Thanks for joining us for Chapter 7 of the Teaching in the Digital Age book study. In this chapter we will discuss Using Video Snapshots to Support Inquiry and Expand Classroom Walls. If you’re new to the book study you can find all the details HERE.
I was really looking forward to this chapter because I knew Brian would have lots of ideas for using videos to support learning in the classroom. Too often videos are used to entertain children and not to enhance learning. Brian carefully explains a wide variety of ways you can use video appropriately in the classroom.
“Videos are only a springboard; their true value emerges in postviewing activities.”
Using videos as virtual field trips
In a perfect world we could have all the field trips we want, but we would still be limited to places within a certain distance from the school. This video below is a virtual field trip to Flamingo Gardens in Florida. With virtual field trips you can go anywhere you want, any time without the hassle of permission forms, frequent bathroom breaks, and motion sickness on the bus!
Check out these classic field trips with Mr. Rogers!
“…if you use television or videos, use them in intentional or meaningful ways.”
Using videos to conduct research
Brian describes a study of Japan his students conducted using videos to research Japanese culture. There are many videos on YouTube of children’s authors reading their books. I think these would be great ways to start author studies and familiarize students with authors.
Using videos to assess the effectiveness of our teaching
I have used a digital video camera to record myself teaching a lesson many times. Sometimes my goal is to evaluate myself and look for certain things such as clearly stated objectives and learning goals or appropriate wait time. Other times the videos are used for the purpose of mentoring teachers who may not be able to visit my classroom as often as necessary. I have also worked with teachers who used videos as a way of sharing teaching strategies with colleagues. Each teacher recorded themselves teaching a particular strategy they felt had helped their students and then shared it with staff. This eliminated the need to spend a lot of time out of the classroom traveling from room to room and getting substitute coverage. Video recordings of best teaching practices and strategies can be very powerful learning and teaching tools for professional development.
Using videos to exhibit learning
Recording your students acting out familiar stories is a great way to gather evidence of learning. Since I work with Second Language Learners and often children with special needs, videos can play an important role in demonstrating a child’s progress. When I record stories I often play the part of the narrator to scaffold for success if necessary. When students who are learning English or have difficulty with receptive or expressive language participate in these activities it is easy to demonstrate growth as they listen and act out the story.
Using videos in science
Brian discusses the benefits of using videos to introduce science experiments to children. Steve Spangler has many great science videos on YouTube that can be used in the classroom. Before you say, “But YouTube is blocked at my school!” here’s a simple fix. Copy the URL of the video you would like to show. Go to www.keepvid.com and paste the URL into the box at the top that says “enter video URL here.” Then, click “download” immediately to the right of the box where you typed the URL. Do not click on any of the other things on the screen, they are all advertisements. Your video will download and you can select which version you would like to save to your computer or jump drive.
I suggest stopping the science experiment videos at certain points to explain what is happening and to ask children for their predictions. Don’t forget to ask “Why do you think that?” or “What makes you think that?” to get them to elaborate and explain their thinking.
How do you use videos to enhance learning in your classroom? Leave a comment below or link up via the linky.
Stay Tuned!
Next week, Karen from Prekinders will be discussing Chapter 8, Multi-Touch Mobile Devices Bring the World to our Fingertips.