Computer Courses in Higher-Education: Improving Learning by Screencast Technology

Abstract

The aim of the study was to find out a method designated to improve the learning of computer courses by adding Screencast technology. The intention was to measure the influence of high-quality clips produced by Screencast technology, on the learning process of computer courses. It was required to find out the characteristics (pedagogical and technical) of such high-quality video clips as well as their advantages for improving the learning process in such courses. The research was based on a sample of learners in two computer courses (n=30) in higher-education. Both courses have been fully covered by video clips (not exclusively) produced by screencast technology. The learners were asked to answer a questionnaire focused on the characteristics of effective clips as well as the advantages of such clips for their learning. The research results point out that according to learners' views, video clips' effectiveness depends mainly on lecturers' instructional qualifications as well as their capability of technically producing high-quality videos. Such clips covering the whole course curriculum, are advantageous for learning computer courses: the learning process is perceived to be excellent, video clips are better than texts and its substantial flexibility is a great advantage as well. Therefore, there is a significant worthiness to add screencast technology to computer courses provided that the entire course is fully covered with relevant video clips, and they are pedagogically and technically of high-quality. Furthermore, using this kind of technology may be suitable for other kinds of courses, including visual components like formulas, diagrams or tables.

ODL: Online Distance Learning of Quantitative Courses in Higher Education

“…The significant advantage of video clips compared to reading texts was previously found in face-to-face computer courses (Ghilay & Ghilay, 2015b). The new study provides evidence that this benefit is also valid for online distance learning of quantitative courses.…”

Using screencasts to enhance coding skills: The case of logic programming?

“…Videos in the form of screencasts are considered better than texts [6], [5], [21]. Students prefer not to read instructions or manuals but rather to watch videos in a multimedia blended learning environment [28] or in flipped classrooms [32], [18].…”

“…In programming courses, screencasts are even more effective, especially when they complement face-to-face teaching [26]. Students tend to assimilate the taught material much better and therefore acquire better programming skills [7], which eases the transition to gradual program development [15]. Especially, if learning programming is considered equivalent to learning a second language (syntax, semantics, processes, etc), short videos can facilitate learning as analogous to language acquisition [30].…”

“…Screencasts are more effective if they are produced by lecturers who are appropriately trained to develop high-quality videos. There is a consensus that faculty should be trained in order to produce screencasts that follow the basic principles and pedagogies required in order to enhance student learning [6]. Universities need to confront the faculty unwillingness, inability or lack of interest in order to change the traditional textbook-related pedagogy [10].…”

“…As recording tools, we initially used the desktop version of echo360 6 and then Screencast-O-Matic. The distribution was made by uploading the link of the Screencast-O-Matic storage to our VLE.…”