1. Audio and video can easily be integrated into any curriculum. I find that I currently use video to and interactive tools in my courses, but I always feel like I could use more.
I like to use videos in a few different ways. I sometimes use videos to introduce a new topic and to get students thinking about the new information. Also, I sometimes post videos or links to videos for my students to review content from or to further their learning. I find that with many topics it is nice to have material presented in a number of ways and video is always a welcome way for students to learn.
Interactive websites are also a great way to work with video-like resources. Interactive tutorials, learning games, and review guides are great ways for some students to learn.
I have not used audio alone in my lessons very much, but I can see how audio can be beneficial. I like what I see in the ITunes University and podcasting. Students use Ipods and phones to listen to music all the time and I feel like listening to lessons or subject area content would be a great way to deliver new material to students.
2. The Khan Academy is a great site for video resources. The Khan Academy has a huge selection of video topics for education. Most of the materials are math and science related, but there are also other topics such as Humanities included.
I enjoy the layout of the Khan Academy. All topics are logically organized and easy to view. It is extremely user-friendly. Also, there are additional drop-down menus with video resources. Brain teaser videos and interviews are two examples. Also, the website has a dedicated section for standardized test preparation.
This is a very strong site and I have heard positive comments about it from many teachers.
3. Audio and video resources have there own strengths and weaknesses. Audio has the advantage of being very portable and accessible within many different formats. Students often have the means to play audio due to the portable devices that they carry. Accessibility is key to time on task. Ultimately, the more accessible content is, the more it will be used.
In contrast, video has the ability to interact with two senses of the user while audio can only work with one. I believe that the visual element of video is very powerful. The saying "a picture is worth a thousand words" can be very true in many situations. Students are often visual learners and as many studies would indicate (Marzano's findings for example) visual representation is key to learning. Therefore, in my mind video has the potential to be a stronger teaching medium.
However, video also has its drawbacks. Within a school building both video and audio can be taxing on the bandwidth, but video can especially be a burden. Additionally, video is not as portable as audio. Though many students do have smart phones or devices that can support video today, more of them have a phone or portable device that can support only audio. Video formats can also be more difficult to work with in the classroom. Video players, codecs, and file types can often be tricky to work with depending on how the video is being delivered to the students.
In summary, both video and audio have their place in the educational process. They both have advantages and disadvantages, but are both worthwhile in their own right.
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