Video Helped the Teaching Star

12/21/2012

Even rows separate desks that are aligned in parallel and uniform fashion. The students sit upright, pencils in hand, eagerly ready to digest the content that is being projected by the instructor as he (or she) scribbles information onto a chalkboard. What happened to these days? Thankfully, something did. Something changed the way that we are able to learn. Something changed the way that we are able to teach. Sadly, we don't use it enough. The internet and media programs have the ability to transform any lesson.

With the influx of content available on YouTube, TeacherTube, The Teaching Channel, Ted, and so many others, creating videos has been the go-to for teachers and students looking for a creative way to demonstrate mastery or to deliver content. Really. Honestly. Take a look in the mirror and ask yourself if you're as engaging, entertaining and awesome as this:

Your reaction may range from "Wow" to "I could do that" and it should. This group of teachers has clearly taken something that is as mundane as the exponent rules in Algebra and made it into a fun and engaging experience. This is not easy to do, but it is possible. Wow, they were able to get upwards of 100 students to partake in this video! Wow, those students will certainly have a much better understanding of the content and will remember the song to help them with a concept that is NOT easy!

Think about it - I could do that. Maybe not to that extent. Get real - Super Base is impressive. I showed my students this video (along with others from WSHS) and their reactions were priceless. Right after the video ended, 7 students came up to me and asked if we could do something similar. My answer? ABSOLUTELY. I'll upload our production as soon as we finish.

However, I'm not naive to the fact that this is going to take a lot of work. Help me out here, but I'm thinking that these are (most of) the steps that it'll take to pull something even close to Super Base off:

Doing something to this scale is unfathomable in most classrooms. Instead, aim for something more basic and to the point. Having students do renditions of "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" or other childhood classics that are slow enough and easy to change the words to meet the standard that your students are working to master...

Think about how you remembered the ABC's. Now trying saying them without breaking into song. While it's possible, it certainly isn't easy (or comfortable). Think about how long it takes for you to remember your new favorite song. Within 2 to 3 times of hearing a song, many of us can sing along with the chorus and some of the catchy lyrics (remember the Macarena?). Now translate the success of a song's retention to a classroom.

Imagine if you could take some of the most complex content that you need the students to remember and put it in a song. Even better would be to have the students do it. Easy? No. Possible? Very.