Travel Diaries of a Web 2.0 Newbie

I’ve used YouTube videos before to introduce or illustrate different parts of my lessons, but quickly got frustrated by slow download speeds or videos that were “no longer available” (I have grown to hate that particular error message with a passion as I have trawled through YouTube’s content). So, finding out about Zamzar has been potentially sanity-preserving – spent most of this evening frantically downloading videos that actually were available.

The highlight of this Thing was a series of videos covering the basics of genetics, for which I happen to have been looking for new resources – just the background music in these clips is enough for me:

However, the note on the Thing 19 page about the fact that “copyright issues abound” does freak me out a little – how much of the good content on YouTube is user-generated and how much has just been taken from another source? One of the clips I used to use (Homer Simpson “evolving” set to Fatboy Slim’s “Right here, Right Now” music) is “no longer available” due to copyright issues. After posting the above clip, I looked around and found that it is from a company called 23andMe’s website (for $399 they offer to give you a custom genome scan if you spit into a tube for them). Will I now get their lawyers kicking down my door?

I have always been a little wary of using video programmes during lessons. While I like the images and visual perspective on a subject, I think students have a tendency to switch off and don’t get the full benefit of the content. I have the same reservations about using TeacherTube clips, but I suppose that if included in a carefully chosen format, they could play a useful role (as could videos). My tendency towards control-freakdom gets in the way here, and I usually end up thinking that I would do things differently and, unless I am desperate, that is usually what ends up happening. Need to let go of this trait.

I think I see most potential for actually creating video content in our class (although, again, mundane issues like timetables and exam schedules get in the way here). I have been really impressed by the style of the CommonCraft show videos and could see how this format need not require some animation design whiz to deliver useful video content (although I’m sure a lot more work goes into producing these videos than I can even begin to imagine). Videos like these would benefit students as they would have to be absolutely clear on the content in order to present it clearly and concisely, but it would also give free reign to the more creative types on how the content was delivered. Maybe it’s the sort of thing we could do as an after-school art&design/science crossover project, with the teacher taking the role of an executive producer?