Anatomy of instructional videosa systematic characterization of the structure of academic instructional videos

Resumen

Anatomy of Instructional Videos: A Systematic Characterization of the Structure of Academic Instructional Videos The main goal of this research has been to build a classification scheme for instructional video characteristics which are related to learning processes. The process of building the classification starts with an extensive literature review and a field study on MOOC platforms. Features retrieved from the review and the field study led to a bottom-up conceptual clustering, ending with a full classification scheme. This classification scheme is inspired on Multimodal Discourse Analysis tools and theories, particularly John Bateman’s GeM framework. The resulting classification scheme comprises eight taxonomical domains: Medium, Presentation, Interaction, Spatiotemporal, Speech, Social Appearance, Strategic and Generic (for video genres). These domains are organized in hierarchical layers, from the physical medium to more abstract levels. In addition, specific taxonomies have been developed for all domains except Strategic and Generic. These domain-specific taxonomies have been elaborated by means of literature reviews that have compiled more than 200 authoritative scientific references on the influence of audiovisual features on learning. This research has covered instructional videos from a broad perspective, considering three natures of instructional videos: as instructional films, as multimedia learning objects, and as multimodal texts. Thus, the classification scheme is grounded in a multidisciplinary theoretical framework, which includes Cognitive Multimedia Learning theories, Multimodal Discourse Analysis and Systemic Functional Linguistics. In summary, this research has delivered these products: 1) A classification scheme that systematically organizes the characteristics in instructional videos that researchers have found relevant in learning processes; 2) A survey of presentation styles and features currently used in instructional videos in online courses (MOOCs); and 3) A comprehensive literature review on the instructional video features that are related to learning effectiveness.