Sewing Machine

One thing I constantly say to academics is always look for the best bang for your buck.  Identify the topic/concept that causes the most grief.  Is it worth putting some upfront time into designing a problem based activity, or scenario, or video e.t.c. that helps clarify that issue.

These animations are examples of what I’m talking about.  They obviously took a lot of time to put together, but they clearly show how these mechanisms work.  Students are less likely to get left behind due to not grasping the foundation concepts.

Because these types of resources can be reused, you end up saving time in the long run (but not in the short term).  The other option is to hunt around and find existing free resources.

http://www.gadgetswow.com/2010/08/complicated-mechanisms-explained-in-simple-animations/#.VDdcYvmSx8F