Overview

This workshop will facilitate discussion, exchange of information, and sharing of resources to improve the design and use of videos in undergraduate geoscience curricula. During the workshop we will explore pedagogic topics that are especially relevant to designing and using video to improve student learning. Examples include: best practices in video design; potential pitfalls, obstacles, and opportunities in using video as part of teaching; pros and cons of various build-it-yourself video software and accompanying hardware technology; and methods for evaluating the effectiveness of videos on student learning. We will consider how best to develop our own videos as well as share videos produced by others, and develop activities using these videos.

The workshop will include a series of web-based synchronous and asynchronous sessions, including presentations, sharing among participants, on-line chat sessions, and time for guided group work. A primary focus of the workshop will be the development of online resources for geoscience faculty and departments that assist with ongoing video design and use in geoscience education including examples drawn from participant experiences. These materials will be published on the website for use by other faculty. We will also work to develop a network of video developers and end-users.

Workshop Goals

The goals of the workshop are to:

Assemble a reference collection of shared video resources
Publish online tested best practices for development of new videos
Identify geoscience concepts which could really benefit from video resources (and match these up to ongoing development projects)
Establish a network of video developers who work together to:

Build upon and improve existing resources that will be available to the entire geoscience community
Experiment with and test existing resources and usage methods and share results

Dates

Workshop sessions will be held on the first Friday of the month: Feb. 7, Mar. 7, April 4, and May 2, 2014. Sessions are 2 hours: 9-11 am (PST) | 10-12 pm (MST) | 11-1 pm (CST) | 12-2 pm (EST). This is an online workshop and there is no face-to-face component. The workshop will consist of both synchronous and asynchronous components, with assigned work between sessions.

See the Program page for more details.

Expectations

Workshop participants will be expected to:

Complete a pre-workshop survey describing current video usage in geoscience classes.
Attend all workshop sessions, and contribute to workgroup assignments and discussion prior, during, and after each session.
Contribute at least two of the following: video resource, course description/case study that describes how video resources are integrated into a particular class, or activity that uses existing video resources.
Submit a post workshop evaluation.

Online workshops have many advantages, especially in your ability to access all of your instructional resources from your home office. However, the downside is that there are also many local distractions. So please be sure to block out times in your calendar for all scheduled workshop activities, just as if you were attending face-to-face meetings at those times. We anticipate that in total, the workshop will require 2 hours of your time each of the 4 scheduled days and that you will want to set aside some time between sessions to continue working group efforts and complete homework activities. Your focused attention will be appreciated by all.

Costs

The cost of the 4-session workshop is $200 ($150 for NAGT members). Learn more about becoming a member of NAGT and how your registration fees are used

Our National Science Foundation grant provides funding for the remainder of the operational costs of the workshop. To be supported by these funds, a participant must be either a US citizen, a permanent resident, or in the employ of a US institution. If you don't meet these requirements and are interested in participating in this workshop at your own expense, please contact the workshop conveners.

Registration deadline: January 17, 2014 (Registration is now closed. Questions? Contact katryn.wiese at mail.ccsf.edu)

Facilities

This is a virtual workshop, and you can participate from wherever you have access to the internet. We will be using a combination of Adobe Connect and phone conferencing. You will want access to a computer that has reliable, high-speed internet, a video camera and microphone, as well as a telephone (preferably a land line). We will provide opportunities for you to test your connections and software prior to the first session.