Edpuzzle is a free website designed to help educators enhance video content and track students'understanding. The idea is that users can customize a video for use in teaching content. Users can insert audio notes or record over a video with their voice, and add questions at any point in the video.
Type of Material:
Presentation, video editing, class management, formative assessment tool.
Recommended Uses:
EdPuzzle would work well for assign videos for homework, class discussions after watching and interactiving with videos, checking student understanding at the end of a lesson, unit, or semester, and as formative assessment for a flipped classroom.
Technical Requirements:
Besides online internet access via computers, the site is compatible with most devices including Android, iOS, and Chrome. Be sure to install the YouTube extension found on the website. The plugin to Chrome helps those using Google Classroom.
Identify Major Learning Goals:
There are three main goals for this site regarding student viewing of videos--reinforce accountability, engage students easily, and save time by using existing videos from Khan Academy, Crash Course, or personal ones to enhance with notes and/or questions. Users can show short clips, add voice over, and add tests to videos, manage and grade students' use of videos.
Target Student Population:
Elementary through university students, facutly presentations and faculty development, adult learners
Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:
Instructor needs, basic to intermediate skill with internet tools. Can be used with students in any discipline, at any level of knowledge in that discipline. No tech skills required by students.
Content Quality
Rating:
Strengths:
EdPuzzle allows educators to enhance the viewing of videos by adding their own voice overs, audio notes (such as questions or additional comments), and interactive quizzes. Hyperlinks can be inserted.The videos, themselves, are not altered. To take it to the next level, students can be given the opportunity to add comments, annotate, or add questions that creates a higher level of engagement and interaction in the learning process. EdPuzzle certainly supports instruction that is designed for the "flipped" classroom and for independent work.
Concerns:
None.
Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool
Rating:
Strengths:
Since EdPuzzle is a free assessment-centered tool, teachers and/or students can create interactive online videos using either open-ended or multiple choice questions, comments, audio notes, and audio tracks. Looking under Ed Puzzle's Curriculum header under Content, there are three sections of curated content for Elementary School, Middle School, and High School. Using EdPuzzle with the videos can generate class discussions, debates, and reflections. The videos that are enhanced with EdPuzzle can be used with an entire class or individuals who want or need to move at their own pace.
Using video is a way to enhance student engagement. This program makes it easy to pick and choose bits of video content and modify it to meet classroom or student needs. In-video testing tools and analytics help teachers evaluate student learning and teaching effectiveness.
Concerns:
None.
Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty
Rating:
Strengths:
EdPuzzle is free for teachers to use. (There is a Pro Teacher level coming soon that will cost $6.50 per month and offers storage for up to 20 videos-lessons, unlimited sharing, and tracking of student progress with analytics.) It is easy to join. Once logged in, there are several video channels set up for browsing for material including YouTube, Khan Academy, National Geographic, TED Talks, and EdPuzzle, itself. There is a built-in gradebook and a place creating your specific classes where the videos with EdPuzzle enhancement will be used. There is a built in Help Center that includes several sections with specific information within that section--all clearly labeled. These include: Getting Started, Creating Video Lessons, Assigning Video Lessons, Managing My Classes & tudents, Managing My Students' Progress, Managing My Content, Account Settings, Tips and Tricks, Troubleshooting, and Free vs Pro. There is a search slot at the top of the Help Center page and a link for contacting Ed Puzzle folks directly.
The site and tools within are attractive and easy to start using. Once logged in, the limited buttons make it easy to see the available content and tools.
Concerns:
The site is structured in a barebones way to help teachers jump right in. The limited options or links on each page make editing videos easy, but may make it harder to find information about the company and account pricing. The information is there, but not front and center like the teaching tools are.
Other Issues and Comments:
Looks like a great tool for teachers who are looking to incorporate video content. Free account allows teachers to store 20 active videos. Old videos can be removed to open space. Use existing videos from internet collections or upload videos of up to 1GB in size.
Creative Commons:
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