Video in the Classroom

I read a blog entry called "Caught on Video" by Bob Sparkle, and let me tell you... what an amazing blog post! It was packed with ideas on how video could be used in the classroom. I never thought of video being useful in the classroom, but what an incredible idea! Why did I not think of that myself? Here are some ideas that I took and grappled with for awhile. I added my own little spin on a few of them!

• You could create a video of instruction to give to a substitute teacher; rather than a boring typed up (possibly confusing) lesson plan. Instruction is communicated more clearly when a person can see and hear it from the teacher.
• Weekly newsvideos (aka newsletters) can be recorded and posted to the class website or class blog. I loved this idea from Bob Sparkle's blog. Adding to it, I think that it would be brilliant to have the children present the information on the video. The teacher could give each student a sentence to say about upcoming events or important news. What a much more effective and exciting way to get parents involved with what is going on in the classroom and at school!
• Also, what a great idea to film short video clips of how each child feels on the first day of school. This could be compiled into a video and placed into the class portfolio online for parents to view. It also could help students with growth in their struggles by viewing this video at the end of the year.
• Another great way to communicate with parents through video is to send snip-its of the day in an email to parents. Its quick and simple, and the parents would absolutely love it!
• Videos can be used to inform absent students of what they missed that day during school. Important lesson highlights can be filmed and placed on the class website, class blog, or sent through email
• This was my favorite idea! Create an end of the year video featuring the students. what they learned during the year, and what they enjoyed most of the year. It would serve as a video time capsule. This could be viewed on the last day of school during the party. What a great memory to have. Many CDs could be burned for each student to take home a copy with them.
• Finally, have the students record classroom rules and routines for students coming into your classroom next year. It is a quick and exciting way for students to learn your ways of the classroom through their peers.

I will definitely be using video in my classroom. It is something that I had never thought of before, but now I am so inspired to make it useful.