Effect of embedded streaming video strategy in an online learning environment on the learning of neuroscience

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of the embedded streaming video strategy in an online learning environment on declarative knowledge learning of neuroscience. The design used in this study was the posttest-only control-group design. A sample of 92 undergraduate students from a Midwestern university was recruited for the study. The students in the experimental group received online text-based instruction with static graphics and embedded streaming video, while the control group received the online text-based instruction with static graphics.; No significant difference in students' immediate learning performance was found as measured by the content-related immediate posttest; however, a significant difference was found in students' knowledge retention as measured by the content-related retention posttest. The student' perception of the effectiveness of streaming video according to gender was also administered by the web-form survey. No significant gender difference was found to exist in students' perceptions toward the effectiveness of embedded streaming video. Results of the web-form survey of respondents' attitude regarding the effectiveness of streaming video are also presented. Adding streaming video to the online learning environment is recommended as one way to increase student learning performance.