Web feats 7: Videosharing

Teachers are discovering that video sharing sites such as YouTube, Blip TV and Vimeo can offer a very rich platform for learning. User generated content of all kinds can be found there. Some of the best educational videos have been posted to YouTube, including the seminal work of the likes of Mike Wesch's The Machine is (Us)ing Us and Karl Fisch's Did You Know. You can find lessons on how to play just about any musical instrument, learn how to speak foreign languages, and find master classes on cookery, gardening, dancing, painting, troubleshooting computer problems ... in fact just about anything. There is also a lot of dross out there too, so teachers would be advised to watch a video right through before deciding if it is suitable, relevant and acceptable for viewing by their students in a formal setting.

Most teachers will scan through existing materials to see if there is something they can use to introduce a topic, or highlight a key point they wish to make during a lesson. Some are becoming more adventurous, either creating their own short videos to share, and vodcasting is on the rise. Some are even encouraging their own students to create and share content. But these kind of activities should come with some warnings. If you can get around the school firewall (many schools block videosharing services) here are some things to consider:

YouTube in particular has a reputation as a breeding ground for abuse, and seems to attract its fair share of mindless idiots. Some children work hard on a video, editing, adding voice over, music, etc, and then post it to YouTube, only to attract a number of obscene, harsh or simply unjustifiably critical comments from anonymous viewers who get a kick out of insulting people. It's happened before. Imagine how damaging that might be to their self esteem? Teachers of smaller children will also need to be aware of child protection issues. A little caution and a lot of preparation can offset some of these potential problems. Video sharing is a very creative and motivating tool, and used with care, can enrich and extend the learning experience for students of all ages.

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