Videos in th Classroom

Our video was about texting while driving. I think this a huge issue in today's world. Too many people, mostly teens, are driving while texting. While making this video I found it to be a very fun and exciting way to bring information to the class. It allowed us to be creative and informative at the same time. Here are some pros and cons of using videos in the classroom:

Pros

• Allows students to be creative
• Is a new way to present information to your students
• Allows the students to present information to you in a different way
• Gets students out of their "comfort zone"
• Allows students personality and character to come out that you may not see in a regular classroom setting

Cons

• May be frustrating or unappealing to students who are shy and do not like to be on video
• As a teacher you may have to take extra time out of your schedule to teach students how to edit
• Editing can become tricky and too hard for students in younger grades
• Technology isn't always guaranteed to run smoothly so you must have a back up plan if something goes wrong

I think that overall allowing students to make videos for projects and even incorporating your own videos into your lessons will help to enhance your classroom. There are some downfalls to using videos but there are going to be down falls and obstacles in everything you do when you are teaching.

Ways to incorporate videos into your classroom:

Instruction: 

• A new and exciting way to present information to students or to instruct something is by video.  You can make a video of step by step instructions of a science experiment so as they are doing it they can watch the video and you can be walking around helping students at the same time....it's like being at two places at the same time.  Another way videos can help with instruction is if you have to be absent for class one day.  Some times teachers just give the substitute busy work for the kids to do while they are gone instead of teaching a lesson.  If you knew you were going to be absent you could make a video of yourself doing the lesson so the students could watch while you are gone. 

Assessment:

• Videos can always be used to assess your students.  Students can learn about a subject and then make a short video about what they've learned.  They can do things such as short movies, news clips, songs or even dances to show what they've learned.

Communication:

• Communication is a huge part of being a teacher.  Whether it be between you and your students or you and the parents.  One way I thought of using videos to communicate with students is when they are sick.  Students are bound to be sick at some point during the year and an easy way to keep them up to date on class to they do not fall behind is by video taping your class times so they can watch them at home.  A way to use videos to communicate with parents is by making a short video for them to watch at the end of each month of the things the students have learned in class.  Parents love things like that!