This site works to make learning fun and engaging. There are several educational topics for all grades. This library of teacher and student videos addresses learning strategies in many ways. It encourages students and teachers to produce short videos to explain educational topics. That's the key word here...SHORT! Most of the videos were less than 2 mins. long, some were about 5 mins. long. They were interesting and to the point.
These can be used to generate writing topics, to initiate group discussions, and sharing knowledge in a safe way using the Internet.
Tina,
ReplyDeleteI was intrigued by your post on NextVista.org. You said, “…It encourages students and teachers to produce short videos to explain educational topics.” I was curious if you could also create in this site, but I now see that it is a collection point for teachers that want to submit videos. This is an excellent example of something that Clay Shirky mentioned in the class video, "…every URL is a latent community." This site points to the direction of collaboration. I found it a bit lacking in the areas performing arts, much more in visual arts and technology. Math had the most, I did find a song on prime numbers, just need to figure out how to include that with ¾ time signatures! These sites can spark creative challenges, an important part of 21st century learning.
http://www.nextvista.org/prime-numbers-song/
ReplyDeleteIn case you wanted to hear!
Liz, I agree that it was lacking some topics, but just think what we could get our students to add to this sparse site!!! There would be little to no competition like there is in YouTube. I also like the idea that these videos are limited in time.
ReplyDeleteThanks!
Liz, I went to the prime number song..ok it's cute. I wonder if the 5th graders will sing along? I'll try it tomorrow and let you know. I was mostly looking at the language/literature pages. You can tell they are made by students and those are good too. I used the similes and homophones ones the other day. The basic comment was, "I can do that kind of thing too!" So, guess what's in line for next week's plans? Yep.. videos on "something" I don't know what, it's their choice. I told them to be thinking about what they understood the best and we'd try out making a video and posting it.
ReplyDelete