Content, tools, and surrogates: assessing K-12 teachers’ criteria for interactively searching for digital video

Purpose: Digital video is regularly used to supplement instruction in K-12 education. However, more research is needed on how teachers interactively search for video to support their instructional tasks and activities. The purpose of the study is to better understand teachers’ perceptions of their video searches which can help facilitate video needs and interactions with digital tools. Design/methodology/approach: Based on an existing image search model, variables were constructed and adapted to reflect the experiences of an interactive video search in an educational context or setting. A survey was then implemented and presented to K-12 teachers to gather perceptions about video searches. Statistical tests were used to examine certain variables that were categorized according to video needs, search tools and video surrogates or representations. The tests included descriptive tests and mean comparisons of variables within the categories to better understand priority among the criteria of teachers when interactively searching for video. Findings: Results produced various statistical differences between variables within each of the categories of video needs, search tools and video surrogates or representations; as a result, certain priorities among the criteria of a video search emerged. Originality/value: Online resources, particularly digital video, are likely to keep growing in importance for instruction and learning in K-12 settings. This study provides an important step to understanding different aspects of teachers’ criteria and perspectives of the video search process which will help better facilitate fulfillment of information needs.