Professor develops video modeling application

June 11, 2021 — DENTON — When it comes to phone applications there is a saying — “There’s an app for that.” However, Minkowan Goo, PhD, an associate professor in the teacher education department at Texas Woman’s University, found that is not always the case.

Goo saw a need for a better resource for teachers to create video modeling, an evidence-based practice to teach skills to students. His solution was a new application for iPhone and iPad called PlayVimo.

Geared toward special education teachers to specifically model social and life skills, Goo says the app is ultimately a good resource for anyone who needs to teach a skill.

“Everyone has smartphones. Kids, grandparents, everyone. Everybody has a skillset. This is a simple tool to help teach a skill,” Goo said. “There is so much research that shows video is an effective intervention for kids. Even I look up video whenever I need to learn how to work on my car or anything like that, so it’s not just for students. We all learn from video.”

PlayVimo prompts a teacher in a step-by-step process to create a short video detailing a skill. Once the entire skill is completed, a teacher can switch the app to student mode so the student can learn from the video.

“I want to help teachers,” Goo said. “This is an easy and quick way to create video modeling.”

Goo’s combination of expertise and interests uniquely prepared him to create PlayVimo, a title that combines the words “play,” “video” and “modeling.” Goo began his career as a teacher and has always had an interest in technology. His research interests are using technology in teaching students with disabilities.

More than 20 years ago, while student-teaching, Goo tried to integrate html code for a demonstration he was teaching. His supervising teacher at the time said it was too early to try that. It was too late for Goo. His interest in technology grew until he taught himself coding and programming. He is in the process of learning a new coding language to make PlayVimo available to Android users in the future.

“Programmers program and educators educate. I wanted to know both,” Goo said. “My experience helps PlayVimo be useful because I embedded educational theories into the programming.”

So now, there’s an app for that.

For more on PlayVimo, video modeling and Goo’s 7 Cs Strategy to teach a skill, visit playvimo.com.

Page last updated 9:58 AM, June 11, 2021