Still need help?
Get in touch with the LX.lab team by logging a ticket via ServiceConnect. We'll be in touch shortly.
Log a ticketWant to provide feedback on this resource? Please log in first via the top nav menu.
The traditional lecture, on campus in a theatre, has mostly been replaced by online seminars and pre-recorded videos. How do you make this online experience as engaging as your face-to-face lectures?
It turns out many of the techniques used to structure a lecture in a theatre are also effective in the video format. The technique we want to focus on in this resource is how to break an hour-long lecture into connected topics or themes.
You probably already ‘chunk’ your content by taking a pause as you transition into a new topic, perhaps calling for questions, inviting a brief discussion, or suggesting additional readings. When recording a lecture it is just as important to have these brief interludes between topics and, as we can edit our recording, we can create shorter ‘chunks’ out of a full hour video.
Benefits to ‘chunking’
- It makes the structure of the content and concepts explicit.
- You can frame learning objectives more clearly.
- Student can easily rewatch those more complex and difficult sections.
- It’s easier to revise the content.
- Students can take breaks for pauses and reflections.
- You can add short quizzes or activities between chunks so students can test their understanding.
- It is faster and easier to update one or two short sections than an entire lecture.
- As you go, you’ll find breaking your content up into smaller components will open up new opportunities for student engagement.
Finding the chunks
The natural break points you use in the classroom can be a great starting point to split a 1-hour long video into four of five shorter videos (including an introduction and a conclusion).
Sometimes when we record ourselves, especially if we’re not comfortable, we rush through the material and lose those natural breaks. If that happens to you, think about how you can recreate these chunks.
A basic model
- Video 1: Introduction (Overarching concept)
- Video 2: Learning objective (topic) 1
- Video 3: Learning objective (topic) 2
- Video 4: Learning objective (topic) 3
- Video 5: Conclusion
If you plan before you start recording, there’s very little extra work to record 4 to 6 sections back-to-back instead of one long video. Once you get the hang of the process, it may take an extra 10 minutes for the production, uploading, and embedding per week.
Don’t forget that your videos will roll over in the Canvas site for the next session. You may be able to re-use several chunks and just re-record the introduction or other sections that include topical material.
How long should my chunked videos be?
When adapting your content for the first time, you may find each section is between 12 and 25 minutes long, but there’s no hard and fast rule.
At the shorter end of the scale, if there’s a particularly important point or topic, consider making a dedicated video just for it. A concentrated 3-6 minute video that focuses on a core or difficult concept can be a boon for student comprehension and revision, particularly when paired with an exercise. This can be particularly helpful for revision if it’s a tricky concept students find themselves returning to.
When it comes to length, it’s not so much about the numbers – it’s more useful to focus on how well students understand their objectives, how clearly the content is designed to aid cognitive processing, and how students actually engage with the ideas expressed.