Categories: EDUCATION

videos-in-mindtap-for-education – The Cengage Blog

Reading Time: 3 minutes

As a professor, I specifically use education TeachSource videos located in the MindTap Learning Path to enhance online lectures and provide students with a “hands-on learning” component.

However, my students were neither engaging in assignment completion nor providing full answers. Then, I had an “aha” moment, highlighting a common challenge in online education: students need to move beyond surface-level responses towards deeper analytical engagement. My mindset changed from teaching to mentorship.

To foster genuine analytical thinking in application assignments — especially relating to real-life experiences — I’d consider the following approaches in combination with the use of TeachSource videos:

Design open-ended, contextualized prompts

Instead of questions that can be answered with one or two sentences, or mere definitions, frame prompts around real-world scenarios that require students to analyze, evaluate, and apply concepts. For example, in my early childhood education courses using MindTap, I ask students to: “Describe a situation in your classroom or community where you encountered a child throwing a tantrum over something they wanted which was not in their best interest — aka: noting a specific concept which is applicable. How would you address the challenges in this video situation using what you have learned in this chapter?”

Encourage reflection and connection

As the previous example states, ask students to connect theory with personal experiences or current events. This invites them to reflect critically and relate abstract ideas to concrete situations, deepening understanding. In teaching and learning, we call this reflective thinking. This involves critically analyzing one’s own thought processes and experiences to deepen understanding. In the end, educational psychology tells us that the transfer of learning applies abstract ideas or principles to concrete, real-world situations. This enables learners to generalize knowledge beyond the original context. Together, these processes help learners deepen their understanding by connecting theory with practice through critical reflection.

Use scaffolded questions

We understand that our students might be at different levels when it comes to understanding a theory or concept. So, how do we use TeachSource videos to share teaching concepts?

Start with pre-assessment questions of basic application. In basic application, you identify what the learner’s knowledge of the concept in the video is.

Then, progress towards deeper analysis. For example:

Step One: Identify the concept in a scenario (basic application).
Step Two: Explain why it is relevant (interpretation).
Step Three: Propose alternative solutions or outcomes (evaluation and synthesis).
Step Four: Post assessment of learning outcomes.

Role playing in class or online

Role playing is a concept that’s important to scaffolding the “transfer of learning.” For example, a future education student is wired with curiosity to imagine what their classroom will look like and how they will interact with future students. Instructors can create this experience for them in a variety of ways. Linking our teaching of real-life experiences to standards of learning provides the opportunity for instructors to role play. It provides the opportunity to fail and learn from real world mistakes. Therefore, students can develop more marketable skill sets.

Linking workforce standards to teaching and learning

We discussed role playing, but how do we link real life to workforce standards using TeachSource MindTap videos? In my early childhood course, I link all course concepts to the National Association for the Education of the Young Child (NAEYC) Professional Standards. This process begins in the syllabus but also in the course shell modules built around MindTap. By doing so, students can see themselves as future employees.

In conclusion, closing the learning process gap means we teach with purpose and in a systematic cycle. Therefore, my teaching has become a cycle of learning, rather than just a video assignment linked to chapter information. MindTap TeachSource videos happen to be my vehicle for the transfer of learning.

Dr. Maria C. Rutherford is a Full Professor at Bluegrass Community and Technical College and Cengage Faculty Partner.