Using H5P for Interactive Presentations
Interactive tools are revolutionising education, and H5P is at the forefront, offering educators a versatile platform to create engaging learning materials.
During the Technology Enhanced Learning Community of Practice event in June 2023, Paula Funnell - Faculty Liaison Librarian for Medicine and Dentistry - shared her experience of using H5P to design and deliver interactive presentations, providing valuable insights into its potential and the challenges it presents.
Paula's Use of H5P
Paula demonstrated how H5P enhances the learning experience by fostering interaction and engagement. She employed H5P to create presentations enriched with quizzes, drag-and-drop exercises, and hotspots. These interactive elements allowed learners to actively participate, promoting deeper understanding and retention of the material.
For instance, Paula used H5P's interactive video feature to embed questions directly into the presentation. This ensured that learners were not just passive viewers but were required to process and apply information as they progressed.
Benefits of Using H5P
- Engagement: the interactive nature of H5P encourages active participation, making lessons more dynamic and memorable.
- Versatility: with tools for quizzes, videos, and even gamified content, H5P allows educators to design varied and creative learning materials.
- Accessibility: H5P's focus on inclusivity means content can be tailored to meet accessibility standards, ensuring all learners benefit equally.
- Ease of Integration: Paula noted how H5P seamlessly integrates into QMplus (Moodle), streamlining content delivery and learner tracking.
Challenges Faced
While H5P offers numerous advantages, Paula highlighted several challenges:
- Learning Curve: for educators new to H5P, the multitude of features can be overwhelming. Paula initially struggled with mastering the more advanced functionalities.
- Time Investment: creating high-quality interactive content requires significant time and effort, particularly when designing complex scenarios or customising activities.
- Limited Customisation: while H5P offers many templates, some educators may find the customisation options insufficient for highly specific needs.
Paula's Recommendations
To make the most of H5P, Paula suggested starting with simpler tools like multiple choice quizzes, and gradually exploring more advanced features. Collaborating with colleagues or technical support teams to overcome technical challenges is something to consider. And allocating sufficient planning time to create engaging and functional content is also important.
Conclusion
Paula's experience underscores the transformative potential of H5P in education. Despite its challenges, H5P empowers educators to craft interactive, inclusive, and engaging learning materials that resonate with students. By addressing the hurdles and leveraging its strengths, educators can unlock the full potential of H5P, paving the way for a more interactive and effective teaching experience.