04: ICT to Support Progressive Pedagogies

Digital Content Creation Tools – Canva, Loom, OBS Studio, H5P

1. Introduction

Over the past few decades, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has revolutionized the way people teach and learn. In traditional classrooms, teachers were the main source of knowledge, and students mostly listened. However, progressive teaching—as inspired by educators like John Dewey (1938)—emphasizes that students learn better when they are actively involved, collaborate, and create knowledge instead of simply memorizing it.

Digital content creation tools play a central role in this transformation. They allow teachers and students to create videos, infographics, interactive lessons, and multimedia presentations that make learning more visual, interactive, and creative. These tools also give learners a voice, enabling them to design their own materials, share ideas, and learn from each other. This approach supports constructivist learning theory, which suggests that learners build knowledge best through interaction, reflection, and creation (Vygotsky, 1978; Barr & Tagg, 1995).

In simple terms, digital creation tools make learning more hands-on, fun, and personalized—moving education from “teaching facts” to “creating meaning.”

2. What Are Digital Content Creation Tools?

Digital content creation tools are software or online platforms that allow teachers and students to produce, edit, and publish learning materials in digital form. Examples include videos, graphics, quizzes, animations, and interactive lessons.

These tools are valuable in progressive teaching because they:

1. Enhance engagement – Learning becomes interactive and appealing.
2. Encourage creativity – Students express ideas in their own creative ways.
3. Support collaboration – Many tools allow shared editing and teamwork.
4. Promote understanding – Learners apply knowledge by creating something meaningful.
5. Increase accessibility – Digital materials can be shared, stored, and reviewed anytime.

Essentially, these tools help students “learn by doing”, which strengthens memory, motivation, and critical thinking.

 3. Examples of Digital Content Creation Tools

3.1 Canva

Type: Graphic design platform

Website: https://www.canva.com

What it does:

Canva allows users to create infographics, posters, presentations, and social media graphics using simple drag-and-drop features and professional templates.

Why it matters in teaching:

• Promotes creativity – Students visualize complex concepts through appealing graphics.
• Builds digital literacy – Learners acquire design and communication skills.
• Supports collaboration – Teams can co-design projects online in real time.

Example:
In a geography class, students design an infographic on climate change, combining facts, statistics, and images to communicate key ideas clearly.

Research Insight:

Visual tools like Canva improve student motivation and comprehension (Clark & Mayer, 2016). They support dual coding theory, where visual and verbal information together enhance understanding.

3.2 Loom

Type: Screen and video recording tool
Website: https://www.loom.com

What it does:

Loom allows teachers to record their screen, voice, and webcam simultaneously to create tutorials, feedback videos, or presentations.

Why it matters in teaching:

• Supports flipped classrooms – Teachers record lessons for students to watch before class.
• Provides personalized feedback – Teachers can comment on student work using video explanations.
• Promotes flexibility – Students replay videos anytime for revision.

Example:
A mathematics teacher uses Loom to record a 10-minute tutorial on solving equations. Students watch it before class, and in-class time is used for practice and discussion.

Research Insight:

According to Bishop and Verleger (2013), flipped classrooms using recorded videos increase student engagement and comprehension compared to traditional lectures.

3.3 OBS Studio (Open Broadcaster Software)

Type: Free open-source recording and live streaming tool

Website: https://obsproject.com

What it does:

OBS Studio allows teachers to record or stream lessons with multiple inputs, such as camera, slides, and screen content. It’s ideal for creating high-quality video lessons or live broadcasts.

Why it matters in teaching:

• Enables professional video lessons – Useful for online or distance learning.
• Encourages blended learning – Combines real-time and recorded lessons.
• Facilitates accessibility – Recorded sessions can be shared for review.

Example:
An ICT instructor uses OBS Studio to live-stream a programming lesson, showing coding demonstrations and slide explanations side by side.

Research Insight:

Multimedia teaching with audio-visual integration improves knowledge retention and attention span (Mayer, 2021).

3.4 H5P

Type: Interactive content creation platform

Website: https://h5p.org

What it does:

H5P enables teachers to design interactive learning objects, including quizzes, drag-and-drop activities, interactive videos, and timelines—all directly embeddable in websites or Learning Management Systems (LMSs).

Why it matters in teaching:

• Encourages active learning – Learners interact with content instead of passively reading.
• Provides real-time feedback – Useful for formative assessment.
• Makes learning fun – Integrates gamification and multimedia.

Example:
A biology teacher creates an interactive video where students answer quiz questions during the lesson to test understanding.

Research Insight:

Interactive digital tools like H5P promote deeper learning and increase engagement in online environments (Khalil & Ebner, 2020).

4. Advantages of Digital Content Creation Tools in Progressive Teaching

Benefit	Description	Example/Impact
Active Engagement	Learners create and interact, not just consume information.	Making an infographic or interactive quiz.
Creativity & Innovation	Students express knowledge in creative formats.	Designing posters or explainer videos.
Accessibility	Materials are available anytime, supporting remote learning.	Recorded lessons on Loom or OBS.
Collaboration	Learners co-create materials in groups.	Group project on Canva or H5P.
Diverse Learning Styles	Visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learners all benefit.	Video tutorials, images, and simulations.
Formative Assessment	Tools like H5P provide instant feedback.	Quizzes that guide learning progress.

5. Summary Table

Tool	Primary Use	Example in Teaching	Pedagogical Impact
Canva	Visual design (infographics, slides)	Create an infographic summarizing a science topic	Enhances creativity, communication, and visual literacy
Loom	Screen & video recording	Record tutorials for flipped learning	Supports flexibility and personalized feedback
OBS Studio	Video recording & live streaming	Stream live programming tutorials	Promotes multimedia-rich and accessible teaching
H5P	Interactive content creation	Build quizzes and interactive videos	Encourages engagement and active learning

6. Conclusion

Digital content creation tools such as Canva, Loom, OBS Studio, and H5P empower both teachers and students to design interactive, engaging, and personalized learning materials. They transform classrooms into spaces where students create, explore, and collaborate, which are the core principles of progressive pedagogy.

When used effectively, these tools:

• Enhance critical thinking and creativity.
• Support inclusivity and flexibility.
• Enable active and collaborative learning.
• Prepare learners with 21st-century digital skills needed in both academic and professional contexts.

In short, digital content creation tools bring learning to life — making education more engaging, inclusive, and transformative.

References

• Barr, R., & Tagg, J. (1995). From teaching to learning: A new paradigm for undergraduate education. Change, 27(6), 12–25.
• Bishop, J. L., & Verleger, M. A. (2013). The flipped classroom: A survey of the research. ASEE National Conference Proceedings.
• Clark, R. C., & Mayer, R. E. (2016). E-learning and the Science of Instruction: Proven Guidelines for Consumers and Designers of Multimedia Learning. Wiley.
• Dewey, J. (1938). Experience and Education. New York: Macmillan.
• Khalil, M., & Ebner, M. (2020). Interaction patterns in massive open online courses (MOOCs): A case study using learning analytics. Computers & Education, 145, 103728.
• Mayer, R. E. (2021). Multimedia Learning (3rd ed.). Cambridge University Press.
• Prince, M. (2004). Does active learning work? A review of the research. Journal of Engineering Education, 93(3), 223–231.
• Vygotsky, L. S. (1978). Mind in Society: The Development of Higher Psychological Processes. Harvard University Press.