Promise and Perils of Mobile Streaming Video Using Periscope

Context

The importance of and benefits for developing online presence as a component of quality online teaching and learning has been well documented. Online instructors have employed many different approaches for building teaching presence online, with options continuing to evolve as technological capabilities advance. Those looking for alternatives to text-based asynchronous online discussion have many choices to select from.   Video is a powerful and very versatile tool for developing identity and fostering presence in online teaching and learning. While video use has traditionally been recorded and usually required expensive and specialized equipment, use of live streaming video is becoming increasingly prevalent in both pop culture and social media. Mobile technology and the online systems, services, and apps by which media can be shared continues to advance, making possible a host of new possibilities to consuming and creating video content the up until recently were not possible.    Problem   Video holds much promise as a medium for online instruction, interaction, collaboration, and community building. With the ever-increasing majority of online students and instructors owning smart phones with built-in video capabilities, the reality today is that most students and instructors have a video camera in their pocket anywhere they go. Online students and instructors alike are watching recorded video, movies, and in some cases even live television on their phones.    Viewing and sharing video from smart phones and other mobile devices has become commonplace.  The recent rise in popularity of live streaming mobile video apps is yet the latest step in the development and integration of video within mobile communication. Periscope has emerged as one popular mobile app for live-streaming video and syndicating via social media, opening the door to a host of new approaches for further developing “presence” in the online learning environment and making it possible for any online faculty to simultaneously live stream online video as well as record the video to make available for on-demand viewing later.   Approach   As an alternative to text-only or recorded video, one online instructor set out during spring 2016 to incorporate live online mobile videos using Periscope as introductions to weekly modules and online discussion facilitation. Live online mobile videos from the instructor were streamed using Periscope at the beginning of each course module as well as at select points during the online discussion, allowing students the opportunity to watch live on their phones.  Students were invited to download and install the free Periscope app and follow the instructor on Periscope in order to receive a push notification when each live video stream had begun. Upon receiving the push notification of the live streaming video, students could tap the notification to watch the video live as well as comment and “heart” the video. The Periscope app allowed the instructor to save a recorded version of each live video to the camera roll. The instructor then uploaded each video to YouTube and added to the course YouTube channel for easy access as well as embedding in the learning management system for students who didn’t watch live.    Results   Initial anecdotal feedback collected at the conclusion of the spring semester from students in the course was very positive, encouraging the instructor to attempt to utilize Periscope again during the upcoming summer and fall terms. Feedback from students will be collected again during the upcoming online courses and used to further refine the implementation.    During this session, learn more about one online instructor’s quest to implement live online video presentations and discussion using the mobile video streaming app Periscope. An overview of the opportunities for using the app in the online educational environment will be shared, highlighting lessons learned and tips for other educators interested in implementing similar online video streaming apps in their online teaching.