Demonstrations in the art room are a must have. No way of getting around them. But there are some ways to make them better and one of those is recording demonstration videos. If you’ve never done it, I highly recommend it! Below are my reasons why every art teacher should try recording demonstration videos for their art classes.
1. Saves Time
Creating a demonstration video can save you time during your actual instruction. I find when I record myself doing something and explaining how to do it, I tend to be more intentional with what I say and do. I am more efficient and get to the main points. I am a person who tends to get off track and ramble, so a video that is already created ahead of time saves me time in the class. I can play the video and know the students will watch it and only get the most important information. Then they can get to work on their artwork right away and not lose out on valuable time.
2. Be in Two Places at Once!
If you teach art in a public school, you most likely understand how valuable time is. Most classes are back to back or have very little time in between them. This can create issues with trying to clean up and prep materials for the next class. You either end up doing it during the class before or do it while the new class is already there. A demonstration video can help you be in two places at once! You are one the screen teaching your lesson, while you are also cleaning up from the last class, preparing materials or passing things out for the current class. This saves time as well and keeps your lesson on pace. My favorite example of this are my videos for clay projects. Students watch the screen and learn how to manipulate the clay. While they do that, I can finish any material prep and also start passing things out. That way, once the video is over, they can get started!
3. Consistency!
When you teach the same thing to multiple classes, it can get confusing to remember who heard what from you. By creating a video, you know that every class is getting the exact same information! Many students, especially elementary, benefit from having the same routines and procedures in place. It can also be very beneficial to us as the teacher. You don’t have to worry if you forgot to say something to one class that you said to the others or repeat yourself to a class and waste time! Every class can watch e the video and gets the same treatment.
4. Student Differentiation
A video can help with your student differentiation in many ways. First, while you are watching a video with a class, you can pause, rewind, add extra commentary, or rewatch parts of the video as many times as you need. Break the video up into more than one day if it’s showing the whole project. Only show the part that you need for that days’ lesson. If a student was absent on the day you showed the video, have them watch it when they return. They can take the the laptop into a quiet area to focus. You can also pull small groups of students who might need a little extra boost before they can take off on their own. One student struggling? Have them watch the video again.
5. Save it and Use it Again!
Once you’ve made a video, you have it forever! If it was a successful project or lesson and you want to do it the next year, you don’t have to record it again! It’s right there for you to pull up whenever you need it. This saves significant time when planning your lessons in the future.
I will never NOT record my demonstration videos again. They are such a big time saver and I love that I can be in two places at once. I don’t have to worry about creating all new plans year after year, If I know it was successful, I can pull it up and show my students. I can help those that need extra help by having them watch the video again or pausing and rewatching parts of the video together to really understand it. And keep it simple! Use your phone to record, prop it up for by a cheap stand from amazon, and hit record. Use easy apps like iMovie to do any editing like cutting out parts or speeding things up so they can see your finished artwork.
Have you ever recorded your demonstrations? What was successful? What would you have changed?
Keep blending,
Laura