Overview
I create a series of instructional videos on Bilibili, simplifying badminton terminology in English for enthusiasts. By connecting their passion for the sport with language learning, I aim to make English education more engaging and relevant for badminton fans.
Design Approach
1. Design Models and Principles
In creating my instructional videos on Bilibili, I apply Mayerâs Multimedia Learning Principles to ensure the content is engaging, effective, and tailored to the needs of my audienceâbadminton enthusiasts learning English.
Mayerâs Multimedia Learning Principles
- Multimedia Principle:
I combine text, visuals, and audio to help viewers better understand badminton terminology. For instance, when explaining a "smash," I use visuals of a player performing the technique alongside verbal explanations.
- Contiguity Principle:
To aid comprehension, I place related text and images together on the screen. This helps learners make clear connections between the terminology and the visual examples.
- Modality Principle:
I utilize both spoken audio and written subtitles to cater to different learning preferences, reinforcing key concepts in a way thatâs accessible to all viewers.
- Personalization Principle:
I adopt a conversational, friendly tone throughout my videos, making the learning experience more approachable and relatable, especially for non-native English speakers passionate about badminton.
2. Learning Objective
Students know the English terms of badminton equipment and can recall the terms in a conversational context.
Video Creation Process
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1. Identify Learning Objectives
I begin each video project by clearly defining the learning objectives. What do I want the audience to learn by the end of the video? This step ensures that every part of the video serves a purpose and aligns with the overall educational goal.
2. Pre-Production
- Outline: I start by creating an outline for the episode, mapping out the key points and flow of the content.
- Storyboard: Next, I make a storyboard using Canva, adding animations to visualize the flow. I often place all relevant stakeholders or objects in a single image, helping learners see and understand terms in context.
- Script: With the outline and storyboard in place, I then write the script, ensuring the language is concise, engaging, and educational.
3. Recording
- I set up the necessary equipment, including lighting, audio, camera, and tripods, to ensure a high-quality recording environment. This step is crucial to capture clear visuals and sound that enhance the learning experience.
4. Post-Production
- Editing: I use CapCut to edit the video, combining visuals, animations, and audio into a cohesive learning experience. Iâm considering using After Effects to create a branded title sequence for a more professional and consistent look across videos.
- Audience Feedback: After publishing the video, I actively seek feedback from my audience to understand what they want to learn next. I assess whether these suggestions align with high-demand topics, helping me plan future content that resonates with viewers.
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Example
Applying Mayerâs Multimedia Learning Theory in Badminton Terminology ââStakeholders
In one of my videos, I used Mayerâs Multimedia Learning Theory to help students understand key badminton stakeholders. I created a single image with all stakeholder-related terms, categorizing them into Judges, Players, and Stakeholders outside the court using color-coded cards. This approach allows students to recall terms by focusing on the image and using the color groups to find related vocabulary easily.
1. Use Visual Cues and Annotations (Signaling Principle)
- What to Show: Display the badminton court and its stakeholders (Judges, Players, Stakeholders outside the court) with different sections highlighted in distinct colors.
- How: As you introduce each role (e.g., Umpire, Player), use arrows or highlights to draw attention to each area on the court in the image. This shows how you categorized them based on their role (Signalling Principle).
- Outcome: This will help viewers focus on the key information and understand the distinction between stakeholders.
2. Text and Image Pairing (Spatial Contiguity Principle)
- What to Show: Place the English and Chinese labels directly next to each corresponding stakeholder in the image.
- How: As you mention each role, show both the English term (e.g., "Umpire") and its Chinese equivalent next to the person representing that role in the image. This ensures that text and visuals are aligned, making it easier for viewers to process the information.
- Outcome: Learners can quickly link the roles to the visual without needing to switch their focus, reinforcing the terminology in both languages.
3. Segmented Explanations (Segmenting Principle)
- What to Show: Break down the explanation of stakeholders into small sections.
- How: Introduce one group of stakeholders at a time. For example, explain the "Judges" first, with visuals and audio specific to their roles. Then move on to "Players" and finally "Stakeholders outside the court." This way, each group is explained in isolation, making the information digestible.
- Outcome: Viewers can understand and process each group before moving on to the next, preventing cognitive overload.
4. Simultaneous Presentation of Audio and Visuals (Temporal Contiguity Principle)
- What to Show: Synchronize the appearance of visuals (e.g., labels or arrows) with your spoken explanation.
- How: As you describe a role, the corresponding image or visual label should appear at the exact same time. For example, when explaining the role of the Umpire, both the word "Umpire" and its Chinese translation should appear on-screen while you talk about their function.
- Outcome: This helps viewers process both the visual and auditory information simultaneously, reinforcing their understanding of the terms and roles.
5. Avoid Redundant Information (Coherence Principle)
- What to Show: Ensure that visuals and audio complement each other, avoiding unnecessary repetition.
- How: Focus only on the essential explanations. For instance, if youâve already labeled the Umpire, avoid reintroducing that information visually. Instead, direct your explanation to deepen understanding by explaining their role without overwhelming the screen with repeated visuals.
- Outcome: This maintains clarity and keeps the video streamlined, helping viewers focus on the important points without distractions.
6. Use of Animations for Transitions (Coherence & Segmenting)
- What to Show: Use subtle animations to transition from one stakeholder group to the next.
- How: After explaining "Judges," use a quick slide or fade transition to introduce "Players." This breaks the video into segments, giving viewers time to process before moving on to the next section.
- Outcome: Viewers will get a clear division between sections, which aids in better comprehension.
This design choice not only made the content more interactive but also ensured that viewers could easily understand the different roles in the game, reinforcing their learning through multimodal presentation.
Final Deliverables
I created and managed a series of 19 instructional videos on Bilibili, focused on teaching badminton terminology in English, which has attracted over 4,000 followers and 210,000+ views. Each video applies Mayerâs Multimedia Learning Principles, ensuring an engaging and educational experience. I actively engage with my audience through comments and polls, gathering feedback to improve future content. High-quality production using tools like CapCut enhances the viewer experience, and cross-platform promotion expands the reach of the videos. Viewer feedback consistently highlights the clarity and interactivity of the content, making language learning more relatable for badminton fans.
Takeaways
After creating several instructional videos, I identified three key strategies to enhance learning effectiveness:
- Visual Enhancements: Continuously improve visual effects, such as matching vocabulary with relevant images and incorporating necessary animations to help engagement.
- Related Vocabulary Grouping: Group words in each episode by their relevance, such as categorizing terms under specific techniques or equipment, making the content more coherent and easier to recall.
- Market Research and Niche Focus: Early market research is important. I discovered a unique niche by being the first on Chinese platforms to combine badminton and English learning, filling a gap between two existing but separate topics.