Micro-lectures are a great way to engage students in your online course. A micro-lecture is not simply a ‘cut-and-edited’ version of a traditional lecture. They require deeper design and intentionality. Through this article, you will be able to identify the characteristics of a micro-lecture, summarize the benefits, and get started creating your very own.

Characteristics

Typically, micro-lectures are pre-recorded videos created by an instructor and embedded into the online learning content of a course. There is no “exact” time limit for a micro-lecture, but five to ten minutes is a good range. An important distinction – this is not simply a shortened version of your live, in-person lecture, which is recorded and uploaded to an online class. A micro-lecture must be crafted, start to finish, for the exact purpose of use in online teaching. The instructor is prominent in a micro-lecture and aims for students to actively engage with the material as they listen.

They are most common in asynchronous courses and, when implemented effectively, focus on one key concept of the course or lesson at a time. Ever need to cover multiple concepts in a single lesson? I recommend recording several micro-lectures to cover all the topics or differentiate the instruction method per concept. Also, in contrast to a longer-format video lecture, a micro-lecture includes interactions or prompts from the instructor to the student…more on this to come!

No two micro-lectures will necessarily look the same and that creative freedom in their structure can help keep your students engaged in the online content.

Benefits

To re-emphasize the point on engagement, I want to stress that micro-lectures have a tremendous upside when implemented properly in your course. Rather than typing a list of those benefits – let me show you! Here is an example of a micro-lecture, embedded in an article about micro-lectures *insert “Woah” in a Keanu Reeves’ voice.

Getting Started

So perhaps you are now interested in making your video content follow a micro-lecture format. Here are some important details to keep in mind.

There are plenty of ways to record and edit videos, so choose the platform with which you are most familiar and comfortable. This could include Kaltura, YouTube, or even Zoom. A feature of a micro-lecture is that it should be simple and comfortable for the learners, not formal or stuffy. If you love being outside, take your smartphone and a tripod with you and record! If you’re in a rush but still want to create quality content, record and edit right at your desk. Wherever you film, just be sure to have clear audio and good lighting. The more natural you are, the more endearing the delivery of your content will be across the digital divide.

Before you start recording, have a clear game plan for your low-stakes interactive prompt. If you want a quiz in the middle of your micro-lecture, the Kaltura Quiz feature is a great option. See these tutorials for how to implement a quiz directly into your Kaltura Media or from a YouTube Video. If you’d rather not go this route, and maybe prefer a writing prompt submitted a different way, you can also verbally share the writing prompt in the recording and direct students to a discussion board embedded in Blackboard to submit their responses. Once you have selected your video platform and determined your low-stakes interaction, you can start recording your content. As you do so, keep in mind:

  • Try to cover only one major concept.
  • Keep it to five to ten minutes when possible.
  • Once recorded, keep editing to a minimum!
    • Don’t include a lot of cuts and fancy text integrations.
    • These should be organic and comfortable – “uhs” and “ums” don’t need to be removed if your message is clear and concise.
  • Ensure you have accurate closed-captioning or transcription.
  • Ensure accurate usability and accessibility for your students within the lessons prior to implementation.

As you incorporate these key practices into your micro-lecturing, you’ll be on your way to providing a great learning tool for your online students. Some thoughtful consideration and design can create space for learners to process and retain subject matter in a meaningful way in online spaces. If you have questions or feedback – connect with the TIPS team or an instructional designer!

Listen to the Pedagogy Toolkit Podcast episode on micro-lectures for a more thorough discussion on this topic!