Creating and Curating a Flexible Content Library
Hey Coach,
I’ve been reading a lot about flexible content and just-in-time instruction. It seems like a lot of work to make the videos, and I feel so self-conscious hearing myself on video. I don’t even know how to get started. Is it worth the time and effort to create my own content videos?
Sincerely,
Flirting with Flexible Content
Dear Flirting,
Yes! It is absolutely worth your time and effort to create a flexible content library. Don’t worry about recording yourself! Everyone feels a little strange to see and hear themselves on video, but all our students will see and hear is the same teacher they engage with on a day to day basis!
Here’s some more good news - you don’t have to create all the content for a flexible content library. Here are some tips to create and curate resources that your students can use to access learning exactly when they need it, at any place and any time.
Screencasting
You can use the presentations you have already created and record your instruction. Depending on the tool you use to create your video, you can choose for students to see you or just hear you. Screencastify, Screencast-o-matic, and PowerPoint are all great tools you can learn easily and create instructional videos in a jiffy. To learn more about creating and using screencasts as effective learning tools, read our blog post.
Divide and Conquer
Work with your PLC, grade level, or content area to create screencasts and share in a common account. Take advantage of one another’s strengths. You might have a great lesson on the proper use of semicolons while your teammate has a great lesson on citing source material. Your flexible content library does not have to contain videos only you created.
Video Platforms
YouTube, Vimeo, PBS.org, The Smithsonian Institution, and more. These websites all offer in-depth, high-quality content. We suggest several websites to find quality resources on our Flexible Content Infographic.
More than Videos
Interactive content such as maps, science experiments, and educational games engage students and encourage them to explore content resources. Check out Phet and MERLOT to find activities for your students.
All Ears
Podcasts are another content-rich resource that engage students, have myriad free options, and are highly engaging. NPR has a plethora of free podcasts for every content and grade level. Common Sense Media offers a list of high quality content for students.
Creating a flexible content library for your students allows you to personalize learning and engage learners with just-in-time resources and supportive instructional content! Challenge yourself to create one screencast a week. If you and just one other colleague do this, you will have over 70 instructional videos in just one school year.
All the best,
Coach
