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Videos, Blogs, and Podcasts in Education

Videos in the Classroom by Angie Hunt
     Who doesn’t like to watch a video especially during school?  Education has tried to use video technology since 1925, and it appears that it should continue to be integrated in the classroom.  As a teacher librarian who uses video with just about any lesson, I see students retain more information, understand concepts more rapidly and are more enthusiastic about what they are learning. With video as one component in a thoughtful lesson plan, students often make new connections between curriculum topics and discover links between these topics and the world outside the classroom.

     On a recent blog post of We Are Teachers discussing The headline, “Why We’re Teaching Reading Comprehension in a Way That Doesn’t Work,” raised some hackles, but the premise is a sound one. Knowing more about a topic makes reading about it easier.  The post listed 21 ways to build background knowledge and 5 of the ways were to use technology. Number #15 on the list was using videos. I love using a short video to introduce a topic or connect the students more to what we are reading from baby ducklings imprinting, grizzly bears catching salmon, or the most interesting animals in the rainforest.  There is not a limit in resources available that can bring the outside world into our classrooms. Not only can and should we use videos to enhance and engage our teaching but then there are apps that let our students create and share their learning making their own videos. A recent Pearson study found that a majority of Generation Z kids prefer learning from YouTube and videos rather than printed books. Fifty-five percent of them also said that YouTube has contributed to their education. There is no shortage of references and articles that support using videos as one of your tools for integrating technology. There are many online resources to find great tools, tips, and strategies for helping to foster both of these essential media-literacy skills. Included here are more ideas and teaching strategies at  Common Sense Education and see Education Week Teacher: The Best Ways to Use Video in Class

Integrating Blogs and Vlogs by Michaela Ibrahim
     Portfolios, discussions, journals, oh my! There are so many ways in which a teacher and/or a student could use a blog tool in class. In an English class, a teacher could ask students to upload their best writing work and submit a portfolio at the end of the year. A Science teacher could have students reflect on their findings from each experiment. A History teacher could have students conduct research on a specific topic for each unit and create a blog filled with resources for other students to peruse. While learning the content, students are also learning other skills such as writing, editing, style/voice, commenting, organizing information digitally, and sifting through information. Aren’t quite convinced? Take a look at 6 more powerful benefits of blogging! The bottom line is this: blogs create a digital space that connects the student’s year long learning; not only that, but they also are able to continually revise their content and hold discussions about their content via the comments section on each post making it easy for students to digest material together.

     We’ve already established some possible ways to use blogs in English, History, and Science, but what about Math? Mathematicians, allow me to introduce you to Vlogs (video blogs). Teachers can use Youtube or a blog website like Blogger or Edublogs to post videos that present material to students just as a blog would. The best part about it is you can easily record each step of the equation without having to use any fancy tools besides a video recorder (whether it be on your phone, camera, or computer). As for the students, have them create a vlog that teaches others how to answer an equation! They can comment to one another or take turns teaching classmates through their videos, and the classmates can respond. This can really be applied to any subject. And when you think about it, teaching is the best way to learn the material after all!

Making Podcasts Meaningful in Teaching - Jane McKee
     What are Podcasts, and why should we use them?  Podcasts include such things as stories, TED talks, current events, history, sports, and entertainment themed around a particular topic. Podcasts are a great way to provide students with access to new information, differing opinions, or a fresh look at old information on a topic of interest.  Pre-made Podcasts, which can be found on the internet, may be used to introduce a new topic, stimulate a discussion, or offer the chance for student comment or reflection.  Podcasts can also increase student literacy.  Podcasts may be created by students, allowing wonderful opportunities for research, collaboration, creativity, revision, and communication with a broader, global audience.  Podcasts can play an important role in preparing students for success beyond the classroom.


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