Journal #3

Video In The Age Of Participation
By Glen Bull

This article was on the idea of digital video and how it’s uses are becoming easier and easier to access for educators. Before, teachers would have to rent movies and decide which clip would be useful for their classroom. But, this option made it difficult for teachers to know how much time should be allotted, and what clip would be most helpful. The problem with some classrooms is that much of the material is textbook based. Educators like to bring in some sort of excitement to help the material come alive. Using videos is an excellent way to do this, but choosing the correct clip is the difficult part. Teachers shouldn’t have to spend time searching and searching and rewinding and fast forwarding. Nowadays, in the new world of digital recording and sharing, many clips are accessible and easy to use in the classroom. For example, KPBS and the Discovery Channel make their clips available in a way that fits the school’s framework. In the age of participation, segments are shorter so that they can be incorporated more easily. Educators are also able to cut, edit, and remix clips so they can be better formatted for their classes. A few questions to ponder:

1. Should video material be used in the classroom to help facilitate learning?
Yes, it is important for video to be used in the classroom. Not every student is an audio learner. Many students are visual, kinesthetic, etc. type of learners. Therefore, not only textbooks can be relied upon for student learning. If educators are given the opportunity to teach their students using technology and video, it might accommodate students better.

2. Should teachers be educated on new technology?
Yes, teachers should be given the opportunity to learn about new technology. They can be more effective in sharing videos if they are knowledgeable on editing and remixing. They can make their lectures more interesting, and they can engage the students if they learn how to use the technology that is coming of age during the students’ generation.