I visited a few interesting sites today for my class readings. The articles were related to the web site called, “You Tube”. I find it very interesting how proficient the younger generation is when it comes to the use of computers or how well they learn to use all its applications. I suppose if I were a teenager at this day and age with a lot of time on my hands I would be most interested in becoming a whiz at using one also.
Students are combining software and computer programs to create videos with audio playing in the background. They were quite interesting I might add. I watched one video a few teenage girls created called, “Snapped by a passing satellite” and then I was hooked to the You Tube site and spent a half an hour watching other videos. If you are interested in a few videos log on to http://www.theage.com.au/news/web/youtube-course-is-a-class-act/2006/11/06/1162661610036.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1.
There is an English teacher that uses You Tube in class for vocabulary and other class related lessons. He allows students to watch videos in class for their assignments. The teacher has an array of lessons he uses for the web base site and feels that it’s working great for him and the students. This site is located at http://esl.about.com/od/listeninglessonplans/a/youtube.htm.
One video I really enjoyed shows how much the classroom has changed because of the way society and cultures have had to adapt to advancing technology. This would be a great video to show at school board meetings when it is time to vote on the budget for new technology in their schools. The video really makes you sit back and think about how effective the old hum-drum lesson plans are. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vC928e629iM
Ron
2 responses so far ↓
1
Mrs. King
// Nov 26, 2007 at 3:44 pm
I have not used any UTube in my class, but Deb said that TeacherTube is not blocked. I would like to find something to use to try to keep up with the times!
Ann
2
Skip Z
// Dec 1, 2007 at 7:18 am
Hi Ron-
There are two disadvantages to using YouTube or TeacherTube, etc. in school. The first is that it is against the current policy to stream during the school day. The second is that there are so many schools that do allow it that you can experience a lot of ‘buffering’ while you’re trying to watch it.
I use stuff from United Streaming to avoid both those hassles, I download it at home, convert to an .asf or .mov file and copy it to disk. Sometimes, I’ll make DVDs. I did a menu’ed one for that science teacher with beard last year and it worked out great for ease of use. I have several grammar lesson series downloaded, for instance.
Leave a Comment