Student Access and Logistical Issues
With the exception of the first video, few comments reported technical
issues with accessing the videos and associated homework questions
(Fig 3 ). This likely reflects the learning curve on a new style
of assignment, as well as the fact that the first video (unlike the
others) only required the students to watch the second half, which was
confusing for many students to know where to begin the video. All videos
had captions and/or transcripts available, though several students
requested captions on the first video, apparently unaware of how to
access them. Consequently, the instructor showed the students in class
how to access captions on YouTube videos and these responses were
reduced in subsequent videos.
All videos received comments that students watched the video several
times (Fig 3 ). These comments were most numerous in the videos
deemed by students to be the most difficult (HW1, HW3 and HW4) and
likely reflect students rewatching sections of the video that related to
the homework questions. Use of captions and transcripts was also higher
in these videos for presumably the same reason. Interestingly, a small
number of students noted that they watched the videos from Homework 7
(Finding Tiktaalik and The Origin of Birds) multiple times for
their own enjoyment and to share with friends or relatives.