​The addition of multi-media to online courses is a critical component of creating and establishing a dynamic learning environment, and can help to foster a postive relationship between the teacher and the student. By using audio or video as a communication tool, in a weekly message, the teacher is making a more personal impact on the student. No longer an anonymous face behind a keyboard, a personal video or audio message adds to the personalization of the course.

​These dynamic tools are valuable resources for creating media and graphics for use in online courses. Many are free, or come loaded on new computers. These media files can be saved and archived within a course, or can be sent to students one-at-a-time to provide specific directions or feedback on a particular assignment. Each school jurisdiction - and often different school within that jurisdicition - will have access to a different set of tools. Many tools are appropriate for teachers as well as students to use.

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Highlights
of using
multimedia

• 3 Ways to use Video Conferencing with Students (Catlin Tucker, 2020)
• Use Snagit to Create Animated Gifs (blog post 2015)
• YouTube classroom video ideas (Ditch That Textbook, 2020)
• Authentic and Effective: Rescuing Video from Its Role as the Villain of Online Learning (Educause Review, 2021)
  

Teachers should maintain presence through their own videos
​In order to facilitate continued teacher presence in student learning, and to enhance engagement, it is important for teachers to create videos themselves where possible, rather than solely relying on videos from other sources, as this can impede student engagement and their understanding of the materials, as well as lead to students not watching them.

Students reported feeling far more connected to their teacher when they could at least hear their teacher's voice in a video, and they felt that they understood the content of videos more, because their teacher was using the same instructional techniques that they use in the classroom.

​~Melissa Bond, 2020

quote from: K-12 Educators Teaching Online

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Screencasting

Screencast-o-matic

• Record, edit and share video to connect with students, parents and faculty
  

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Audio

Audacity

• Free audio creator, mixer and editor to create/edit music and podcasts
• Can create multiple audio files (MP3, WAV)

GarageBand

• Audio creator and editor, available with the iLife suite (MAC)
• MIDI creator and editor for music files

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Video

MovieMaker

• Inclded with Windows-based PCs
• Video editing capability
• Webcam-compatible

 
PhotoStory

• Free download from Microsoft
• Used for slideshows / visual stories
• Can record and attach audio, narration, built-in-music

iMovie

• Create movies and videos
• Intuative, simple controls
• Included with MACs

Jing / JingPro

• Create video screencasts with audio and upload them to a hosted webpage, post to a LMS, or send in an email.
• Generate tutorials of common processes. Show complicated processes in a clear manner
• Jing is Free, JingPro is $14.95/year

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Images

Jing / JingPro

• Create screencaptures
• Add simple text and highlighting
• Jing is Free, JingPro is $14.95/year

SnagIt

• Create screencaptures and some photo editing abilities
• Add text, highlights and directions to an image
• Easy-to-use photo editing abilities
• 30-day Free trial / $49.95

PowerPoint

• Easy to use, comfortable to access
• Non-traditional means of designing imgaes and graphics

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 Research & References

Anderson, S.P. (2009). In defense of eye candy. A List Apart: For People Who Make Websites, 282. Retrieved from: http://www.alistapart.com/articles/indefenseofeyecandy

Kensinger Rose, K. (2009). Student perceptions of the use of instructor-made videos in online and face-to-face classes. MERLOT Journal of Online Learning and Teaching 5(3), 487-495.

Kuhlmann, T. (2007). The insider's guide to becoming a rapid e-learning pro. Retreived from: http://www.articulate.com/rapid-elearning/

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blog posts relating to: multimedia

• https://www.talok12.com/blog/online-teaching-with-multimedia