• Log In
 Visit the Pennsylvania State University Home Page

Instructional Video Guide

Best practices for creating pedagogically appropriate video

  • Guide
  • Video Types
    • Demonstrate/Show
      • Situation
      • How to do or how someone does a process
      • Apply theory or concept
    • Explain/Tell
      • Concept or theory in a lecture
      • By interviewing an expert
      • Timeline of Events
      • Tour or Field Trip
      • Lesson, Unit, Module Overview/Summary
    • Experience (Immersion)
      • Interactive Simulation
      • Role Play
    • Communicate/ Remediate
      • Provide Feedback
      • Clarify Confusing Information
      • Live Two-Way Q&A Captured for Use Later
      • Summary/Lesson or Unit Review (Dynamic)
    • Introduce/Orient
      • Course, lesson, module or unit
      • Faculty to students
      • Difficult topic
      • Any type of activity
      • Context for course, lesson, module, unit, concept
  • Best Practices
  • Support

Faculty to students

This sub-type of video humanizes the instructor(s) by introducing them to students in a visual way. It can be used to establish and increase instructor presence in the course or activity.

Low-Investment Video Example

Teaching Points

This video accomplishes the task of introductions because it introduces the instructor to the students, she personalized the video with what is important to her professionally and personally, stresses importance of being there for the students.

Resources Typically Used

audio recorder, microphone and video editing software

Low-Investment Video Example (plays in a new window)

High-Investment Video Example

Teaching Points

This video is effective because it provides a nice overview of the course. It asks students a question and provides prompts to think about, professor clearly introduces topic, provides an overview of what will be covered in the class, and gives students suggestions for how to get the most out of the course.

Resources Typically Used

This video is effective because it provides a nice overview of the course. It asks students a question and provides prompts to think about, professor clearly introduces topic, provides an overview of what will be covered in the class, and gives students suggestions for how to get the most out of the course.

High-Investment Video Example (plays in a new window)

 Visit the Pennsylvania State University Home Page
Copyright 2026 © The Pennsylvania State University Privacy Non-Discrimination Equal Opportunity Accessibility Legal