Spotted: As anyone who has tried to learn from videos knows, it can be difficult to search, extract, and summarise important information – all while bouncing back and forth between the video player and a note-taking app. In response to this, Hari Subramonyam, a research professor at Stanford and two colleagues, Yining Cao from the University of California, San Diego, and Eytan Adar at the University of Michigan, have developed a new app called VideoSticker which uses artificial intelligence (AI) to help students take notes from video lessons.

The app uses AI to automatically identify and trim objects out of video lessons and place them into a note-taking area. In addition to capturing images, VideoSticker also pulls in key text, aligning it with the imagery. This way, students can easily manipulate images and text and supplement those elements with their own explanations. As a result, the app turns the passive experience of watching a video into an active one, helping students to better engage with the material and retain information.

A preliminary user test of VideoSticker’s effectiveness was conducted using 10 graduate and undergraduate students. During the test, the students completed a 75- to 90-minute note-taking session of a biology class. The researchers reported positive feedback from participants, with particular praise to VideoSticker’s flexibility in navigating between notes and video content.

Next up, the team will partner with other educators to further evaluate and improve VideoSticker before making the tool fully available commercially.

With more and more people turning to videos for educational content, apps like VideoSticker could help to make the learning process easier and more efficient. Other education-based innovations we have spotted recently include an edtech app that lets students upload maths problems through their phone, as well as a platform for students with learning differences and a tool that identifies struggling readers sooner.  

Written By: Katrina Lane