Using PowerPoint and H5P to Create Interactive Animated Instructional Videos

The advantages of animated videos in education are widely recognised, yet their use by educators is restricted by the technical skills and resources needed for their production.

We have used the built-in animation and voice-over narration features of Microsoft PowerPoint to create full-fledged animated videos for students in the Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) program. H5P was used to add interactive self-assessment questions to the videos. Three interactive animated videos on oral epithelium and biofilms were posted in the learning management system (LMS) for the first and second year DDS students.

A descriptive study was conducted to demonstrate student interactions and perceptions of interactive animated videos. First and second-year DDS students were automatically enrolled in the study. Student engagement data, in the form of the number of interactions with the interactive animated videos, were collected from the LMS. They were also invited to participate in a voluntary survey. Although the interactive animated videos were posted as supplementary learning content, most students accessed the videos. Ninety-four percent of the survey respondents indicated that the videos helped clarify concepts and made learning enjoyable. They also positively valued the interactive self-assessment questions incorporated into the videos.

PowerPoint can be a simple yet effective way to create animated videos. Although this study has a small number of participants, the findings highlight the potential of interactive animated videos as an effective teaching tool to enhance student engagement and learning experiences.