Thing 22: You Tube and Video Fun

I love You Tube...it is where I first saw a woman singing "A Mother's Song" and I laughed so hard...then I laughed even harder when my husband and childhood friends posted a homemade version of the music video Panama by Van Halen they made back in 1985 when they were 15...HILARIOUS!!!! Seeing them act it out exactly like Van Halen was priceless!! Finding interesting videos, songs and movies makes things interesting and gives me a sense of what is out there.

I found Teacher Tube to be interesting too...what a great way to share videos with the class. And what a great way to produce videos for class use as well. I love the fact that there is an opportunity to review work...giving instant feedback!

I began video taping reader's theaters and book talks back when we had the old VHS video cameras. I would tape and then let each child take home the video for the night to share with family and friends. Then, came the digital video...I have one of those and taped literature circles for a presentation to the school board as well as a team of 3rd grade teachers meeting together for a CASL (professional learning network) meeting. I am planning on using that for professional development in the fall.

I think anytime we use video to share things with our students or staff, it is a powerful piece of real time happenings. What a great way to model teaching practice or share what we have learned.

You Tube is banned in our district. Like all things, you need to protect the students. But I have mixed feelings about banning things. I think with appropriate support and guidelines, it could be useful. There are always going to be kids that find a way around things...they have been doing it forever...way back in Junior High, smoking was banned from the bathrooms...but some kids still did it. I think part of the solution lies in bringing people to the table and establishing trust and holding each other accountable.

As for the Van Halen video...it got pulled after getting thousands of hits...apparently it violated copyright laws as it had the David Lee Roth and Eddie Van Halen's clips intertwined....but it had a great run (and thankfully, I have a back up DVD at home). And....got rave reviews as well!! Rock on You Tube!!!