Examplecasts: The unreasonable effectiveness of webcast worked examples in introductory university physics

Abstract

This paper described the use of examplecasts. I record a video of myself solving a complex physics problem. I solve it ‘cold’ - unprepared, and hence make mistakes and recover from them. The videos record me writing on an iPad or tablet, and my vocal description of what I am doing. Students watch the videos, then answer quick online multiple-choice questions which are worth token marks. The examplecasts are very popular, and led to large increases in the fraction of students using good problem-solving strategies in the final exam. Such strategies include describing in words (not just equations) what physical principles they are using, and checking their answers. The webcast worked examples seem to ease the transition of students from high-school physics to the more challenging problems of university physics.