examples of this in her presentation. However the question is how to do this in a way that is economic of my limited time. Food for thought...

References:

Hill, J and White, C (2012) Employing audio-visual technology inside and outside the classroom: Lessons for effective integration. FET Learning and Teaching Fellows Seminar Series, University of the West of England, Bristol

Heilesen, S.B. (2010) What is the academic efficacy of podcasting? Computers & Education Volume 55, Issue 3, November 2010, Pages 1063–1068.  Elsevier.