I have been participating in the #blogamonth challenge since January 1, 2014. I needed a “push” to keep me blogging, or so I thought. Then I realized, through the #blogamonth website I had more material to work from than I ever thought “worthy.” Which brings me to my first “video” that I share with teachers, administrators, parents, students and, frankly, anyone.
Obvious to You, Amazing to Others by Derek Sivers 1
I most often use this video when helping students brainstorm ideas for Genius Hour, but what I am finding that this video is powerful at encouraging teachers and administrators to take risks and collaborate more transparently, move from lurker to participant on Social Media when utilized for professional development. I believe it may even be a catalyst for “closet bloggers” who have blog posts and even private blog sites but never make them public.
The second video was shared with me two years ago by my very progressive and forward thinking principal Michael Griffin (now Executive Director of Elementary Education in my district). This completely changed the way teachers on my campus and my grade level team approached instruction. Interesting enough, this same video was shared with my newly formed Instructional Technology Team at the inception of the 2013-14 year to help guide our focus as we moved forward to re-define instructional technology, first for our district, and secondly globally.
Simon Sinek: How great leaders inspire action 2
Finally, I would not be who I say I am if I did not include this final video. Often the best videos are the ones that our own students create. The video I am sharing is a math tutorial video created by a student on one of the campuses I support. The crafting of the video, the variety of technology utilized and the level of engagement it demands of it’s audience makes it exceptional conceptually and technologically. I use this as a way to share with teachers what students can do when they are given the freedom of choice and the content is evaluated rather than tool focused.
“Expert Math Project” by a 7th Grade Math Student
As a reflection, videos I select serve the purpose of learning to inspire, question and challenge. If a video does not create a sense of urgency to be better, do better and create a passion for learning then it shouldn’t be shown; but in turn creates an opportunity for new, more dynamic videos to be created by us or, even more likely, our students.
How are you using the Power of Video to deliver your message, or even more, how are your students taking the learning goals presented to them to showcase their learning in a way so powerful others can learn as well?
1 “Obvious to you. Amazing to others. – by Derek Sivers – YouTube.” 2011. 2 Mar. 2014 <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xcmI5SSQLmE>
2 “Simon Sinek: How great leaders inspire action | Video on TED.com.” 2010. 3 Mar. 2014 <http://www.ted.com/talks/simon_sinek_how_great_leaders_inspire_action.html>
The Bulldog Educator 
Great post! I’m just starting to get into using videos, and having students create videos, in my courses. I’m even thinking about doing a vlog for my March #blogamonth entry, but it’s turning out to be scarier than I thought! For teaching, I struggle with the idea that what I *do* make *should* be different (if not better) than what’s already out there… and how do I make sure that it is?
I wanted to share a post I did on my students’ video projects last semester where they had to demonstrate one of the learning goals from the course through a teaching video that will be used for teaching my math students this semester. It was a lot of fun (for them and for me!) and they got a lot out of it!
http://byodasap.blogspot.ca/2014/01/the-student-becomes-teacher-video.html
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It is very daunting. I started small using goanimate.com to introduce a lesson or read a portion of text. I also left videos on days I had training and had a sub… the kids and the sub loved it. That is how I got my feet wet and gained my confidence. I still don’t like my voice, but I know that my teachers and students I support feel it is more personal than using the content already out there… even if it isn’t as good, different or better. Just go for it… it will get easier.
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