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Hi Casey!
I think it depends on what you're trying to accomplish. A short and welcoming video introduction to the week/module can go a long way in setting the tone for your course, especially if you seize it as an opportunity for establishing your presence in an online course. A lot of educators aim to create the perfect five minute mini lesson or welcome video, but the research shows us that our learners want humans on the other side of the screen, not perfectly produced videos. When we let our personalities and enthusiasm show through, we engage the students with our passion and persona. At the very least, a video introduction for a lesson/module helps communicate our expectations for the learners. In my short intro videos, I like to give the learners some tips for how to approach the activities for the week if they get stuck or pose a thought question for them to explore on their own.
Great question about finding credible sources for video! I am always on the lookout for new resources relating to what I teach. When seeking out an updated and credible video, I'll often ask fellow educators about their go-to resource when they go searching for school-appropriopt content. When I am building a module in my course, I seek out videos that are 10 minutes or less, created by trusted content creators whose videos are well-researched and use reliable sources. Sometimes I can find what I'm looking for on YouTube. The Green brothers created SciShow and CrashCourse, two very entertaining and engaging educational shows that are available in part or in full on YouTube. Other colleagues have recommended resources from HHMI, PBS, the Smithsonian Channel, etc. I've additionally used videos that other educators post on YouTube channels, always making sure to vet them for accuracy and alignment to learning objectives before showing them. So, I think this is a yes, and kind of question, depending on how available resources are for the subject or content that you teach.
My final recommendation: We can also teach learners to use the FLICC model to find and evaluate resources on their own. Jennfifer Gonzalez of Cult of Pedagogy talks about using curation to boost higher-order thinking. I think that's a strategy worth exploring as we aim to be more culturally relevant in our practice. Pairing curation with the FLICC model also helps boost literacy skills and could be a great avenue for discussing diverse perspectives and bias.
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