Questions & Answers

1. Does TeacherTube contain material that is inappropriate for the classroom?
    No, it only contains classroom-appropriate content

2. What is the first step in creating a digital story before working with the technology?
    Writing an initial script and create a storyboard

3. Why is YouTube blocked in some schools?
    Because it contains some inappropriate content for classrooms.

4. Is TeacherTube and YouTube free?
   Yes

5. Can anyone access TeacherTube and YouTube?
   Yes, as long as you have access to the internet

TeacherTube

It was quite difficult to find an article on this topic, but I was able to find one that caters to the basic need of explaining what it is and why its great for education. Basically, TeacherTube is a "free online teacher community for posting and viewing educator-made instructional videos." One benefit that TeacherTube has over YouTube is that it does not conatin material that is inapproprate for the classroom. TeacherTube is actually full of education-ready material that the students can watch and even create. Whatever is posted on TeacherTube has to meet a certain learning objective which makes it a very useful tool for students and teachers as well as parents who practice with their children at home. One other advantage for TeacherTube is that no commercials or advertisements are allowed, which makes it a free space for kids to just learn.

I will definitly be using this tool in my classroom to teach students as we are moving into a different stage where our children will only know technology and need to be ready to face every form of it.

TeacherTube, the YouTube for Educators. (2007). District Administration, 43(5), 22. Retrieved from EBSCOhost.

YouTube

This article was great for what I was looking for which was how YouTube can be used in the classroom. The article gave very valid points like YouTube being faster than having to check out a book from the library to explain a concept like "nostalgia". In this example, students were able to go on YouTube and look up episodes or clips of old TV shows which struck up a conversation between the students about old favorite TV shows,leading them into demonstrating "nostalgia".

In the article, it does explain that YouTube contains material that is not appropriate for school, but it also explains how there are allternative tools like StudentTube and TeacherTube. A valid point is made when the author includes "I understand why teachers and principals don't like YouTube being available for students to use. There are different videos in YouTube that are not suitable for kids to view. But, I think teacher should be able to access it because there are a lot of educational videos that are in YouTube. But if no one can get into it then all of the educational value is lost. (Madison, blog post)".

Personally, I think that schools need to find a better way of filtering this site, as clearly, it is a useful tool for the classroom. I am sure that most of us who are becoming teachers would agree.

Mullen, R., & Wedwick, L. (2008). Avoiding the Digital Abyss: Getting Started in the Classroom with YouTube, Digital Stories, and Blogs. Clearing House, 82(2), 66-69. Retrieved from EBSCOhost.