Video Review
How does this align with my curriculum?
PE
9
Science Grade 9 (revised 2018)
Decisions and Perspectives
PE
10
Science 421A (2019)
Decisions and Perspectives
PE
12
Chemistry 621A (draft 2021)
Decisions and Perspectives DP1
PE
11
Chemistry 521A (draft 2021)
Decisions and Perspectives DP1
This strategy helps students reflect upon and assess a video.
Why use it?
- To develop critical thinking skills
- To reflect on new knowledge using higher order thinking skills
- To analyse and consolidate information
- To communicate for a given audience and purpose
Tips for success
- This strategy can work well with any video.
- Students could do the video reviews in small groups rather than individually.
- Student pieces could be posted on a class portal, etc.
How do I use it?
- Before the class, select a video/movie review that you wish to use as a sample. Reviews used on Amazon.ca can be a good starting point. Bookmark the site.
- Review with the class the purposes of an educational video review. These include:
- To inform – the review needs to tell people who made the video, the type of video (e.g., interview, animation, etc.) and where it can be viewed
- To describe - the review should describe what the video is about (the subject)
- To analyze – the review provides an opinion on whether the video is good or not and why.
- To advise - the review should tell the reader whether or not to watch the video and give it a rating out of five stars
- Identify the audience for the review. It could be other students, teachers, etc.
- Students can use the Video Review template to plan the review and record their ideas.
Variations
- Have students with opposing viewpoints (one gave a good review, one a bad review) discuss and challenge each other’s reviews.
- Summarize the class reviews. What is the average number of stars that the video received?
- Use this strategy with other media, such as books, articles and movies.
Extensions
- Have students do additional external research to support or refute the claims and information in the article or video.
- Have students conduct reviews of different media related to a specific theme or science concept. Compile and post the reviews to an online “learn more about…” page.
Using this Strategy
- Video Review Reproducible Template [Google doc] [PDF]
- How do cumulus clouds form?: Video Review Reproducible [Google doc] [ PDF]
- Plate Tectonics: Video Review Reproducible [Google doc] [PDF]
- The genius of Mendeleev's periodic table: Video Review Reproducible [Google doc] [PDF]
- The Immune Response: A Cellular War: Video Review Reproducible [Google Doc] [ PDF]
- The Wacky History of Cell Theory: Video Review Reproducible [Google doc] [PDF]
- What is air turbulence?: Video Review Reproducible [Google doc] [PDF]
Create Your Own
- Video Review Reproducible Template [Google doc] [PDF]
Ready to Use
- How do cumulus clouds form?: Video Review Reproducible [Google doc] [ PDF]
- Plate Tectonics: Video Review Reproducible [Google doc] [PDF]
- The genius of Mendeleev's periodic table: Video Review Reproducible [Google doc] [PDF]
- The Immune Response: A Cellular War: Video Review Reproducible [Google Doc] [ PDF]
- The Wacky History of Cell Theory: Video Review Reproducible [Google doc] [PDF]
- What is air turbulence?: Video Review Reproducible [Google doc] [PDF]
References
BBC GCSE Bitesize. (2014). Task 1: planning to write a film review.
Campsall, S. (2014). Writing to review.