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Video use in lecture classes: current practices, student perceptions and preferences

Frank Alpert (UQ Business School, University of Queensland, Queensland, Australia)
Chris S. Hodkinson (UQ Business School, University of Queensland, Queensland, Australia)

Education + Training

ISSN: 0040-0912

Article publication date: 21 December 2018

Issue publication date: 11 February 2019

1034

Abstract

Purpose

Despite the expansion of e-learning, higher education still involves live lectures, which students often see as “boring”. Lecture classes can be made more engaging and effective by including videos. However, empirical research is yet to report on current video use in lectures, or on student perceptions of and preferences for videos. The purpose of this paper is to fill that knowledge gap.

Design/methodology/approach

A two-stage mixed-method study used focus groups to gain a rich understanding of student’s video experiences, preferences and the types of videos they are shown. These understandings were utilised in a detailed on-line survey questionnaire, which was completed by a diverse sample of 773 university students, who responded about their recent in-class video experiences.

Findings

Students report that about 87 per cent of lecture classes included one or more videos. This paper reports on instructor practices, develops a video typology and reports on students’ preferred frequency, type of video, video source, video length and existing vs preferred video integration methods.

Practical implications

The results provide useful information for educational administrators. Recommendations are made for effective use of videos in lectures by instructors.

Originality/value

This is the first qualitative and survey research investigating current practice and student perceptions of video use during lecture classes. The authors also conduct the first survey with a broad sample across universities and academic disciplines using the unit of analysis of videos seen per course last week. Typologies of sources of videos, instructional functions, video facilitation techniques and types of videos used during lectures are proposed and then measured.

Keywords

Citation

Alpert, F. and Hodkinson, C.S. (2019), "Video use in lecture classes: current practices, student perceptions and preferences", Education + Training, Vol. 61 No. 1, pp. 31-45. https://doi.org/10.1108/ET-12-2017-0185

Publisher

:

Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2018, Emerald Publishing Limited

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