YouTube should be used as a media for learning because it brings access to a global network of learning available from any laptop or mobile device. There are numerous pros to incorporating video into the classroom. In my Masters program, YouTube has been used to view videos for discussion boards or for reference material on assignments. It has been effective in viewing and reviewing information to create my analysis on my own schedule. In addition, as a corporate trainer, I try to incorporate YouTube videos to keep the attention of my young employees. The best part about YouTube is that anyone can post a video, novice to expert.
As educators, we need to be prepared to teach students how to evaluate a video for accuracy, content and expertise. The downside to YouTube is that it is blocked from many work computers through broad security networks to prevent employees from accessing the technology during class or work hours. As a trainer, this limits the access to material while at work, and requires preplanning or instructing employees to view on mobile devices. Another con for YouTube is students is they need to be prepared to filter through numerous videos before citing one as a reference work.
The following list includes three great examples of learning and one poor example and how it can work for educational purposes:
A great example of this is How to Tie a Bow Tie (Howcast Media, 2009). The video has very simple step-by-step instructions. Below the video there is text to read or print if you need to refer back, but it does not overwhelm the learner at the same time. This Media group has numerous How To videos that can be viewed to help learn specific instructions.
Large corporations can use YouTube to teach retailers, customers and build excitement about their new products. Cisco created a video regarding a new shopping technology and their sales video is an excellent example of using graphics and audio to describe and teach. The Future of Shopping video (Ciscovid, 2010) is fun to watch and easily shows the consumer how their product will work.
Another good example of this is, How to Build a Peephole (BarbarasWay, 2009). The narrator has good graphics, simple text and a narrative that informs without overwhelming. This celebrity has a series that can be viewed to learn on a variety of topics.
Conversely, the video, How to Change Your Appearance in Second Life (Torley, 2007), is a negative example of using video for education. The intense music throughout the video, the author’s narration and complicated screen graphics distracts from easily understanding how change the avatar appearance. In this case, the learner is inundated with too much sensory information and it is difficult to follow the instructions. It could be modified to remove the music and have the narrator state simple sentences to describe how to change the appearance.
Educators should incorporate YouTube videos, but need to be preparing students to understand that “just because you can Google it, does not make it valid or accurate.” Helping them understand how to review, cross reference and corroborate sources, will give them tools to survive the new Web 2.0 and access to millions of pieces of information.
References:
BarbarasWay. (Producer). (2009). How to Install a peephole. [Web]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vx4VBzIgwfg&feature=pyv&ad=4771626639&kw=how-to
Ciscovid. (Producer). (2010). Future of shopping. [Web]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jDi0FNcaock&NR=1
Howcast Media. (Producer). (2009). How to tie a bow tie. [Web]. Retrieved from http://www.howcast.com/videos/430-How-To-Tie-a-Bow-Tie?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+HowcastStyle+%28Howcast+Style%29
Torley. (Producer). (2007). How to Change your appearance in second life tutorial. [Web]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqbuMi5N97c
this is interesting
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