TeacherTube

TeacherTube

TeacherTube is an educational and safe alternative to the benefits of YouTube. It is an online community for sharing instructional videos. Teachers can learn from one another by watching videos posted on the site. Teachers can also set up videos for student viewing in order for them to learn a certain concept or skill.

TeacherTube was launched on March 6, 2007. It was created by Jason Smith, a 14 year veteran of teaching. His brother Adam manages the site and helped him work out the technical side of the site. Jason's wife Jodie, also a 14 year veteran of teaching and curriculum coordinating, contributes to the maintenance of the site as well.

How do I use it?

Go to [1] and browse the videos! It's as simple as pointing and clicking. However, if you want more benefits and options, you can sign up to subscribe to the site.

Membership is FREE! By signing up, you are afforded the option to save favorite videos and make playlists, as well as upload, tag and share videos worldwide. Other benefits include uploading support files to your video (like assessment and lesson plans), creating and joining video groups of similar interests, and using the rating system. Videos can be made public or private, with access only by invitation. The user rating system allows teachers to rate the effectiveness of certain videos, but also allows users to flag inappropriate videos. Users, in effect, become the police of this site as they report inappropriate material to Jason and Adam Smith through a link in the site.

Here's a video that shows an example of teachers helping other teachers with technology in the classroom. [2]

Here's a video that is a fun way to introduce the first day of school. [3]

Educational Implications

TeacherTube is yet another way for teachers to connect and create a community of collaborative educators and learners. In this new digital age, which the students are so much a part of, it is really important for teachers to try to interact in this world of the present and future. Videos are great for enhancing lessons and deepening students' understanding of concepts, skills, or historical events. Videos reach all types of learners as well. Showing a clip or video can spice up any lesson plan and keep students interested in the lesson in a language they can understand- technological. TeacherTube is also a safe alternative to YouTube as a teaching tool because it bypasses the inappropriate material. Using YouTube can be risky for that reason. It's hard to tell what it will bring up on any given day. In contrast, TeacherTube is full of trusted material posted by other professionals.