Category: edci337-app

As a group, we have chosen to evaluate the multimedia application called “Book Creator”. We agreed out of our group’s individually chosen apps, Book Creator was the most versatile in the classroom as it can be utilized in any subject area. This app is a favourite of many educators. Notably, Lisa Read, the District Technology Coordinator for SD 79, speaks highly of this app because of the opportunity it gives students to create, rather than consume. We also appreciate how it contributes to student-centred learning by allowing students to learn through their own creations. They can bring their ideas to life by combining text, images, audio, and video to create interactive stories. With Book Creator, the possibilities for creations are endless. Students can demonstrate their learning in each subject area using various formats such as journals, reports, instructional manuals, poetry books, etc. Students and teachers alike can benefit from using Book Creator to create content. 

Book Creator also promotes several multimedia learning principles. Through the app, users can intertwine words and pictures together. This promotes learning through the Multimedia, Split-Attention, Spatial and Temporal Contiguity Principles. The app also has a recording feature, which users can use to narrate their creation. This adheres nicely to the modality principle. Book Creator can also be used collaboratively, which follows the Collaboration Principle. Like any piece of educational technology, the user can make decisions that follow multimedia principles. A skillful user could use Book Creator to follow the Segmenting, Personalization, Voice, Image, Guided Discovery, Worked Examples, Self-Explanation, and Feedback Principles. According to the SAMR framework, Book Creator allows for the transformation of learning. This technology allows for the creation of new projects and tasks that would otherwise be impossible.

References:

H. L. (2017). SAMR Model: A Practical Guide for EdTech Integration. Schoology Exchange. https://www.schoology.com/blog/samr-model-practical-guide-edtech-integration

McCue, R. (2020b, June 10). Lisa Read SD 79: Evaluating Educational Technologies [Mp3]. https://soundcloud.com/rich-mccue/interview-with-lisa-read-district-instructional-technology-coordinator-sd-79

Edpuzzle

What is Edpuzzle?

Edpuzzle is a multimedia application that allows teachers to share interactive videos with their students. They have the option of choosing videos from popular sites such as YouTube, National Geographic, Khan Academy, Ted Talks, etc. or they can create their own videos to share with their students. With Edpuzzle, teachers can make the video pause at various points so students can answer comprehension questions. Teachers can create their own questions or use ones that were pre-made.  Once students have been assigned a video, teachers can also track which students have watched it, what their answers were, and what their total score was.

Multimedia Learning Principles

The following multimedia learning principles are utilized in Edpuzzle:

• Multimedia principle- Edpuzzle uses videos that combine words and pictures to improve learning.
• Modality principle- Instructors can share videos with students that use narration.
• Signalling principle- Edpuzzle pauses videos to give students a clear signal that key information is being presented.
• Segmented principle- This is the most prominent learning principle used by Edpuzzle because it is the main feature of the app. Students are able to watch the videos at a pace that best suits them, and the videos are broken up into segments so that students can learn the concepts in reasonable chunks. Many teachers will have students watch an entire video and then ask them comprehension questions at the end. However, I believe this method is less effective because the information will likely get jumbled in the students’ minds when shown all at once, compared to the organized segments used in Edpuzzle.

Functionality

I would definitely describe Edpuzzle as being user-friendly because it gives clear instructions on how to navigate the app, and it has a help centre that breaks down each function of the app. It uses various forms of communication through interactive videos (i.e. audio, visual, textual), making it inclusive for different types of learners.

Privacy, Data protection, and Rights

As quoted on the Edpuzzle website:

“Edpuzzle is fully FERPA and COPPA compliant and has earned the recognition from iKeepSafe, an experienced privacy protection organization. Consistent with the requirements of FERPA and COPPA, Edpuzzle is also a signatory of the Student Privacy Pledge, intended to safeguard students’ privacy.”

Mobile Design

Edpuzzle has a mobile design for smaller screens that is very clean and organized. It has been formatted to look appealing on both the mobile browser and on the mobile app (both of which are free to use).

Personal Experience

In my personal experience with using Edpuzzle, I have found it to be a great tool for assessing my students’ comprehension of a video. I find that it encourages active listening because the students know they will be asked questions throughout the video. I also like how Edpuzzle breaks up the videos into smaller segments because this helps students maintain focus for longer. From an instructor’s perspective, Edpuzzle is very beneficial because it allows teachers to track which students have watched the videos and how many times they have watched each section. Edpuzzle also encourages self-paced learning. I believe this is far more effective than whole-class instruction because we all learn at different speeds. Expecting students to learn concepts at the same pace is unrealistic because they all have unique zones of proximal development. This technique will cause many students to either fall behind or be held back from reaching their full potential. When we allow students to learn at their own pace, they are more invested in the learning process. I highly recommend Edpuzzle to teachers who want to use an exceptional multimedia app that will transform their students’ learning experience at home and in the classroom.

References

Anstey, L., & Watson, G. (2018, September 18). A Rubric for Evaluating E-Learning Tools in Higher Education. Educause Review. https://er.educause.edu/articles/2018/9/a-rubric-for-evaluating-e-learning-tools-in-higher-education

Edpuzzle. (2020). Retrieved from https://edpuzzle.com/home

Edpuzzle. [Edpuzzle]. (2020, March 13). What is Edpuzzle? [Video]. Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-L62wAxCzEM