A case study on the use of personalised video tutorials in a second level school

Video technology has expanded exponentially over the last decade. With the advent of video hosting websites like You Tube, and the integration of video cameras on mobile phones, the video clip is everywhere. Students are using this technology for entertainment and self-directed learning, but it has not made its way into mainstream education, particularly at second level. The purpose of this study is to investigate the use of this technology to produce Personalised Video Tutorials, as an aid to student learning and revision. A review of the current literature indicates that the use of Personalised Video Tutorials add significantly to the educational experience gained by their use. While research at second level is limited, similar technologies in third level institutions are in regular use and received very positively. A case study research model was used to research the issue in a single school involving eight teachers and two hundred students. As part of the investigation teachers recorded a personalised video tutorial for their class. This was hosted on a website for students to access outside of class contact time. Students were tested before and after watching the Personalised Video Tutorial. Both students and teachers involved also completed a questionnaire. The research findings indicate that both the staff and students responded very favourably to the idea of Personalised Video Tutorials being hosted online as a revision aid. There was a significant improvement in the grades of the students who watched the Personalised Video Tutorials. However, a large percentage of students did not, or could not, access the facility. While the grades of the students improved significantly, and the reaction of students and teachers was very positive, technical factors would need to be addressed before a full implementation of the technology could be undertaken in second level schools.