Add Assessment to Video Using eduCanon

Overview

Flipping the classroom can come in any number of forms. Some forms involve technology. Some forms do not. But one aspect that many educators favor in making the flip, is online video. EduCanon takes the use of online video to the next level by letting educators simply and quickly integrate questions and assessment into video content. Not only does this create an engaging experience for students, it can save time in marking and make reporting a whole lot easier.

Name: eduCanon – www.educanon.com
Pricing: Free/Premium
Compatibility: Desktop/Tablet (more info)
Access: Email signup (student & instructor)
Privacy: Customizable (privacy policy)

A Quick Look

What exactly is it?

Put simply, eduCanon allows you to place specific questions at certain time points in a video. Perhaps the best way to get a feel for what eduCanon can do is to see some examples:

• How to Play Crumple and Shoot – Video and questions from educator Jennifer Gonzalez
• Crash Course: The Constitution – Question added to John Green’s US History lesson
• Math Antics: Decimals – Math questions related to decimal learning video

Logging in

To start using eduCanon you will need to create an account using an email address, Google account or Edmodo account. Sign up is required for both teachers and students who want to use the system.

Choosing a video

Once logged in you can add videos from a number of sources including YouTube, Vimeo, TeacherTube and many more. It’s simply a matter of entering the video url. If you want to use your own recorded video, I suggest uploading it to YouTube and adding it from there.

Adding questions

By selecting appropriate time points in your video you can add relevant questions or text to the content. Questions can take the form of ‘multiple choice‘, ‘check all that apply‘ and ‘fill in the blank‘. Free response questions can also be added if you are a premium (that means paid) eduCanon user.

Assigning and monitoring

Once questions have been created, the video (or Bulb as it’s called by eduCanon) can be assigned to students. This does mean that your students will require individual accounts on eduCanon if you plan to assign and monitor results.

Video demonstration

Take a look at this video from the creators of eduCanon for a quick walk-through of how the process works.

In Practice

1. Use pre-made video

One of the huge benefits of using online video is the vast amount of free educational content available. Save yourself time and harness work from some of the best educational creators by using pre-made video from YouTube channels such as Khan Academy, TED-Ed and Crash Course. You can then integrate your own class and curriculum relevant questions using eduCanon.

2. Record your own video

You may have recorded your own lessons in the past or plan on recording lectures to save time in the future. Many flipped classroom teachers follow this model and use their own video material on a day to day basis (flipped educator Brian Bennett is a great example of this). Try recording your own lessons with breaks for eduCanon questions to boost engagement and save time on marking and reporting later on.

3. Breath life into old lesson plans

If you have any lesson plans that need updating or are starting to get a bit stale, consider re-working that material into an eduCanon lesson. You can use a document scanner to digitize material, a webcam to record certain modules and even ‘pimp it up’ with some of the free video resources mentioned above. This can be a quick and easy progression towards flipping your classroom.

4. Table quiz

By using video content that your students really connect with, you can turn a bland test into quite a fun activity. With this in mind, try creating a light-hearted and fun quiz or competition using eduCanon. Students can work through videos as a groups and you can monitor the progress and award winners live from your dashboard.

5. Reverse the role

Instead of creating videos and questions for your students, have them create for each other. Whether they choose to record their own videos or use pre-made material, it is a great exercise in content discovery and requires a whole host of digital skills for them to put it all together.

Links and Next Steps

• eduCanon Knowledge Base – Help and frequently asked questions on eduCanon
• eduCanon Enhances the Learning Experience – Video from Tustin Unified School District
• Make screencasts interactive with eduCanon – Review from educator Andrew Douch
• Amazing High School English Videos Aligned to CCSS – Video collection from eduCanon
• eduCanon: Flipping Made Easy – Blog post from Crazy Teaching

What tools are you using to flip the classroom? Let us know your tips in the comments below.

Feature image courtesy of Flickr, Janitors.