RESEARCH EXPERIENCE FOR LECTURE STUDENTS
Students get many benefits from first-hand research experience, including a better understanding of how research works. However, in a large child development class, it can be difficult to locate children to observe. In this project, I developed and assessed an assignment that uses online videos for data collection.
PROJECT INSPIRATION
A lunchtime conversation raised the question of whether different floor types might lead infants to move differently. Specifically, children with carpeted homes might be more likely to crawl on the soft surface, while kids with hardwood floors might show more sliding or scooting on the smooth surface.
Youtube.com and other online video collections provide an accessible data source for students to address the relationship between these variables.
ASSIGNMENT DESIGN
Research Goal 1: Find Best Search Terms
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Devised scoring scheme for content of videos
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Tracked and reviewed results of various searches to provide useful videos
Assignment Questions
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Write and revise prompts to aide in student understanding
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Provide an interface for easy data assimilation for grading
RESULTS
Research Question 2: Are Students Accurate?
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Comparisons to a trained scorer showed excellent agreement
Research Question 3: How do Students Evaluate the Assignment?
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Survey data showed the students had positive responses to the assignment, in terms of understanding and learning.
PRODUCTS OF THIS WORK
Williamson, R. A. & Brooks, R. (March, 2011). Online videos as sources of data for class projects. Poster presentation at the teaching institute of the Society for Research in Child Development. Montreal, QC.