YouTube or Teacher Tube

The subject area I chose to do was Natural Disasters. After searching for an appropriate video on YouTube and Teacher Tube for this learning area I decided to select a video from YouTube called “Natural Disasters and Human Dignity”. This video tries to target people emotions through the use of pictures and music, so I thought it would get students thinking about how these disasters affect other people. It also targets not only people in Australia but people in other countries, so this could lead into lessons about major disasters that have occurred around the world. This area could be trans-disciplinary across many subjects e.g. Science – students could do experiments to show how natural disasters like volcanoes occur. This video clip could also be used to explain to students that we need to help people that have been affected by these disasters. This could then lead to students wanting to donate things around their houses that they might not need any more and teaching them that a little goes a long way.

What is YouTube?

YouTube is a video sharing website that allows anyone to watch videos for free. Registered users can also upload videos for free (Schools Resourcing Taskforce, 2008). Kwan (2008) stated that YouTube has become a popular way to upload, share, view and comment on video clips. Videos can be rated, and the average rating and the number of times the video has been watched are both displayed (Kwan, 2008). But it is necessary for teachers to be cautious when using YouTube as many inappropriate videos are uploaded to this site. Many Australian Schools are blocked from accessing YouTube, making it hard for teachers to use this resource as part of their teaching practice (Schools Resourcing Taskforce, 2008).

Theory – Learning Design

Kwan (2008) states that video can be a powerful educational and motivational tool, however, a great deal of the medium’s power lies not in itself but in how it is used. Videos shouldn’t be used as a tool on its own; teachers have to incorporate videos into the learning while using great instructional strategies to facilitate students learning. A video will not be effective if the teaching around it is of a poor quality. As Kwan (2008) states ‘video is not an end in itself but a means towards achieving learning goals and objectives’. Effective instructional video is not television-to-student instruction but rather teacher-to-student instruction, with video as a vehicle of discovery (Kwan, 2008).

I would use this video clip at the start of the learning experience to engage my learners and to generate a discussion for the next part of the lesson. The Learning Design process states that resources and supports can be specific to an activity. They can be introduced before beginning an activity or when an activity is complete (AUTC, 2003). This video would support the learners in conducting their tasks in the future lessons.

Resources

AUTC. (2003). Learning Design. Accessed 10th August, 2009, from http://www.learningdesigns.uow.edu.au/project/learn_design.htm

Kwan, R., Fox, R & Chan, F (2008) Enhancing Learning through Technology: World Scientific Publishing, London.

Schools Resourcing Taskforce (2008) Using YouTube: Accessed on the 12th August 2009; http://www.smartcopying.edu.au/scw/go/cache/offonce/pid/855;jsessionid=B5A2CC5682A29F6E8ACEDCF6F3FADC87

YouTube (2009) Natural Disasters and Human Dignity: Accessed on the 11th August 2009; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7u5APs_G2W0