A microlecture is a brief video or audio recording, or multimedia presentation covering a single concept or topic. Originating as 60-second lectures, they have since expanded to include clear, concise descriptions of a single topic or idea in under 6 minutes. These lectures can be used in online, blended, or face-to-face contexts (see 7 Things You Should Know About Microlectures: https://library.educause.edu/resources/2012/11/7-things-you-should-know-about-microlectures).
Microlectures have several benefits and can raise the awareness and curiosity of students by:
Introducing a learning topic and its objectives with personal touch.
Providing learners with a brief overview of key concepts.
Demonstrating a single problem-solving procedure.
Explaining the step-by-step instructions needed to complete a summative assignment.
Watch this microlecture to learn more about the benefits of microlectures (see what I did there?)
Microlectures align with the cognitive psychology concept of chunking, or the capacity of human’s working memory to process or manipulate information.
A great primer on microlectures, with examples and resources can be found here: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1niiDNQFKCpZ9QhzV9CYFEnNfU-YExlPPyW6CoayJLgU/edit?usp=sharing It was developed by the California Virtual Campus Online Education Initiative On slide 9 they discuss how to create a quick whiteboard video with Screencast-o-matic + OneNote + a paper tablet. If you recorded your lectures this Fall or Spring and want to extract clips that can be used as microlectures.
Additional Resources
Plan and Record Engaging Microlectures https://acue.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Section-5_PG_Record-Microlectures_CFIN.pdf
e-Learning and the Science of Instruction: Proven Guidelines for Consumers and Designers of Multimedia Learning 4th Edition https://iucat.iu.edu/catalog/15472619