Using Video in Teaching and Learning

Reference:

http://cgi2.nhk.or.jp/bunken/english/reports/pdf/08_no6_05.pdf

Review/Summary:

In this review I looked at the article written in  entitled, "Digital Technology in Classrooms:  Video in Teaching and Learning," written by Ronald Thorpe.  Thorpe provides his readers with a short history of digital technology.  He talks about the use of the 16mm film projector in the 1950's and 60's.  He noted that the use of this type of medium often did not mesh with the instructional goals of the teacher and remained set apart.  Television use in education made its appearance in the late 1950's.  This author remembers watching television on a small screen in 1961 in the classroom to receive instruction on "new math."  Public television came on the scene in 1967 to provide educational information to adults and children of preschool age.  Sesame Street, Masterpiece Theater, and Nova were a few programs introduced during this period to accomplish this purpose.  In the 1980's teachers started using instructional video tapes in the classroom but again as with the 16mm film teachers were not integrating this resource sufficiently with their instructional goals and it was often used as something to replace teaching.

However, through all of these introductory forms of video, educators began to learn how this tool could be used to enhance the learning process and be integrated appropriately in eduation. Groups such as VITAL (Video in Teaching and Learning) and Thirteen which began in New York state began to focus on video use in instruction.  United Learning which later became Discovery originated through Thirteen's video on demand service and has produced millions of video clips for instruction.

Reflection:

Personally, I have been a part of every video resource mentioned above.  I remember the use of the 16mm film projector and how students would laugh when the teacher would rewind the film and everything moved backwards.  As a Kindergarten student in the late 60's I remember sitting in a fifth grade teacher's classroom watching a television set as man set foot on the moon.  In addition to this I also remember watching such programs as Sesame Street and Mister Roger's Neighborhood on occasion.  As a teacher I have been thankful to have had such resources through United Learning which later became Discovery to provide enhancement to my instruction of students in the classroom.