When things go wrong in the classroom, a video can help

Every teacher has stories to tell about things going horribly wrong in the classroom, with an often-unforgiving audience. With a little preparation, you can save the day when practicals and demonstrations don’t work as anticipated. Switching to video in these times of need can ensure that students are still able to make practical observations and link them to theoretical ideas – and you can calm your nerves in the meantime. This also opens the floor to discuss what might have gone wrong, as a useful learning extra. So, the next time you encounter an unanticipated disaster in the lab, raid your video library for an unexpected learning opportunity.