Thing 13-You Tube

I never thought I was cool enough to warrant having a You Tube channel, but while taking my first technology class with HBU, I learned that You Tube has a place for everyone.  My channel made me a much more awesome mom and teacher.   Boys are just motivated to work harder when they find out their teacher has her own channel, even if that teacher is kind of old, like their grandmas.  My first video was a teacher's guide to using Animoto.  I liked this video because I learned to use Screen-Cast-O-Matic and didn't actually have to show my face.  After learning this program, I was able to use it for providing oral accommodations for students for classroom tests and benchmark exams.

In that same class, I was forced to make a tEASE.  Although I found it to be an extremely stressful project initially, once I got started, I had so much fun.  So much fun in fact, that I've made one as an anticipatory set for nearly every special writing unit.  The kids love it!  This week, I have used i Movie to build a tEASE to accompany a research unit for some of my gifted student. I will use pictures of endangered animals to help students become emotionally involved in the topic, while posting thought questions for them to contemplate and to promote discussion.  You Tube provides me with an easy storage and access point with which to share my video.

By the time the project is underway, students will have the option of using Movie Maker, Animoto, or PowToons to present their own ideas.  Some may even manage to get their own You Tube channels started.

Animoto for Educators

Endangered Animals Research Unit