Use of Vimeo on-line video sharing services as a reflective tool in higher educational settings

A preliminary report

Abstract

Most students attending the School of Education, University of Western Sydney (UWS) have competing schedules due to the combination of work, family and study commitments which makes effective collaboration difficult. Dispersal within the Greater Western Sydney area further encumbers collaboration and this makes students interactions a difficult and demanding task. This is reflected in on-line scenarios, as academics at University of Western Sydney (UWS) note that many students do not contribute to on-line work (blogs, wikis or discussion forums). This could be further attributed to the lack of provision of on-line learning objects such as digital videos that triggers students learning and exploration. In this regard, we identified the potential of using online digital videos embedded in blogs within our e-learning system (Blackboard). Preliminary research was conducted using digital video embedded in blogs and measuring student?s participation. Quantitative and qualitative methods were used as students were asked to respond to on-line discussions and an on-line survey related to the video topic.

The concept was to allow the students the opportunity to reflect on the videos, by learning in a visually appealing and therefore constructive manner. Preliminary data shown the potential of these videos to increase students participation and promote reflective learning and on-line collaboration. Although we identified the need to conduct rigorous research, taking into account content analysis of the discussions, before drawing a firm conclusion, we believe that this strategy has the potential to become a powerful teaching and learning tool that will engage students in the use of e-learning resources within the School of Education at UWS.