Watch Out! Learning with Videos!
You walk into class, the teacher tells you he/she is going to show a film today that pertains to the content area. Your elated, thinking, there is nothing better than watching a movie in school...Well this is how I used to react when I was a student. Using videos in class has transformed from films to a plethora of different things. From video clips, to animation clips, to full videos, to compilations on YouTube, teachers can use video to enhance student learning. Besides we all know that students spend a large amount of time using entertainment media in the classroom. Why not have teachers use this student passion for entertainment media to improve the quality of education?
ADVANTAGES OF USING VIDEOS IN CLASS
(1) Motion: Having a moving picture compared to a still picture is both pleasing to the eye and better for learning.
(2) Risk-Free Observation: It is easier to view a film about World War II than to actually view war.
(3) Dramatizations: Video dramatizations can bring history alive.
(4) Effective Learning: Video can shape personal and social attitudes.
(5) Problem Solving: Video and dramatizations make students think about events and situations hopefully sparking some questions.
**I was going to write about the disadvantages, but let’s keep it positive**
I always start every unit with a video from PBS called Crash Course. These relatively short videos, 7 to 10 minutes, give a quick, but informative synopsis of certain topics. They are an excellent introduction to spark my students interest. Take a look at one of the videos I use in my Government class (Craig always knocks the eagle off the desk).
Did you notice the graphics, the animation, the witty banter by the host all intertwined in between the information. Here, the information is not lost in translation, rather, it is at the centerpiece of the video aided by all of the visual, animations, etc...
Works Cited
Mims, C., Lowther, D.L., Russell, J. D., Smaldino, S.E. (11th). (2015). Instructional Technology and Media for Learning. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education
Political Parties: Crash Course Government and Politics #40. (2015). Retrieved April 9, 2016, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VEmOUHxessE