Considering the use of multimedia in the classroom

You Tube and its ability to enhance learning.

You Tube, the newest contributor to enhancing teaching and learning can fulfill both the educational and motivational components of the learning process (Duffy, 2008), replacing “passive learning with active participation” (Educause, 2006). You Tube, ‘the tool of the future’ (Bonk, 2008) has the potential to take what once went on behind classroom doors and turn it into a public art forum (Young, 2008). The video clips provide both verbal and visual channels ( Bonk,2008) and as one student reports “watching the video clips reinforces the material into my memory” (Cardine,2008, par 1).

For example, the grade 9 science curriculum requires students to understand chemical reactions; I use a behaviorist approach to teach the concepts, reinforce it in a constructivist nature via lab activities and wow them by showing them You Tube videos such as http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nVScZntPksw

The availability of and access to educational videos can enhance traditional learning (Bonk,2008), tailoring traditional education to a more modern age (Cardine,2008). Due to the lack of authority imposed on You Tube sites, users, especially educators must act as their own gatekeepers ensuring the validity of its content (Lees & Smithhouser, n.d).

References:

Bonk,C. J.(2008). You Tube Anchors and Enders: The Use of Shared Online Video
Content as a Macrocontext for Learning. Retrieved October9,2008 from http://74.125.95.104/search?q=cache:znYbopJNIZgJ:www.publicationshare.com/SFX7EED.pdf+Youtube+Anchors+and+Enders:+The+Use+of+Shared+Online+Video&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=ca&client=firefox-a

Cardine, S. (2008). Education ready for You Tube? Converge online. Retrieved October
11, 2008 from http://www.convergemag.com/story.php?catid=231&storyid=107591


Duffy, P.(n.d.). Engaging the YouTube Google-Eyed Generation: Strategies for using
Web 2.0 in Teaching and Learning. The Electronic Journal of e-Learning 6(2), 119-130. Retrieved October 10,2008 from www.ejel.org

Educause Learning Initiative. (2006) & things you should know about YouTube, Retrieved October 12,2008 from
http://net.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/ELI7018.pdf

Lees,J. Smithouser,B.(n.d). Is You Tube User friendly? Retrieves October 9,2008 from http://www.focusonthefamily.com/parenting/protecting_your_family/is_youtube_userfriendly.aspx
Young, J. (2008) The Education Digest, you tube professors, scholar as online video
stars. 73(9,) 14-16.