Figure 4 shows the contacts of a relay. If this was shown in a laboratory, students would need to get very close to the lecturer and this would take a lot of time to get all the students to see the device and how it works. With the video, the students can see the relay working and experience the sound that the device makes which is an important part of electrical engineering. Thus, while videos are not meant to replace practical work, they can provide excellent visuals and audio for the students. This leaf spring moves between the two other upright plates. If I pass the relay around the class, the students will not see it in action as it needs to be connected to a power source to operate. With the video they can clearly see the contact moving and hear it. Ability to replay the video and change the playback rate. YouTube allows the viewer to play the video at a slower or faster rate. The student responses noted that this is useful. Students can skip parts of the video they are proficient in, and parts that they are still needing to study, they can rewatch and even play back at a slower rate. This type of control is unavailable in classroom demonstrations. Improved practical knowledge and faster laboratory sessions. Since students were provided with the videos prior to performing their practical work in the laboratories, the finding was that they could perform the laboratory tasks more quickly and with improved skill. Students also tended to be better prepared due to watching the videos. Thus, the videos quicken the practical process paving the way for deeper engagement in the laboratory sessions. Allowance for better presentations with animation and/or overlays. Owing to the tools which are available in video editing software, one can animate and manipulate the imagery which is not easily available for live teaching. Figures 5 & 6 are some examples of basic overlays. Visual aids are memorable. When people see bright colours and large arrows on the image, it is attention grabbing. The green arrows show the students where they must re-tighten the screws. Figure 4: YouTube screengrab from a video titled “How does an electromechanical relay work?” Figure 5: Example of overlays for a distribution board video 6 6 https://youtu.be/SlUIdyjrJP4 Teaching Innovation for the 21st Century | Showcasing UJ Teaching Innovation Projects 2022 13
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