Asynchronous video increases educational equity by providing access to class materials at any time and place, recordings for review, virtual discussions with more equitable opportunities for participation, and supplemental materials to expand the learning and teaching experience.

This post recaps a series of posts we’ve provided to help teachers, students, and edtech professionals learn more about how asynchronous video can improve educational equity. In today’s world, schools can no longer afford to ignore education equity. You have the power to expand educational equity at your school, whether you’re a teacher, student, or in edtech.

For Teachers

As a teacher, you know your students have different learning needs depending on their lifestyles and learning styles. Asynchronous video expands teachers’ options to connect with and help all students. It gives them an opportunity to reach students beyond the physical classroom, wherever and whenever students are ready to learn.

Teaching outside the lecture hall is becoming part of the new normal. Video is an essential tool for these new teaching experiences. Incorporating different locations, buildings, and environments such as off-campus laboratories, museum exhibits, factory visits, or remote guest speakers are all now part of new pedagogies.

Video content allows teachers to foster more interactions with students and increase their engagement. To help promote asynchronous video within your department, for example, you can create and share content between instructors and classes. Not only can this reduce the workload of content creation, but it also exposes your students to different teaching styles and course materials.

With easy-to-use recording, editing and sharing designed for higher education, leading video management systems integrate directly into schools’ Learning Management Systems. Educators are no longer dependent on complicated, hard-to-use video setups that were once the domain of A/V coordinators.

For Students

Students already know that synchronous and asynchronous video integration into the learning experience is here. It’s what they want. This generation learns through video, relies on mobile, and needs flexibility in time and place as they balance on-campus experiences, work necessities, family responsibilities, and modern transportation realities. In a recent survey, 73% of students “somewhat” or “strongly” agreed that they would like to take some fully online courses in the future.

Video gives students flexibility, which expands their learning opportunities. Asynchronous video allows them to review information as needed, connect with the material in a different way, and deepen their engagement. Recognizing the importance of providing expanded access, some schools are beginning to label classes as synchronous and asynchronous, so students can choose what works best for their needs. As students experience the benefits of video and the expanded access it offers, they have even begun to factor its usage into their teacher reviews. 

For some students, video makes education possible—period. When they can’t make it to class, perhaps due to job obligations, family responsibilities, or a long commute, video provides access to course materials. For students with disabilities or different learning needs, video may offer a more optimal learning experience. We saw this first-hand during the pandemic, when many schools were forced to implement long-sought-after solutions that equalize the educational playing field. Students are increasingly vocal about this and their stories are having an impact.

For Edtech Team Members

Beyond the benefits to students’ learning, edtech team members can also speak to specific features of asynchronous video that increase educational equity. Highlighting these features is an important part of making the case for why your school needs a video management system. More specifically, Panopto’s features expand equity by offering video captioning and accessibility, variable speed playback, opportunities to interact with recorded videos, and screen reader and keyboard accessibility.

These features allow all students to access the materials they need for their education. It also allows students of differing abilities to access learning to their fullest potential. Through the power of video, instructors can meet students where they are—physically, mentally, and intellectually. As an edtech team member, you are in a unique position to support asynchronous video as a tool to make education accessible for all students.

Education For All

As we’ve stated before, Panopto will continue to work tirelessly for the fundamental rights of education equity:

• Individuals have a right to education.
• Schools have a responsibility to provide equitable access to that education.
• Students are entitled to a level playing field for every class, project, or activity related to their education.

Whether you are a teacher, student, or in edtech, you can join this mission of insisting on educational equity. Armed with the information here and in the linked articles, you have the power to make the case for asynchronous video and the many ways it supports learning for all.

To learn more about Panopto, please contact us.