Videos in the Classroom

     Isn't the world of technological advancements a wonderful thing? Teachers now have so many wonderful tools right at our fingertips. Many of these tools provide wonderful audio/visual cues to aid in helping our students receive an authentic experience while learning about new and unfamiliar subject areas. Of course some of this technology is better suited for the classroom. Other forms or websites may cause problems to arise.

     One such advancement in technology has been the creation of video websites. Through these websites, we can search videos, audio, user backgrounds, and even make our own videos. These tools are an invaluable part of lesson plans today. Three such websites are Youtube, Google Videos, and Teacher Tube. All three of these websites operate in fairly similar ways. However, there are some important differences to consider before using them.

     Youtube and google videos are more widely used by the general public. Therefore, just about anything and everything can be downloaded to these sites. Don't get me wrong. These sites contain wonderful videos and a wealth of valuable information. We just have to be extremely careful when using these sites, to keep from allowing our students to view inappropriate material.

     Teacher Tube, on the other hand, is a site made for teachers. It contains a wealth of valuable information, without the worries of accidentally exposing our students to inappropriate material. I definitely value Teacher Tube and plan to use it many times in my classroom. I have a unit in mind that covers Native American culture and Westward Expansion. I plan to show videos such as the Battle of Little Bighorn and many others dealing with the subject. Check out Teacher Tube. I think you will agree with me. It is a great tool.