YouTube

Here is a YouTube clip that I have already used as part of my pegagogy with my Year 8 SOSE class. We are currently studying a small unit on Natural Disasters and I used this clip to introduce and explain the concept of tectonic plates and continental drift theory. The class actively engaged with the clip as they were able to recall (in their own words) the key elements concerned with tectonic plates and the role they play in causing earthquakes and volcanoes.

By scaffolding the students' learning via the use of an ICT (YouTube clip) I was essentially conforming to Oliver's notion of using resources to firstly scaffold the learning journey which then equips students with the knowledge necessary to complete task (Oliver, 1999).



YouTube is a very powerful tool to embed in classroom practice as it sparks intial interest and students can readily relate to the format. However, it is important no to over-use the tool as students may become bored with continued use (as with any teaching strategy).


Reference:
Freudiger, M 2009, The Early Earth and Plate Tectonics, viewed 4 August 2009, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QDqskltCixA.

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