YouTube and TeacherTube are two technologies I am reasonably familiar with. YouTube is best explained as being an online public communications website that allows its users to upload videos and watch other users’ videos for free (Feldman, 2009). Registering for YouTube is relatively simple, however is only necessary if you want to upload a video, access restricted content, or rate an existing video. Because of the simplistic nature of YouTube, anyone can upload their video. With this in mind it is apparent that YouTube is not an ideal website for students to investigate on their own, and this is the reason why YouTube is often not available to students at school (Welford, 2007).
This does not mean that YouTube can not be employed as a useful tool in the classroom. In fact quite the opposite, I have seen first-hand the effect that a ‘YouTube’ clip can have in engaging students into a particular topic, and it is a visual technique that I have used in lessons many times. The YouTube clip I have attached below could be used in the context of a class studying decomposition and micro-organisms. Students could watch the video and then be asked what caused the fruit to decompose, which could possibly lead to a scientific investigation of their own to complete. Students could also be given a task in which they are required to demonstrate their creativity and collaborative skills by making a video that could be put on their own class-made YouTube site possibly through the Wiki program or by posting their video’s on a blog.(I suggest a class-made YouTube site to avoid compromising the students’ safety and privacy). This would align well with the Learning Design Theory which highlights the importance of peer collaboration and creativity with the use of ICT’s (Kearsley & Shneiderman, 1999). Overall, YouTube can be an extremely useful educational tool, and like the rest of the technologies listed, it is a program I look forward to exploring further.
References
Feldman, B. (2009). YouTube: What is it and Why use it? Citing computer references. Retrieved August 16,2009, from
http://www.surfnetkids.com/safety/youtube_what_is_it_and_why_use_it-19026.htm
Kearsley, G., & Shneiderman, B. (1999). Engagement Theory:. Retrieved July 10, 2009, from http://home.sprynet.com/~gkearsley/engage.htm
Welford, R (2007). “Tough stance taken on cyber bullying in state schools”. Press release, 1 March. Minister for Education and Training and Minister for the Arts. Citing computer references. Retrieved August 16,2009, from
http://www.ccypcg.qld.gov.au/pdf/publications/brochures/children-and-the-media/Corporate-Fact-Sheet5.pdf
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