Explain complex topics through Common Craft videos
If a picture paints a thousand words, then a video must be worth millions of words. Introducing complex subjects to students is now easier through the use of instructional videos. Teachers and students do not even have to go to the library to search for old films or records – educational videos are just a click away.
Aside from the websites listed in our “Guide to Educational Videos” article in Smart Tools, another good online source of instructional videos is Common Craft, a small company which aims to build a library of educational videos that will help educators save time. Common Craft’s three-minute videos use simple visuals and illustration to demonstrate a complex topic such as computer hardware, World Wide Web, blogging, and social media. Common Craft has over 30 educational videos which focus on the following fields: Technology, Society, Money, and Green (Environment). The educational videos can be viewed via the Common Craft website and/or can be purchased and downloaded.
Here are some Common Craft videos you can use in your class:
TECHNOLOGY
Computer Hardware
Computer Software
Cloud Computing
World Wide Web
Web Search Strategies
What is a blog?
SOCIETY
Preparing an emergency kit
MONEY
Insurance
Investing Money
Stock Markets
GREEN (Environment)
CFL Light Bulbs
You too can create your own instructional videos! For tips, please read our Smart Tools article “Instructional Video Basics.”
(Published 16 November 2009, Smart Communications Inc.)
