Using on-line video in the classroom
I think the biggest problem teachers face with using on-line video in class is the overprotective content filters the school district installs to prevent students from viewing inappropriate information. These filters can block wikis, blogs, or WebPages that can be used to expand learning. Maybe because these tools are relatively new, the administrators don’t create the appropriate policies about website use. It is necessary to teach kids how to use these tools effectively and start using them at an early age. Asking for access to these tools to the technical staff when it is needed is one way to solve this problem. Another way I would consider would be to start educating the kids early on digital citizenship and provide them with appropriate adult supervision to help them be responsible web-users, so students and teachers could take advantage of the technology integrating it in the classroom to provide a powerful and long-lasting effect on the kids. “Fatheree and Lindvahl are very proud of the high-quality film their students produced, but they’re more impressed with how the kids worked as a team while employing a wide range of skills. Students acknowledge the teamwork and credit the course with providing them with such diverse skills as organization, budgeting, grammar, and critical thinking.” (Film School: Making Movies From Storyboard to Screen).
Teachers can use videos related to classroom topics to reinforce the learning. They can make their own videos, they can post the videos on youtube since it doen’t take them that much time or effort to do so. They can also have the students create their own videos, where they can employ and improve their learning skills, making the learning more effective using their own knowledge to create their work under a joyful environment. “I give them just enough of the technology to be able to navigate,” says Lindvahl. “What they learn because they want to is so much more effective than what I can teach them. Nothing pleases me more than to hear a kid say, ‘You know, unless you do this, you can’t do that.’ That’s when they really learn something.” (Film School: Making Movies From Storyboard to Screen).
These videos can be uploaded to private sites or distributed to the general public, to receive feedback from other people beside the teacher. Teachers can also use videos made by other people as a powerful tool using video-sharing sites.
Sources:
http://www.edutopia.org/web-2.0-tools-filtering-firewalls
http://www.edutopia.org/film-school
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/techinnovations/2005-11-21-video-websites_x.htm
