#  Multimedia assignments: A doable skill, a usable skill 

 



   ![Kuriyama](/sites/g/files/omnuum12666/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/vpl/files/kuriyama_3.jpg?itok=n5vspwPf) 

 

**Shigehisa (Hisa) Kuriyama, Reischauer Institute Professor of Cultural History and Chair of the Department of East Asian Languages and Civilizations**, prefers brief video assignments – where students create a visual presentation with audio narrative – to regular written response papers. “I think the ability to express oneself with media is one of the most usable skills.”

## The benefits

Students exhibit a sense of ownership, interest, and investment in their media projects – even sharing them with family and friends – unlike written assignments. They improve their multimedia skills, and more critically, students learn to prepare for and present to an audience.

## The challenges

Having experimented with a wide range of software, Kuriyama most frequently recommends [Camtasia](https://www.techsmith.com/camtasia.html), compatible across Mac and PC operating systems, but acknowledges it would be easier if there were a better cross-platform solution.



 

##  Takeaways and best practices 

 



 ### Short and comparable is best.

Kuriyama limits submissions to two minutes, and often stipulates a common opening statement or a set of images that each student video must include. “That way they’re all playing with the same set of rules, playing the same game. It’s interesting for students to see what their classmates produce with the same constraints.”



 

 ### Maintain some flexibility.

Kuriyama offers the option to submit audio-only podcasts (and recommends [Audacity](http://audacityteam.org/)) in lieu of video, and encourages students to collaborate and experiment with the technology together. He is currently exploring other web-based alternatives such as [Digital Tours](http://www.harvardartmuseums.org/tours) at the Harvard Art Museums.



 

 ### Grade on content, not multimedia mastery.

“My course is not a course about filmmaking.” While he may award a bonus point to particularly effective use of technology, Kuriyama assures students that they are graded on their narrative, not fancy video effects.



 

  

 

 

 

### Bottom line

Some students are initially uneasy about their ability to compose multimedia narratives, but Kuriyama believes that the frequency of assignments allows them to develop their skills over the course of the semester, while learning from the work of classmates. The medium lends itself to sharing, which tends to increase students’ interest and effort.



 

##  Related research 

 



  [### Research: “I’m in a Professional School! Why Are You Making Me Do This?” A Cross-Disciplinary Study of the Use of Creative Classroom Projects on Student Learning

 ](http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/87567555.2012.731660) Various studies demonstrate the benefits to student learning, including a deeper understanding of course content. 

 

 

   [### Research: Gave projects, tests, or assignments that required original or creative thinking

 ](http://www.ideaedu.org/Resources-Events/Teaching-Learning-Resources/Gave-projects-tests-or-assignments-that-required-original-or-creative-thinking) Various studies demonstrate the benefits to student learning, including increased engagement and student satisfaction. 

 

 

  

 

 [ More Research arrow\_circle\_right ](/intopracticeresearch) 

 

 

 

##  Related resource 

 



  [### Presenting material in multiple ways (HGSE Instructional Moves)

 ](https://instructionalmoves.gse.harvard.edu/presenting-material-multiple-ways) See Professor Robert Keegan offer a myriad of entry points into material presented throughout his lectures to keep the content fresh while boosting student engagement, in Harvard Graduate School of Education’s Instructional Moves resource. 

 

 

   [### Honor Code (Harvard College)

 ](https://honor.fas.harvard.edu/alternative-assignments-creative-and-digital) Harvard College’s Honor Code offers advice and resources for faculty designing creative and digital assignments . 

 

 

  

 

 [ More Resources arrow\_circle\_right ](/intopracticeresources) 

 

 

 

 



 

 See also:- [ FAS ](/featured-faculty/fas)
- [ Into Practice Issues ](/practice-categories/practice-issues)
- [ multimedia ](/multimedia)