I saw it on YouTube...

Once again I began the research into video sharing sites by reflecting on my own experiences with them- I think that this will be my MO for these blog entries!

General Observations:

I was only really familiar with YouTube for video sharing. I have had an account for a number of years, but I only really used it for my own entertainment. It was about a year ago that I began to see its potential for teaching. It began when the Mentos and Diet Coke craze started; I was in the middle of teaching my chemistry unit and we were discussing catalysts and how they affected the rates of reactions. I had heard about the Mentos and Diet Coke on CanadaAM and that there were many more videos on YouTube. I found out for myself and then set up a digital projector in my class room and we were able to view a number of different people doing this experiment. (Side Note: in case you haven’t seen this, the powder on the Mentos reacts with the Diet Coke and it shoots the coke very high into the air- like a geyser. If you want to see it for yourself, just type the words “Mentos” and “Diet Coke” in the search engine.) After we watched a few of them, we were able to discuss what had happened and we actually went outside and did the experiment ourselves.
I am also going to use YouTube next year when I teach Science 10 because there is an experiment called Liquid Ice, where you take Sodium Acetate and water, boil them up together, and refrigerate. When it comes out of the fridge it is a liquid, but as soon as you touch it, the liquid turns into a solid block of ice. Very cool! One of my students showed me this one and I’m very excited to try it.
I also recently used YouTube for an assignment on Extreme Weather events. My students were asked to research an event and create some kind of presentation for me. Only one group chose to do a video on blizzards. We had been having problems with our server at school and they were afraid that the Assignment In folder would be out of commission, so they suggested that instead of taking a chance, they could just post it on YouTube and I could see it there. It turned out to be a great idea and they did a pretty good job- I don’t think that they are going to win an Oscar anytime soon, but it was a good effort nonetheless. Please feel free to have a look http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEDhWIJTuS4 . I’m not sure about the bloopers; I can’t vouch for the language in it!! We ended up having to use a DVD in the end anyway for the presentation because I didn’t realize that our division had blocked YouTube and we are not supposed to use it anymore- I will discuss what I think on this topic later in this blog! L I do have permission to show this video and it is on YouTube for all to see, but I thought I should cover my bases anyway.
When it came time for me to research video sharing sites, I had trouble finding information on the benefits for education and learning. I may have been looking in the wrong places and soon I will have my classmates’ blogs to read and learn from, but the majority of the sites I found were warnings against using YouTube (that was the site most cited). I did find one site that mentioned other beneficial uses of videos in the class room, but side-steps the issue of video sharing. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEDhWIJTuS4 . I like the author’s thoughts about using video as a new “report”. Instead of having students write reports, videos can be a new way of presenting information. I have done many research assignments that use presentations as the final product and I always find that the students who do videos have way more fun doing the assignment and have the best product. The rest of the class is always entertained and they usually remember the information presented in a video rather than an oral report or even a PowerPoint presentation. I also find that the students who know they are doing a video are way more enthusiastic about doing the research, planning the video and creating the finished project! They really love to do the assignment! Shocking!
I went to TeacherTube to have a snoop around- I had never heard of it before this course. What an awesome site!! I signed up immediately. I spoke of using photo sharing sites as a way for teachers to share resources with other teachers in my previous blog, but this may be even better! I know that I will be using this site for gathering information for my own use and I will be telling all of the teachers I can about it. I spent about an hour poking around and I have found a few things for just about every subject. One of the best things is the French content. We have a fully bilingual French teacher in our school and she is always looking for ways of exposing her students to French. There are quite a few videos on the site that are done in French- there was actually a weather report about blizzards in French on there too- what a coincidence! I might have to upload my kids’ report to the site!! I also thought that Mrs. Burkes Perimeter Rap was a hoot! If you have a chance, look at it! URL
I am using YouTube and TeacherTube as my main points of reference because I think they are the most popular and the kids will know about YouTube. I know that I would love to continue using this as a tool in my classroom for demonstrations that I am not always able to perform and as a way for students to showcase their work. I know that I would be really excited to see some of my work in cyberspace- heck I was even excited about this blog- so I know that students would be happy for their work to be recognized as well. I think that YouTube or other similar sites will replace the fridge door or classroom wall as one of the best places to display their work!
One good site that I did find in my search was this blog: http://fabricoffolly.blogspot.com/2006/08/top-20-video-sharing-sites-rated.html . It is a blog that Dan Taylor created that rate 20 video sharing sites. I must confess that I didn’t get a chance to visit them all, but I thought the rating system was very helpful.

Concerns and Questions:

#1- My division blocks YouTube and has a ban on all live streaming sites!! What a pain in the butt! Of course I enlisted my little computer savvy students to help me with this problem, but I’m sure I could get in trouble if caught! I now use a proxy server to view YouTube, but they are getting crafty as blocking the proxy sites as well. I may have to use the information I gather from this class to make a plea. The computer teacher and I have had this discussion many times as YouTube is a huge part of the curriculum for his Computer Production and Technology class. I’m gathering stats and information and I will be making a case in a couple of months. The reasoning for blocking this site (and others ) is that our server can’t handle the bandwidth necessary, harrumph! We are getting a new server in two weeks, so I think I will let the dust settle and then see what I can do!
#2- Appropriate Content: I may be using my account and the site for appropriate things, but sometimes the students are a little less genteel.
#3-Parental Permission: Some parents might not feel comfortable with having their children on the internet. We have to have permission for students to have their picture taken for the yearbook, website etc. I’m not really sure what kind of problem this might become in the future, but it concerns me.

In Conclusion...

I think that these sites are an awesome way to gather information, share information, and to present a final product. I plan on expanding my use of these sites in the future- if I am allowed- and who knows maybe I’ll even start a video blog for my students to use and get information about assignments and discussions they may have missed- then there will be NO excuse for not getting their home work done!!
I do have an account on both YouTube and TeacherTube (Username: Katons8 for both), but I don’t own a video camera, so I am not able to upload any video- maybe I’ll ask for one next Christmas! I have subscribed to a few channels on YouTube, but I’ll have to spend more time on TeacherTube and see what’s out there for me and my school. My account link is: http://www.youtube.com/user/Katons8
That’s what I think about video sharing sites! I can’t wait to read what everyone else thinks!! Katie

P.S. I found a good site about Web 2.0 tools and I’ve added it to my blog roll. It’s called Ubernoggin- Check it out!!