Digital Videos in the Classroom

Digital Video Goes to School is a very fascinating, yet enlightening article that discusses the use of video projects in the classroom. Helen Hoffenberg and Marianne Handler wrote the article. Helen Hoffenberg is an Education Development Executive for Apple Computer, Inc.; previously, she was an educator in the Chicago public school system. Marianne Handler is a professor in Technology in Education at National-Louis University. In the article, the authors state the fact that the use of digital videos in the classroom is on the rise. Children today live in a visual world; technology can assist in not only teaching students new skills, but can increase their motivation to learn. With video editing software easily accessible, the authors feel that everyone should give video classroom projects a chance. With that being said, they acknowledge that technology should be used to assist an educator in teaching the curriculum not replace the curriculum. The skills that students develop in creating digital videos were provided, as were various project ideas, as well as when to implement those projects depending on what an educator wants to capture in the creating of the videos. The authors then provided several examples of how educators used digital video assignments in their classrooms. Colleges of education are using videos in a variety of ways. In some cases, future teachers are being given the luxury of watching exemplary teaching via videos. In other instances, future educators are actually collaborating with their peers to create videos themselves.

I believe this article is very significant, because as the authors stated, we live in a visual age, and we have access to amazing technological resources that can assist us in educating our students. I really appreciate the knowledge that I gained in reading much of the information that was provided in this article. I now know the skills that students develop in creating digital videos, various project ideas, as well as when to implement projects depending on what I want to capture in having my students create videos. Now that I know more about those particular aspects of using digital videos in the classroom, I hope to apply what I have learned when I become an educator. I feel the authors were very clear in their explanations.

As a result of reading this article, I plan to implement a digital video project in my future classes. Being that I am going to teach physical education, I believe that I will have my students take video of themselves performing various techniques and drills, and then watch those clips in slow motion, so that they can visualize proper technique and develop a critical eye or error detection. 

Haffenberg, H., & Handler, M. (2001). Digital video goes to school. Learning & Leading with Technology, 29(2), 10-15. Retrieved from http://www.usq.edu.au/course/material/edu5472/resources/files/ll29210.pdf