Screencasts for Enhancing Chemical Engineering Education

Over 1,000 screencasts have been developed for chemical engineering courses. Screencasts are short videos (typically less than 10 minutes) with narration and are made by digital capture of a tablet PC screen. Screencasts can introduce a topic, solve an example problem, explain a concept, explain a diagram and process, demonstrate software use, review for an exam, or present a mini-lecture. They can be used in combination with textbooks, online reading quizzes, homework assignments, and office hours. They can also be used to create flipped classrooms, where students work under the supervision of the instructor during class and information delivery is outside of class. Their brevity is an important attribute that distinguishes them from video lectures, and they have significant advantages that supplement textbooks and written materials. This personalized method of learning empowers students by giving them control over the rate of information delivery and when they receive information. As of December 2013, these videos were watched/downloaded over 3.2 million times, and they have received an overwhelmingly-positive response from students in our classes and from YouTube viewers. These screencasts are in the process of being validated by chemical engineering faculty. We are also assessing their effectiveness in improving student learning gains and attitudes. Previous research by others showed that screencasts help minimize cognitive overload, increase student confidence, and allow students to take control of their learning. They allow faculty to use class time for active-learning approaches, which are more effective than lectures.