YouTube

YouTube 

The global phenomenon known as 'YouTube' is a video sharing website, that surprisingly, was created just 4 short years ago. This advance in technology has grown at such a rapid rate, that millions of viewers upload and share their work each and every day. 

An aspect of YouTube that must be considered when incorporating into classroom practice, is that of safety. Up until deeper investigations into YouTube,  i was unaware that since its inception many countries, including China, Morocco and Thailand, have actually blocked it from being used. The reasons behind these actions have usually been security based. In order to ensure the content of the film, including advertisements and related comments, is appropriate for our students, a program entitled KeepVid can be downloaded. KeepVid allows the learning manager to save and store selected YouTube videos prior to the lesson and also reduces the problem of limited accessibility. 

YouTube and TeacherTube (a site that caters specifically for education purposes) are a bank of information and knowledge for learning managers to use in the classroom. However, it must be acknowledged that when incorporating such technologies, the learning manager must develop pedagogical strategies that ensure the learning is at the centre of the activity (Smith, Lynch & Knight, 2007).

The following video is one that i have used while teaching my year 4/5/6 cohort, about Medieval Feudalism. It provides a brief introduction to feudalism, what it was and why it evolved.  

The video explains the new system of rule, starting with the Kings, Lords, Knights and finally to the Peasants. Students have previously been allocated  these roles in groups, which they will then research further in order to participate in a collaborative role-play in a culminating context. Kearsley and Shneiderman (1999) suggest these learning activities can be summarized by the three components of 'the engagement theory', Relate-Create-Donate.

Relate: Students work collaboratively in their groups to research their characters. They must investigate their role, costumes and their particular skills or profession.

Create: Students work collaboratively as a class, to focus their efforts on creating a reenactment of how the feudalism system worked in medieval days. 

Donate: Students perform the reenactment at our medieval fair to an audience. 

Tools such as YouTube and TeacherTube provide opportunities for learning managers to plan and implement learning experiences that can engage learners within a connected environment (Siemens, 2004).  

Unitl next time,

Kerri.

References:

Kearsley, G., Shneiderman, B., (1999). Engagement Theory: A framework for technology-based teaching and learning. Retrieved July 18, 2009, from http://home.sprynet.com/~gkearsley/engage.htm

Siemens, G. (2004). Citing computer references. Retrieved July 18, 2009, from http://www.elearnspace.org/Articles/connectivesm.htm

Smith, R., Lynch, D. & Knight, B.A. (2007). Learning Management: Transitioning teachers for national and international change. Frenchs Forest, NSW, Australia: Pearson Education Australia.