How can YouTube be effectively and safely used within the classroom? Or should it even be used in schools?
For me the answer is a clear and resounding YES! YouTube should be used in the classrooms. It's the second only to Google as the most used search engine. It's a wealth of resources with experts and tutorials found all in one place. YouTube for schools makes it easy for schools to control just what the students can access. This means that you don't have to worry about them coming across something inappropriate or spending all of their time watching music videos. Because YouTube for schools removes the comments and suggested videos there is less to distract the students from the content you want them to see.
For me the answer is a clear and resounding YES! YouTube should be used in the classrooms. It's the second only to Google as the most used search engine. It's a wealth of resources with experts and tutorials found all in one place. YouTube for schools makes it easy for schools to control just what the students can access. This means that you don't have to worry about them coming across something inappropriate or spending all of their time watching music videos. Because YouTube for schools removes the comments and suggested videos there is less to distract the students from the content you want them to see.
YouTube can be beneficial for both individual and whole class instruction. Gone are the days that showing a video meant taking up the whole period, or multiple periods stretched over days if it was a full feature film. With YouTube you can show a short clip to hook your students in, or further demonstrate a point. On an individual level YouTube allows students to learn at their own pace. Students can't rewind or pause an instructor unless of course that teacher is talking to them from a video. That means that students can move at their own pace. If they need further clarification the "real" teacher is there to help. If students already understand the concept they can move past it quickly.
Let's not forget that we can learn things too.
Let's not forget that we can learn things too.
Happy YouTube-ing.