Kids love videos...

I think no matter how dull the video, YouTube, DVD or movie clip may be, students always seem to get excited as the prospect of watching them! Videos will always have a place in the classroom providing they serve a difinitive purpose and are explicitly linked to the content being delivered. I am a big fan of using vidoes in my lessons particularly for Business Education as the theory work can become very dry and boring after a while (particularly with junior learners). A the moment my learning site has the ClickView program which I am continually looking to for videos/clips that relate to the content I am teaching. This is such a valuable resource as it provides a plethora of clips to choose from according to the subject area and comes with teacher support materials as well. Refer to ClickView's website (http://www.clickview.com.au/home.php) for further information on this technology (it is currently on trial at my learning site so it may not be available in all schools).

According to Oliver's ICT Learning Design Theory (1999), technology integrated into pedagogy is only effective if adequate scaffolding and support systems are offered. This is a very true statement as the use of video clips in the classroom needs to be supported by preparation or follow-up activities or activities conducted before or throughout the viewing of the clip (worksheet, note taking etc.)

The above clip is a video that I would use next term with Year 12 Geography in terms of introducing the class to several green renewable energy technologies. Videos are an effective way to break up the vocal (teacher) explantions in regards to the declarative knowledge content.

References:

ExcessOEnergy 2009, Solar and Wind Power: Renewable Energy Sources, viewed 6 August 2009, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3TUTfy1n60.

Oliver, R 1999, Learning Design: The Learning Design Construct, viewed 9 August 2009, http://www.learningdesigns.uow.edu.au/project/learn_design.htm.