Why Should Educators Use Videos in the Classroom?

There are many reasons educators use videos in the classroom. I think that the use of videos are important for learning because they help students retain more information, understand concepts more rapidly and are far more engaged and enthusiastic about what they are learning. With the amount of technology in today's world, videos are a key component in helping students make connections between topics covered in class and the outside world.

In all of my placements (Physical Education and in a classroom) I have used videos to enhance the learning rate of my students. Although I used the videos for basic teaching there are other ways I would feel comfortable using them now, with more experience.

Videos in the classroom are great for impossible or virtual field trips, meeting people around the world, abstract concepts, understanding habitats, showing hazardous experiments, Skype in authors, musicians or celebrities, and listening to music. By using videos in the classroom, educators are better able to reach all children with a variety of learning styles, especially visual learners, practice netiquette and cyber safety, engage students in activities, provide a common experience for students to discuss and re-watch, and help students engage in critical literacy and media viewing skills. Although some of these ideas would not be successful in an early years class, most of them can be used in many grades.



The first video is from Bill Nye and is on sound. I would use bits of this clip with my students to show them different aspects of sound. 

The second video is a song on the rock cycle. I used this with my students after they had some experience with rocks and minerals. Using music and song in the classroom helps target all learners and is a great way for most students to retain information.