Video for Learning: 15 Things The Research Says—and prepare to be shocked!

The author's title, not mine nor Stephen's! 

From the venerable Stephen Downes, who always cuts to the chase: (emphasis mine)

I'm not a fan of the clickbait title of this post ... and I also question some of the 'research' behind the suggestions. But overall this is a pretty good post and contains a lot of things to think about, even if you don't follow them. This is especially the case for the bits about working memory and cognitive load. But there's a general message here—that video is more about perception and feelings than it is about content and remembering—that is important. Video helps you learn because it shakes your perceptions and has you asking questions, not because it gives you stuff to memorize.

Regarding: Video for Learning—15 Things the Research Says (Some May Shock You)

5 Stock Photo Sites That Will Make Your Content More Inclusive & Diverse

We have lots of options for searching for free and open license stock photos and illustrations on ETL's LOR/OER/CC* resource page. (If you know great resources that aren't listed, please share them with us so that we can add them!)

Here is a list of five stock photo sites (most free) that offer photos that include a broader spectrum of human diversity than many stock photo sites currently do.

If you need help making your course content more engaging visually, please send an email to helpdesk@uah.edu with the subject line "Course design request" and we'll help you review your options and get you started!

*LOR/OER/CC stands for Learning Object Repositories, Open Educational Resources, and Creative Commons. This type of course content has no copyright nor cost! To learn more, email helpdesk@uah.edu.

Wayback Machine Internet Archive

What better way to start the New Year than with a look back at how far we've come? Check out UAH's very first website on the Wayback Machine Internet Archive. Besides being a great way to spend a rainy Sunday looking back in time at various websites, it's a fantastic resource for faculty and students. The tool has a feature that lets you "cement" a web reference in time, ensuring that it will never expire in a course you've developed, or in citations used for research. You can even build your own archives with no technical expertise! The Internet Archive offers extensions for Chrome, Firefox, and Safari as well as mobile apps for both iOS and Android.

This tool needs to be on the top layer of your digital toolbox! I found this fantastic scale/change management tutorial from 2008 that has long since left the pages of the current Web and had left no trace in search results.

If you're interested in developing or taking your on-ground, hybrid, or online course to the next level, it's not too late to sign up for QEPO 2020! We have options for everyone from face-to-face sessions to completely online.

Happy New Year!

Looking back can be fun!