Designing Digital Video to Support Learner Outcomes: A Study in an Online Learning Resource for Healthcare Professionals and Students

Abstract

Instructors are incorporating video into their blended and web-based courses at an ever increasing rate. Thus the need for research in this area is required to understand how to design, utilize, and incorporate video most effectively as a pedagogical tool. This study explored how the design and implementation of digital video resources in an online educational environment affected learning outcomes. Forty-five health professionals and students evaluated the digital videos incorporated into ePhysicianHealth.com. Three types of digital video genre were examined in this study: modeling/demonstrations, personal stories/commentaries, and content expert narratives. The findings suggested that the majority of the participants found that the digital videos to be a valuable addition to ePhysicianHealth.com, as they made the learning environment more authentic, memorable, realistic, varied, and accommodating to different learning styles. Key Words: eLearning; online learning; video; healthcare education; physician wellness; disruptive behaviour; emerging technologies