You Tube as Teaching Tool
Have a computer connected to the internet for quick reference of short videos on youtube.com or lynda.com always seem to re-energize a class. Looking at websites that are closely related to the industry also gives student great ideas on what to search and look for to better understand the profession being taught.
Better yet, viewing youtube videos and breaking apart what the person in the video may have done wrong or discussing an easier way they could have done a task.
Jean,
Students appreciate any resource they feel is beneficial for them. I try to edit down any video to it's essence because I know the attention span of most students is only a couple of minutes at best. Immediate practical application following a viewing is a great way to reinforce the technical finesse you're trying to convey.
Barry Westling
I love YouTube in the classroom!
Obviously, we as instructors need to be very selective when we are searching for material to show in our class room, but there ARE a lot of useful videos out there.
I teach Wedding Cake decorating. There are so many tutorials on YouTube, it is overwhelming. Just last Friday I was doing my gumpaste flower demo, and I said to the class, "I do not know how to create every flower out of gumpaste....but YouTube does!"
I bring my little tablet into the classroom so the students can use it...and of course they bring their own, too. The time-lapsed decorating tutorials are great for supplemental demo material. Go YouTube!
I shy away from videos often due to copywriter infringement but a small clip is a great idea and not illegal!
Susanne,
This effort by students is noteworthy. I'm sure there are occasions where you have to ask a student to explain "...and what exactly does that have to do with...? Nonetheless, the exercise suggests at least a basic understanding of a concept has to precede seeking out applicable musical video's. Knowledge that is applied demonstrates a higher scale of learning. Kudos to you for sharing this creative exercise with the forum!
Barry Westling
Hello Barry,
I found this discussion interesting pertaining to media very interesting. In teaching biological sciences, I have found that using music as a tool is also helpful. I encourage my students to use their Iphones to find musical videos on the topic that we are discussing that week such as, cellular biology, matter, energy, or anything pertaining to science. There are music videos out there and this engages my students in the concepts being covered.
Susanne
Eric,
Video's are good to insert into the lesson. It makes class more interesting. For me, I make sure they're specific to the topic and short because students lose interest if the material doesn't grab them.
Barry Westling
Armando,
Great. I've found that shorter snippets of video are better tolerated and attractive to students. It's got to grab them in the first minute, and keep that up pace throughout for maximum retention. I usually use just a brief portion of a video that I've previewed beforehand.
Barry Westling
I recommend my students to utilize the internet to there advantage.
