How do you use videos in your classroom? The use of videos in the classroom has become increasingly popular as a teaching tool. Whether you find videos from YouTube, BrainPOP, Flocabulary, or another favorite source, we know that sharing a video with students is so much more than pressing play. In today’s blog post, we will explore the benefits of using videos as a teaching tool and provide some tips for incorporating them into your lesson plans. Specifically, we’ll explore tips for adding questions to a video you want to share with your students.
Videos offer a wealth of educational content, from explainer videos and tutorials to step-by-step guides and simulations. This type of media can engage and educate students in a way that can supplement traditional teaching methods. Asking questions before, during, and after watching a video can ensure that students grasp the different layers of information presented in this format. Whether you are examining the way you share videos with students or just looking for a few new ideas, I hope you find this information useful as you strive to create dynamic and interactive learning experiences for your students!
Adding Questions to a Video
Adding questions to a video is a powerful way to engage students and encourage critical thinking. There are several ways to present questions to students. By embedding questions directly into the video, you can create a more interactive and immersive learning experience for your students. Alternatively, you may want students to discuss what they see on the screen and incorporate moments for pausing, reflection, or conversations with classmates.
Let’s look at several tips for adding questions to a video for students, including how to choose the right type of question, integrate the questions into the video, and even track student responses.
Types of Questions to Ask Students
There are several types of questions that a teacher can add to a video-viewing experience to check students’ understanding. These questions for students can include:
Recall questions
These basic questions ask students to recall specific information from the video. This could include questions about the main topic, key points, or essential vocabulary.
Comprehension questions
These types of questions are more advanced and ask students to demonstrate their understanding of the video. Comprehension questions might ask students to make connections, draw conclusions, or explain the information in their own words.
Application questions
These are questions that ask students to apply the information from the video to a real-world scenario or problem. For example, you might ask students to use the steps presented in a tutorial video to solve a similar math problem.
Evaluation questions
These questions ask students to evaluate the information in the video. This could include comparing it to other information or discussing its strengths and weaknesses.
Overall, it is important to include a variety of questions while students interact with a video. This can ensure students engage with the material and actively think about what they have learned.
Examples of Questions You Can Add to a Video
Here are some examples of questions that a teacher might ask students after they watch a video about the Grand Canyon:
Recall questions:
- What is the name of the natural landmark that the video is about?
- Where is the Grand Canyon located?
- What is the main feature of the Grand Canyon?
Comprehension questions:
- How was the Grand Canyon formed?
- What animals live in the Grand Canyon that also live near us?
- Why is the Grand Canyon considered a natural wonder of the world?
Application questions:
- Imagine you are planning a trip to the Grand Canyon. What activities would you want to do while you are there?
- The video mentioned that the Grand Canyon is a popular destination for hikers and rafters. Why do you think these activities are popular at the Grand Canyon?
- The Grand Canyon is also home to many different plants and animals. Can you think of any ways these animals and plants might be affected by a large number of visitors to the area?
Evaluation questions:
- The video mentioned that the Grand Canyon is a popular destination for tourists. Do you think this is a good thing or a bad thing for the area? Why?
- The video showed some of the beautiful views from the Grand Canyon. Do you think it is important to protect these natural landscapes? Why or why not?
- The Grand Canyon is a sacred place for many indigenous people. Should the interests of these groups be considered when making decisions about the Grand Canyon? Why or why not?
How to Check for Understanding When Sharing Videos with Students
After you’ve developed questions to ask students, you’ll want to decide when the best time to ask these questions is (before, during, or after watching a video). You’ll also want to choose how you’ll get the questions to students and how they will respond. Here are a few ways to give students questions to answer and gather their responses.
Embed questions into a video
Using an EdTech tool like EdPuzzle or Nearpod, you can add questions directly into a video. EdPuzzle lets you upload your own video or use a YouTube video and add questions at different places within the video. If you’ve joined me for a session on curation in the classroom or formative assessment, you might have seen a demo of what this looks like in action. Nearpod also lets you add questions to a video. Here is a link to a YouTube video on their channel with more information on how to make this happen.
Note: Embedding questions into a video is a great option if students are watching independently like in a station rotation blended learning model or flipped classroom model.
Pause for a Turn and Talk
If you share a video with students on “the big screen” in your classroom (like an interactive whiteboard or projector screen), you might use questions like the ones in this blog post as part of a Turn and Talk. A Turn and Talk is essentially an opportunity for students to turn to a partner and discuss the question together. You might circulate and listen in to conversations while this happens, then share some general observations with the whole class when everyone is finished talking.
Note: A Turn and Talk is perfect if everyone is watching together simultaneously.
Use a Stop and Jot to respond
A Stop and Jot is an excellent way for students to actively process what they have experienced when watching a video. You might do this for a whole class or small group interaction with video content. First, you’ll pause the video and pose a question. Then, Ask students to respond to an inquiry by jotting down a few ideas on a sheet of paper or in a digital space.
Note: You might take a spin on this idea and have students sketch their thinking.
Ask students to respond on video
If students are watching videos independently, in a station rotation, or even as a whole class, consider incorporating a video response. Many tools have video recording options built into them, including the popular EdTech tools Seesaw and Microsoft Flip (formerly Flipgrid). You can pose a question to students and have them respond by getting on camera and using one of these tools to record their responses.
Note: This is great when used like an exit ticket at the end of a lesson where students can reflect on what they’ve watched.
Use questions as a journal prompt
If you’d like to give students many different ways to respond, try an interactive journaling tool that gives them plenty of options. This might include OneNote or Book Creator. Both of these tools let students respond in multiple ways. For example, students might use the voice-to-text option in Book Creator to dictate their responses. Alternatively, they could use the audio option and generate a transcript as part of their response.
Note: This is an excellent previewing strategy if you want students to respond to a question that also helps you understand their background knowledge.
Adding questions to a video can be a valuable tool for engaging students and encouraging critical thinking. By following the tips outlined in this blog post, you can create effective and engaging questions that enhance the viewing experience and provide valuable insights into your students’ understanding of the material.
Whether you are creating a video for a lesson, a presentation, or a class project yourself or using a video you’ve found online, incorporating questions is a powerful way to foster engagement and understanding. Check out more of my favorite tips by following along here on Instagram.
