Watching Instructional Videos

“Of course, instructional videos will help me improve my learning,” you say. “Really, I ask?” I ask this because, until recently, I never watched instructional videos. I always thought, “I know how to do this.” However, that was not the case. I would spend hours trying to figure out how to do something that I could have learned in three minutes of watching a “How to” video. Stubborn: that’s what I am. Confess: You do this too!!!!!

Now I watch instructional videos. For example, as an online writing professor, I must figure out how to use the learning management system for teaching, BlackBoard (BB), just as do you! Typically, there are videos or written instructions on how to do anything in BB, on the course home page or in the Student Center.

Professors also send out announcements found in the BB course shell or by email, containing instructional and walk-through videos showing how to understand course technology and assignments. Instructional videos are also easily found by typing "how to" topics into YouTube such as "How to submit an assignment in BlackBoard” or "How to Enter an Online English Classroom." Putting a topic into Google is also another way to find a "how to" video. 

Guess what? Instructional videos are there for just what they state: To instruct you to do well in whatever you are trying to accomplish. Watch them. Learn from them. Do not waste time figuring out or avoiding learning something because you don't watch instructional videos. Not watching instructional videos wastes your precious time, and you and I both know that our time is limited.