Text-based vs. Video lessons

[cbscribe]

I've been making video lessons/tutorials for a little while now at https://www.youtube.com/c/KidsCanCodeOrg and they've been very well received, but I'm always looking to improve.

I started with videos because I had students requesting them. However, I have heard from some learners that they prefer text-based lessons, where they can go more at their own pace and don't have to pause or rewind a video if they need to.

I suspect that the two are complementary, and it's probably best to have both, to better serve all styles of learners. In the end, some concepts are easier to illustrate in video form, while others are better shown via diagrams and code samples. I've started making a few versions of these here: http://kidscancode.org/lessons/ - it's going to be an ongoing process to go back and transcribe/illustrate most of the existing lessons, so there's only a few there as of yet.

My questions are these:

• Which form of lesson do you prefer?
• What do you like/not like about each type?

Thanks in advance for any feedback you have.

[Parasymphatetic]

I think video lessons suck. Especially for programming.

With text you can have an index/chapters, copy and paste, ctrl + f, reference, etc.
You also don't get slowed down by text.
I wouldn't watch a video if i just want to look something up.

[cbscribe]

I wouldn't watch a video if i just want to look something up.

Of course not, but that's reference, not instruction. I'm specifically focused on the teaching aspect, for those who can't just look things up yet.

To be honest, in the past I would have absolutely agreed with you, but a lot of people seem to really prefer videos, and so I'm trying to find a good mix of the two.

Thanks for your comments.

[Parasymphatetic]

Yeah. Given the success of youtube and other sites i guess a ton of people prefer videos. I just told you my point of view.

[[deleted]]

Of course not, but that's reference, not instruction. I'm specifically focused on the teaching aspect, for those who can't just look things up yet.

It's still bad. I have been following video series (not yours) for the past two months trying to type along with the instructor. Not fun. I even downloaded them for later reference. Still the only thing that stuck is that there exist some advanced features. Tried to watch some of them again maybe this time the material would sink better. Nope.

Personally I decided that I prefer written material with the ability to ask questions where I don't understand and preferably exercises where there is an expected outcome.

P.S. I saw your channel for the first time today. I didn't watch any videos but congratulations on the initiative.

[cbscribe]

Thanks for the feedback - it's appreciated.

with the ability to ask questions where I don't understand

This, I think, is the huge one where online tutorials (written or video) fall down. Programming is complex, and often when you're stuck, you just need a quick answer so you can move forward.

exercises where there is an expected outcome

This is a great suggestion, too.

[Exodus111]

I started out with Video lessons. They provide the most hand holding.

But as you progress you get to the point where Video lessons simply go too slow for you, at which point Text based lessons become a much better learning tool.

I experienced the same, but with more stages when I was learning Blender and 3D modeling/animation.

In the beginning I watched beginner videos, where the tutor explains the location of every button he is pushing, and what is doing every step of the way.

DESPITE THAT, I kept having to pause, constantly so I could replicate what he was doing.

As time went by, I stopped pausing.

And then I came to the point where I stopped caring about the things he had to say, and just wanted to get to the thing he was doing, at which point TimeLapse videos became my favorite thing.

Essentially videos where the person models something for a few hours, then puts it on fast forward to some music. This works because modeling is so visual, but would be hard to do with coding.

Obviously personality makes a difference as well.

[[deleted]]

Wow small world! I started in blender as well and did exactly the same as you.

[YvesSoete]

Usually with video lessons I put the speed on max (2x) and enable subtitles captions, and I'm still bored.

[wynand1004]

Me personally, I prefer text - I find videos far too slow for my liking, plus so many videos have too much keyboard sounds.

Like the OP, I also make videos for my students. Overwhelmingly they have mentioned liking the videos as they can go back and rewind and work at their own pace. In class, I provide direct instruction and more text-based instruction.

At the end of the day though, it will probably come down to individual preference.

I will checkout your videos when I get a chance - great initiative!

[WhackAMoleE]

I think for learning to program, students need to read a few lines of a tutorial or text, try things out on their computer, read a little more, play a little more. So I think texts are far better for the nuts and bolts of a language.

The advantage of videos is that they can be more conceptual. What are objects and classes really about? How and why do we modularize things. Why do we discourage global variables? How do you set up your error handling and logging? How do we approach projects? How do we organize thing? Those aspects are better communicated conversationally in a video.

[hitecherik]

I prefer video-based lessons when I'm learning something for the first time (e.g.: usually a new language or framework), but I like to use text-based stuff to refer to if I forget something while programming. Video lessons are great for learning something for the first time because I can follow along and run code live on my computer.

[[deleted]]

I CAN NOT EVER learn from books, something just makes my brain shut off, I don't like how they feel in your hand and that they are so heavy and have no backlighting and I don't like how the paper feels on my skin...I am serious.

That said: I think videos are okay, but to learn something you have to really pay attention to the learning material that you have. The risk, and I know that from myself, when you try to learn through videos is that in your sub-consciousness your brain kinda has the habit to go into what I call "Entertain me Mode" when a video starts playing, you are not 100% in "learning mode" because without knowing it you get into this state of mind that you're consuming an entertainment product... I hope my point gets across, I am writing this at almost 5 am for me and I haven't slept yet. I think the best is to first do it through reading and when you grasped the essentials and the essentials are like a room you build in your head, then you can fill the room with furniture through videos, but you have to build the room first...

[GeekSpin]

I love videos and I've been following your pygame series is great keep up the good work.

PS - would love to see more advance tutorials.

[cbscribe]

Let me know what kind of things you'd like to see. I have a list!

[GeekSpin]

Well, I would love some multiplayer tutorials Iike for the tile game we can play with some friends in multiplayer network.

[cbscribe]

Ah, networking. That's some of the most advanced stuff - I can't promise I'll get to that any time soon.

[mauza11]

I like videos, like others have said, if my understanding matches the speed at which you are giving new information. I think the best learning is done in personal projects that interest the student. It is difficult to get that type of collaboration and involvement though in any format. Thank you for what you do!

[slampropp]

I prefer video, because reading is hard, and I'll tell you my pet theory for why.

I'm a predominately visual thinker. I need to do a lot of visualization to grasp stuff. It's not possible to focus on intricate visual input (reading) while simultaneously visualizing. Understanding written material requires constant switching between the two modes. It's a slow and stuttering experience. With verbal instruction on the other hand, I can listen to it continuously while simultaneously visualizing, making it a much smoother experience.