Design and Implementation of an Instructional Feedback Video

Case Study: Enhancing Student Understanding Through Instructional Videos

This project demonstrates the power of instructional video design in providing targeted video feedback that supports active learning and self-reflection.

Video Feedback - project overview

As part of an initiative to enhance learning in the Web Application Development course, I created an instructional video designed to help students improve their solutions to a programming assignment in Python. The video serves as visual feedback based on the most common errors found in student submissions and functions as a self-directed learning and reflection resource, focusing on debugging, understanding programming logic, and active learning through peer review.

  • Role: Instructional Designer & E-learning Content Creator
  • Client: Kibo School (Pilot Project)
  • Target Group: Students of the Web Application Development course

Goal: To design and produce a structured video feedback that helps students identify errors, understand key concepts, and improve their solutions by applying a scaffolding approach, visual demonstrations, and peer-learning strategies.

Challenges and Solutions

During the analysis of student submissions, three key challenges in mastering the material were identified:

  • Connecting different parts of the code – Students struggled to properly link the program logic and display information on the webpage correctly.
  • Independent testing and debugging – Although testing tools were available, most students did not fully utilize them to identify and fix errors.
  • Understanding the task as a whole – It was unclear to many how the program should function from start to finish, which made it difficult to structure their solutions and build correct logic.

Solution: I created an instructional video that clearly and visually explains these topics, using practical examples and step-by-step demonstrations to help students more easily apply the concepts in their own work.

01

Instructional Video Design Techniques

To increase student engagement, I created a 15-minute instructional video carefully structured around the scaffolding approach. The video is divided into thematic sections that address specific challenges observed in student work, allowing learners to selectively focus on the content most relevant to their needs.

  • Positive Introduction – The video begins with a motivational message that acknowledges students’ effort, helping to reduce academic stress and create a psychologically safe environment for receiving feedback.
  • Clear Segmentation – Each section tackles a specific problem. Visual markers and animations are used to help students follow explanations and stay focused. Instead of providing ready-made solutions, the video guides them through the thinking process, fostering deeper conceptual understanding.
  • Practical Approach and Debugging – – Rather than theoretical explanations, the video presents real debugging scenarios, demonstrating the process: make a change → test → fix the error. A client–developer context is also introduced to help students understand the broader importance of logical reasoning and code structure.
  • Encouraging Peer Review – At the end, students are invited to complete an activity where they analyze their peers’ code and provide constructive feedback. This promotes collaborative learning, reflection, and the development of analytical skills.
02

Visual Strategy & Technical Execution

An effective instructional video requires a carefully designed visual framework that clearly guides learners through the content and supports comprehension. In this case, the following techniques were applied:

  • Screen recording with cursor tracking, ensuring that students’ attention stays focused on key parts of the interface and code.

  • Animations to visualize logical flows within the code, particularly useful for visually oriented learners.

  • Split-screen view displaying both the code editor and the browser output simultaneously, allowing students to see in real time how code changes affect the final result.

  • Live debugging demonstrations, rather than static examples, enabling students to follow the natural problem-solving process and learn through real, authentic coding errors.

Reflection and Lessons Learned

The video proved to be an effective format for delivering feedback — particularly because it combined clearly structured explanations with visual elements that helped students better understand where their mistakes occurred and how to approach problem-solving. Rather than presenting only the final solution, I focused on the process of analysis and reasoning, which encouraged students to engage more actively with their own code.

As an area for improvement, I recognized the need for a more spontaneous and conversational narrative style, since the Kibo learning environment values a natural, informal tone. I would also like to further expand the segment featuring real student errors and demonstrate how they can be corrected in real time, which would strengthen learners’ sense of recognition and self-assessment.