Teaching Tip: Use AI-generated videos for lab and equipment inductions
Blair Sowman boosted lab safety engagement by swapping lengthy documents for Gen-AI videos with quizzes.
Want to make your introductory materials more engaging and accessible?
Traditional methods of introducing new concepts or procedures can overwhelm students with extensive documents and forms, leading to low engagement and poor retention of critical information.
Blair Sowman from the School of Environment modernised lab inductions by replacing traditional documents with AI-generated videos. Concise, engaging videos covered lab safety, equipment usage, and fieldwork, with integrated quizzes on Canvas to ensure understanding. Users could complete inductions remotely and at their own pace, improving engagement, retention, and accessibility.
Try this!
Replace traditional introductory documents with AI-generated videos to make the process more engaging and accessible. Use tools like Synthesia.io to create concise videos covering key topics. Integrate interactive quizzes to ensure understanding.
Addresses these teaching challenges:
- Low engagement with traditional introductory methods
- Poor retention of critical information
- Overwhelming students with lengthy documents
- Ensuring understanding of key topics
Image: ChatGPT 4o mini Image generator
Implementation
- Identify key topics to include.
- Use Synthesia.io (or Canva, or other tool that is free /free with limitations) to create AI-generated videos.
- Integrate interactive quizzes at key points in the videos.
- Embed the videos and quizzes in your online learning platform (e.g., Canvas).
- Provide clear instructions for accessing and completing the materials.
Pro tips
- Keep videos concise and focused on essential information.
- Use visuals to explain complex concepts.
- Provide immediate feedback through quizzes.
- Test the videos on different devices to ensure accessibility.
- Consider adding subtitles for accessibility.
Benefits
- Improved engagement and retention
- Reduced administrative workload
- Increased accessibility and flexibility
- Enhanced understanding of critical information
Teacher’s voice
“Students found the AI-generated videos much more engaging and easier to understand than traditional documents. The interactive quizzes helped reinforce their learning.” – Blair Sowman
Accessibility considerations
- Add subtitles or closed captions to videos.
- Ensure videos are compatible with screen readers.
- Provide transcripts for all video content.
- Use high-contrast visuals for better visibility.
- Test videos for accessibility on various devices and platforms.
Try this variation
Adapt the videos for other introductory processes, such as course overviews or equipment training, to create a consistent and engaging learning experience across different contexts.
Have a teaching tip to share? Add it to our jar today. Email: teachwell@auckland.ac.nz
Faculty: Science
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Shared by
Blair Sowman
Technical Manager
Faculty of Science