Examining the Use of Educational
Mini-Clips in Online Learning
Dr. Robin Kay
UOIT
Oshawa, Canada

UOIT
• Started in 2003
• 6000+ Students
• Laptop based university
• Masters and PhD
programs online

And you?
Instructors?
Researchers?
Used Web-Based Learning Tools?

Overview
What is a Mini-Clip?
Advantages
Creating Mini-Clips
Pre-Calculus Study
Results
Conclusions

What is a Mini-Clip?
2-5 minute instructional video clip that
focuses on a specific task or problem
Small, focussed, web accessible with VCR
type controls

Sample Mini-Clip
Solving Rational Equations
Complete Set is at:
faculty.uoit.ca/kay/precalc2

Advantages for Students
Alternative to the text-based instructions
Can view clips at their own pace
Can view clips anytime
Can view clips to work ahead
Good review for tests
Access to multiple methods & explanations
Equity in education

Advantages for Instructors
Saves time (in the long run)
Can develop explanation skills
Help tutors understand the course
Can review/learn content
Can share ideas, explanations and
strategies with colleagues

Creating Clips
$20
Free $200
Free $150
Free

Pre-Calculus Study
1st year students had weak pre-calculus
knowledge
Posted mini-clips 3 weeks before a
diagnostic test
289 engineering & science students
189 males, 100 females

Results - Overview
Frequency of Use
Mini-clips visited 4681 times
Average time per visit was 6 min (358 sec)
Usefulness
87% of students rated mini clips as useful or
very useful

Results - Survey
Item Mean
Easy to follow 4.5
Helpful because I could do them on my own time 4.4
Math problems were explained well 4.3
Liked using better than textbook 4.2
Helped me understand math concepts better 4.2
Good tips were provided 4.1
Liked doing the student problem 3.9

Results – Learning Performance
Topic Where Mini Clips Used Change in
Knowledge
Operations with Functions 0.27 **
Solving Equations 0.14 *
Linear Functions 0.22 **
Exponents & Log Functions 0.27 **
Trigonometric Functions 0.25 **
* p < .05
** p < .01

Conclusions
Students liked using mini-clips
◦ Easy to use
◦ Control over use
◦ Helped learning
◦ Better than just text
Use of mini-clips was positively correlated
with perceived change in students
knowledge

Practical Implications
Mini-clips are a viable, useful resource to
help student learning
Potential to save time
More closely match current student’s
learning style

Mini-Clips Collections
Pre-Calculus Clips
http://faculty.uoit.ca/kay/precalc2
Calculus Clips
http://faculty.uoit.ca/kay/calc/math1000/
Khan Academy
http://www.khanacademy.org/

Future Research - Resources
Future Research
◦ More data is needed
◦ Quality of Explanation
◦ Looking for Partnerships
Website
◦ faculty.uoit.ca/kay/mc
Contact Information
◦ robin.kay@uoit.ca