Online Video

http://www.watchknowlearn.org/Video.aspx?VideoID=27129&CategoryID=540

This is the link to my first video on ancient civilizations.  It would be useful as a quick introduction to this civilization because it is short and the information is relevant and to the point.  The facts are presented point by point so it is easy to understand and remember. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5RP2KfewiJA

My second link is to you tube and is to a video clip of irrigation in ancient Mesopotamia.  I would use this video once in the part of the unit where we came to irrigation and agriculture.  The students would already have some background information about this society so it would be used to reinforce and supplement what they already know.  It could lead into further inquiries about irrigation, such as what other societies use it and is it still used today. 

As a learning tool, videos are another way to accomodate different learning styles.  The visual and auditory learners would probably benefit most.  Watching a video clip can be more engaging than listening to a lecture depending on the clip itself.  It has to be a high quality video in order for it to be engaging.  One of the neat things it offers for my subject area, history and geography, is the chance to take a virtual trip to many wonders of the world.  The students will be able to see inside ancient ruiins and many more artifacts than they would from a standard textbook.  Using YouTube can be risky for example, when searching for videos for this blog post there were few inapproriate suggestions that came up at the end of the video that were in no way related to the search I typed in. 

I would consider putting up student videos on YouTube or a different more secure video hosting site.  I think that by allowing the students to contribute we are reinforcing the idea that our students need to be creators, not just consumers. Having a real authentic audience for the students work is important.  They are more likely to work harder on a project if they know that real people are going to be able to access and watch their videos. 

As a student I enjoyed watching the relevant modern videos in class as a learning tool, but there were always certain classess where you did not want to see video clips becuase they were really outdated and were no different from a lecture the teacher could have given. I would definitely use them as a resource in my class.

~ Carissa