If you’d told me a few years ago that video editing would become one of the most valuable tools in my educational toolkit, I probably would’ve laughed. But here we are — and honestly? It’s changed everything.
I started dabbling out of necessity during clinical practice. I’m a respiratory physiotherapist by background, working on the frontline throughout COVID, when our non-invasive ventilators were under immense pressure. The multidisciplinary team needed to understand how to manage these machines — fast. So, I had an idea.
What if I recorded a few short videos? Basic explanations of the alarms, the settings, and what they meant. Quick, accessible info so staff could learn on-the-go, without needing to attend in-person training sessions we just didn’t have time for. I even planned to link the videos to a QR code and stick them right onto the machine.
I got a few recordings in — and then, before I could finish editing or print the QR codes, the University of Lincoln came knocking.
That set the scene for my early months in higher education. It was May 2021. Lockdown had just ended. Teaching was mostly online and practical, hands-on physio training? Severely limited. That itch to create video content came calling again — and that’s when I realised: video editing isn’t just a tech skill. It’s a teaching strategy.
Why Video Editing Matters in Education
Tailored content – I can strip away the noise, highlight what matters, and repeat or reinforce ideas in ways that work for different learning styles.
Accessibility – Subtitles (learners struggle with my Yorkshire accent), visuals, pacing, and the ability to pause and rewatch — total game-changer for students who need more time or learn differently.
Human connection – Even a rough, real recording of a person explaining something carries warmth. It builds trust. It feels more like teaching, less like broadcasting.
Relevance – We’re in a YouTube/TikTok era, RIP Vine. Attention is short. Expectations are high. Even my kids won’t listen to me for more than 30 seconds! Recorded Powerpoints aren’t doing it for anyone anymore, so stop pushing them.
Here’s the key thing: I don’t have fancy gear. No media background. Just a decent mic, some free editing software through institutional licensing, and a lot of trial and error. But over time, I’ve built something that genuinely supports learning — and sometimes, even engages students.
I’m not just planning lessons with my videos anymore — I’m producing them.
Competing with YouTube? Not Quite — But Close
There’s a real risk of being outpaced by YouTube. That doesn’t sit right with me. So I say, watch what students watch. Steal some inspiration. Perform your teaching sessions. Trust them to engage. If it’s good, they will.
Here’s a screenshot of my Panopto library as of May 2025 — a small testament to this shift:
Final Thoughts
The best part of learning to edit? I actually enjoy it. It’s creative. It’s iterative. And it’s deeply satisfying to see something come together that you know will land better than another wall of text.
Video editing hasn’t replaced my teaching — it’s amplified it.
If you’re an educator on the fence, here’s my unsolicited advice: start messy. You’ll be amazed at how quickly it pays off — for you, and for your learners.
Dean Walker 