Creating and Testing Explainer Videos for Earth Observation

Henryk Hodam,Andreas Rienow,Carsten Juergens

doi:10.3390/rs13204178

Abstract

Learning videos can be concise learning packages that offer a wide range of possibilities when it comes to present topics in an up-to-date way and disseminating them in a variety of learning environments. Videos are already a primary source of information in our society; however, few examples convey earth observation topics. Over recent decades, numerous studies established guidelines on how educational videos can be successful. This paper presents a workflow to use these guidelines in the creation of learning videos covering the basic concepts of earth observation. The target groups for these videos are secondary students as well as anyone interested in learning about earth observation. Two of those videos, one on earth observation in general and one on the basics of the electromagnetic spectrum, were used in this research. To test whether or not the workflow leads to effective learning videos and to compare them to traditional text and illustration material derived from those videos, a pre-test/post-test study was undertaken focusing on German pupils in their final year at secondary school as well as first semester university students. Due to the special circumstances faced during the COVID-19 crisis, this experimental setup used a combination of online questionnaire tools and a web environment. The results show that both methods were effective resources that led to a significant increase in knowledge—raising the test results by 21% for the video and 13% for the text and illustration group.

Highlights

Earth observation known as remote sensing, and the information derived by it supports and influences decisions in modern societies on all levels from governmental to individual, public to private
Far, learning videos have not been used, as the main focus has been on interactive teaching materials. While those interactive materials remain of high importance, developments in recent years shifted the focus towards videos as a means to convey background knowledge of remote sensing
This paper aims to present a workflow for learning video production that is in accordance with general guidelines for the creation of multimedia learning content

Summary

Introduction

Earth observation known as remote sensing, and the information derived by it supports and influences decisions in modern societies on all levels from governmental to individual, public to private As useful as this information is to society, few people know about its background. Far, learning videos have not been used, as the main focus has been on interactive teaching materials While those interactive materials remain of high importance, developments in recent years shifted the focus towards videos as a means to convey background knowledge of remote sensing. This raises the question of whether videos are a suitable way of communicating these topics and if so, how effective they can be compared to other approaches. This paper aims to present a workflow for learning video production that is in accordance with general guidelines for the creation of multimedia learning content

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Conclusion