Newsletter 04.08

The Tube Craze

If you can't beat 'em?

By now we've all heard of YouTube. But have you heard of SchoolTube? Or how about TeacherTube? "Video sharing" has found its' way into the classroom.

YouTube is a video sharing website where users can upload, view and share video clips. YouTube was created in early 2005 to display a wide variety of video content, including movie clips, TV clips and music videos, as well as amateur content such as videoblogging and short original videos. Unregistered users can watch most videos on the site, while registered users are permitted to upload an unlimited number of videos.

Is is popular?

In January 2008 alone, nearly 79 million users watched over 3 billion videos on YouTube. And the chances are good that most of those 79,000,000 were of school age. Wouldn't it have been great if they had used that time to study their math? Or read a book?

Some enterprising educators have concluded that this video sharing thing might work well inside the school walls.

SchoolTube

SchoolTube is a website for K-12 schools that blocks out inappropriate videos through an innovative Chain of Accountability process. Videos are student and/or teacher produced and moderator approved, thus, appropriate for school use.

SchoolTube can be used by students, teachers, administrators, and school-related associations.

Students can use SchoolTube to:

  • enter national contests.
  • broadcast weekly news for the school or district.
  • share videos.
Teachers can use SchoolTube to:
  • share concepts, ideas, and lesson plans with other teachers across the nation.
  • store and view videos (broadcast/journalism clips, short films, etc.).
  • upload and view "how-to videos" in the classroom.
Administrators can use SchoolTube to:
  • post welcome videos from their building administrators for parents and students.
  • extend community outreach through the power of video.
  • embed SchoolTube's video onto a school's website.
Parents can use SchoolTube to:
  • view videos from anywhere at anytime.
  • view "how to" instructional videos.
  • view events that they were not able to attend.
A quick look at the offerings on SchoolTube's website shows video offerings for English, Foreign Language, Math, Science, Social Studies as well as a number of areas that might be of interest to educators.

We found some interesting offerings along the lines of "Anti-smoking" and "Bullying" that might prove helpful to those who are looking for yet another means by which one might "teach students good/appropriate behavior."

TeacherTube

The stated goal of TeacherTube is to provide an online community for sharing instructional videos. They seek to fill a need for a more educationally focused, safe venue for teachers and schools. It provides "anytime, anywhere professional development" with teachers teaching teachers. It has become a site where teachers post videos designed for students to view in order to learn a concept or skill.

With TeacherTube, community members can:
  • upload, tag and share videos worldwide.
  • upload Support Files to attach their educational Activities, Assessments, Lesson Plans, Notes, and Other file formats to your video.
  • browse hundreds of videos uploaded by community members.
  • find, join and create video groups to connect with people who have similar interests.
  • customize the experience by subscribing to member videos, saving favorites, and creating playlists.
  • make videos public or private - users can elect to broadcast their videos publicly or share them privately with those they invite.
Teacher members are encouraged to not only upload educationally relevant videos, but also to make constructive comments and use the rating system to show appreciation for videos of value to one as an educator or learner. Users also have the ability to preserve the integrity of the site by flagging inappropriate videos.

TeacherTube organizes videos into "channels." Not only will visitors see channels for High School, Middle School and Elementary School, but they will also be able to visit Science, Math, Reading, Physical Education and many more areas of instruction.

A few videos fell into the "Improving Student Behavior" category:
  • Classroom Rules (1 min. 44 sec.)
  • Think before you post (1 min.)
  • Pay Attention (about 8 min.)
It will be interesting to see if either of these projects gain enough traction to attract the type of effort required to produce valuable content.

The Advantage Press Video Collection

The Advantage Press is introducing a "Video Collection" for teachers and administrators. Our initial group of videos fall into the category "Classroom Discipline." We have selected a variety of clips that educators might find useful (or, in some cases, at least humorous!).

The Advantage Press, Inc. publishes a number of behavior packets based upon the "old fashioned" concept of actually having students read material that can help educators successfully manage student behavior. You are welcome to try our free samples.