In this project, I am investigating how technology can be used to assist ‘flipped’ classroom teaching, specifically in the area of spectroscopic analysis of organic molecules. A flipped classroom is one where the typical lecture and homework elements of a course are reversed. Lectures notes or videos are viewed by students beforehand, while class time is devoted to exercises and problem solving. One of the potential pitfalls with the flipped classroom is where some students may not have engaged with the video material beforehand and are, therefore, unable to properly participate in the problem-solving sessions during class.
I hoped to use the Articulate Storyline to create interactive online video packages which mix short video lectures with quizzes. Articulate Storyline is able to export context in SCORM format, which is compatible with various Learning Management Systems (LMS) e.g. Blackboard, Moodle.
Following initial discussions and follow-up training sessions with Patrick Kiely and Claire Fennell of the UCC Instructional Design Team, I have set about creating interactive video lectures using Storyline. The Panopto video was first split into short clips, embedded into Storyline and then interspersed with quizzes. Each quiz relates to the preceding video, and the student must correctly answer the question in order to proceed to the next video clip. This is not only a more stimulating learning exercise for the student, but also ensures that the student engages with the video material, rather than it simply playing away in the background. I have been experimenting with a range of question types (e.g. mix and match, drag and drop). However, in the context of infrared spectra, hotspot questions are particularly effective (see below).
Importantly, once the student successfully completes the module, the SCORM package reports this information back to the LMS grade centre. This feedback loop is important for the tutor, as it makes it immediately apparent which students have not viewed their pre-classroom material. So far, I have found Storyline to be quite flexible as a package, with a significant amount of community resources online. I hope to present a more comprehensive report during the June 7th Showcase.