Promoting STEM Learning through an Interdisciplinary Video Project

Abstract

The growing use of Web 2.0 and digital media technologies along with the easy access to mobile devices, has offered educators a unique opportunity to engage students in learning STEM content by having them generate their own videos. Actively designing and creating their own videos with blended media to represent and explain the concepts in multiple ways not only helps students understand the concepts, but also increases their interests in learning. In this interdisciplinary research project, the students from a science class collaborated with students from a Digital Media class to create educational videos to explain science concepts. The science students designed the content of the video, while the Digital Media students implemented the video. This paper also presents different strategies to create educational videos for different courses based on the natural characteristics of each course. Statistical analysis has been conducted to assess the effectiveness of the project on student learning and the development of STEM competencies. The results indicate that this project fosters learning, increases interest, improves students' ability to communicate STEM content, and promotes the development of students' technological skills.