For our recent assignment on tech tools I looked at the website from Edutopia about using online video in the classroom. Using online videos in your classroom can be a very beneficial way to enrich a learning unit, but there are some basic things that you should know before you use them.
There is nothing quite like actually seeing what you are learning, and in a perfect world you would be able to show all of these things to your students first hand. But we all know that that is not possible, so the next best thing can be to show your students through video. Youtube is a great place to find very helpful videos, but there are some things that you need to take into account before using them. Many school districts block sites such as Youtube because of the content that is on the site. You need to check to see if you can access the site first, if you cannot you may need to save the video to your desktop then save it in a different format. Also, with all the inappropriate videos that are out there you need to make sure that you are linked to one you want. I suggest doing your searches on your own, and copying the exact link. This way when your students get to class you can only pull up the exact video that you want.
Online videos can also be a great resource when you are wanting to see a certain type of lesson taught, or a new teaching technique. There are lots of good websites that you can view actual classes being taught showing what you want to teach. This can give you great ideas about how to use the teaching technique in your class.
With anything, though, online videos have their downfall. Teachers should not let it become the main point of the lesson. Rather teachers should use online videos to supplement what they are already teaching. Also, in elementary school you want to make sure that the videos are short and to the point. This way your students will not get bored watching a long drawn out video. As discussed earlier in class there is always the issue of copyright. Most online video use will be protected under the "Fair Use Clause." But if you are concerned that you might be infringing on someone's copyright you can always email the creator of the video about using it, or check with an administrator about using the video in the correct manner.
Many of my teachers have used YouTube or other video programs and it's been nice to watch something instead of always listening to a lecture. I think it's a great idea to use video in the classroom but I agree you have to limit the use; most children are already getting enough t.v. time outside of class.
ReplyDeleteI have noticed that a lot of professers are using more and more online videos in class. I think that they are doing it to keep students attention during classes. My fav prof, so far, is Jamison he uses youtube all the time. it was his way to his point across. He also used them when the class was losing intrest. He would use a funny youtube clip to get everyone back to paying attention and involved in discussion.
ReplyDeleteOnline videos arewonderful tools for teaching in the classroom. I feel that a lot of teachers don't take advantage of all the opportunities to use them. Students love watching things instead of reading about them and it makes a lot of subject matter more understandable because they might not have otherwise encountered it.
ReplyDeleteI like the idea of using short video clips to spice up a lesson plan. For example I think it would be a good way to help introduce a new topic to the classroom. If it is an interesting video you will get students attention and motivate them to get ready for the new topic. I think I would also use it to show students places we are learning about that we can not go to physically.
ReplyDeleteI think if the video is on youtube it is up for public use. Meaning you can use it any way you want to as long as you do not profit from it. As to the use of videos you are right they should be used but not in excess.
ReplyDeleteYou have a good point. Videos should be used, not in excess, but they are often blocked. I know that as teachers we should not try to get around the firewalls set up, but I do believe that there are times when it would be okay to do so, like showing a youtube video in class that you have already previewed.
ReplyDeleteThis is the tool that I chose to look at also. Actually, we talked about that in class last time I think. I remember we had a lot of the same opinions on the subject. I think that we also both agreed that videos can be a wonderful tool, but also shouldn't take the place of doing things the old fashioned way: opening up a book and doing things first hand. Great job, I enjoyed reading some additional opinions.
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