Is a picture really worth a thousand words?

The idiom "A picture is worth a thousand words" refers to the notion that a complex idea can be conveyed with just a single still image, or that an image of a subject conveys its meaning/essence more effectively than a description does. (https://goo.gl/Mz63a4) In education pictures can be a useful tool, easily interpreted and understood. But sometimes a student needs more.

Whenever I know I have to be gone from class, I put together my sub notes and try to make sure my students have the knowledge and learning necessary to conduct a productive class hour in my absence. But even the best plans don't go accordingly. 

My go to for leaving detailed instructions (for my students) has been SoundCloud.  There are audio clips there I use in my classes, but even better I can create an audio clip and put the link in my class LMS. Using this I leave my class detailed instructions in a 3-5 minute audio clip, and they are more likely to listen to this then read a lengthy document with the same information.

At this time, I am still about the free stuff, so I am using that version of SoundCloud, but if I were ready to move to a blended or flipped learning environment, I could update to a paid version. So if you are looking for avenues to change the environment of your classroom (whether you're absent or not) I would recommend trying SoundCloud. 

How about this challenge: Create your free account and record 2 or 3 small instructions for an activity in your classroom. Divide the class in half, provide one half with the audio clips, the other with the same instructions in a written format, and let them work and compare the two. Could you see significant differences in the finished work? Which group had more questions throughout the process? Did one group finish quicker than the other? Which group appeared more engaged? 

I'm not advocating for students to NEVER have to read and interpret instructions, but if you know you'll be gone, and want to have things go in a particular direction, this might be the way to do it!

Happy Recording!