Using YouTube in Education

There are many ways to use YouTube for all ages in education:

• For Preschool children:  Learning their ABCs, 123s in English and Spanish.  Have the children recite their learning of these things while taking a video of them.  Then they can watch it and feel very proud of their accomplishment. It will build up their confidence and help them become comfortable with being video tapped at a young age.  Often preschoolers love to be "on stage" and are not "self conscious" yet.  In addition, parents can view the video and see the progress the children are making in school.
• YouTube has its own Education channel - which has categories in which to search and find the most interesting videos for classroom learning.  Here are a few really neat videos that are less than two minutes and would really enhance a lecture and would be great for posting on a class wiki or blog:
• Science Class:
• AP Biology: Learn The Moss Life Cycle
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lr4CjPMO80&feature=related
• DNA Structure: 
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qy8dk5iS1f0&feature=related
•  Social Studies:
• Learning the 50 States:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyqUKVORGLc
• Schoolhouse Rock- How a Bill Becomes a Law (I remember seeing this when I was a child and I always remembered the process of a bill becoming a law after watching it) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEJL2Uuv-oQ     

• Here is a PDF file that is loaded with technical tips on using YouTube videos in education.  It details the steps for embedding the videos in a webpage - like a blog or a wiki, so that it safeguards the students from having to watch the video on YouTube.  Here is the URL:
  techforschools.com/handouts/youtubeineducation.pdf 

Podcasting in Education

In computer training and education, podcasting can be a very useful tool to enhance students learning. 

• Podcasting is great for "chucking" small amounts of learning at a time. It allows for the student to select the podcast for the content they want. 
• Podcasting is also great for learning on the go.  This might sound bad at first, but we all know that the best way to learn something is to hear it over and over again.  While the students can listen to a lecture while watching in class or taking notes with a PowerPoint, they have a lot to gain by listening to the lecture again while driving home, exercising, yard work, etc.

So, the real power of podcasting is the ability to listen again and again to a short or long lecture. This is especially helpful for more difficult material.  The student can pause the podcast, rewind and listen again while working on a problem or solidifying the learning of concepts or steps. 

Here are a few websites that are helpful in using Podcasting in Education:

• Apple in Education:  http://www.apple.com/education/podcasting/
• There’s Something in the Air: Podcasting in Education http://www.educause.edu/EDUCAUSE+Review/EDUCAUSEReviewMagazineVolume40/TheresSomethingintheAirPodcast/158014