Emerging+Tools

[Home] [Definition] [Leaders] [Orginization] [History] [Digital Natives] [E-Learning] [Emerging Tools] [School-Based Technology] Introduction  YouTube.com is one of the emerging tools in the field of educational technology that is helping teaching and learning. YouTube is a video shearing site that enables users to view and share videos on almost any subject imaginable. This tool is user friendly and accessible for use in almost any classroom. However, it is very important that teachers take necessary measures to ensure that all videos shared in class are appropriate for students. YouTube was found in 2005 by Chad Hurley, Steve Chen and Jawed Karim who were previously employed by paypal (an online secure payment company). In 2006, Youtube was purchases by the internet giant Google and has flourished since. YouTube has over 70 million users monthly and this number is climbing drastically. Salient Features YouTube has many great features that users have access to and all of Youtube’s videos are available to all users. Any and everyone can watch videos on YouTube, which in many cases is positive. However, in an education setting can prove challenging, especially for young users. The two major features of Youtube are viewing and uploading videos. From experiences, every topic conceivable can be found on this site and for the most part is suitable for classrooms. It is the responsibility of teachers to preview videos that will be viewed in the classroom before they are viewed. In my opinion, one of the most important genres of videos on YouTube is the how-to videos. Teachers can use this as a teaching tool for the visual and auditory learners in their classrooms. The only issue is that many school districts do not allow YouTube use on the districts server. However, for the teacher who plans ahead, videos can be saved and played from flash drives and other storage devices. How to use Youtube YouTube has made available a 4 minute 29 second video on how to use the site and the best ways to go about making the best of the site. A link to this video is []. YouTube can defiantly be used in the education setting and it can be used abundantly. To begin, follow the instructions provided To participate in all of the great features that YouTube has to offer, one must create an account. 1. Go to [] 2. Click on the **Sign Up** link located in the top-right corner: 3. Fill in the sign-up form. 4. Go to your e-mail account and click on the hyperlink sent by YouTube. This verifies your identity and activates your YouTube account. 5. Once your e-mail is confirmed, you officially become a member of the YouTube community. Congratulations! **Step 2: Search Box** The search allows users to type in any key words for video searches. After typing key words into the search box, various videos are categorized and user chooses the video of choice. This is the box that educators can use to search for videos to use as a teaching tools to the more visual student.  Example/Conclusion' On YouTube, one can leave a comment about videos, join groups to add videos, promote videos, create new groups for videos and many other interesting options that can enhance the delivery of educational goals. Teachers have the opportunity to add videos in categories that can improve the quality of the delivery of a lesson. For example, If I’m interested in providing a 10th grade calls with a lesson on how to write a thesis statement correctly, I can create an interesting video after an in-class lesson and have students view the video on YouTube as a home learning assignment. This is very helpful because it is accessible to students 24/7 and students have the opportunity to view the video as many times as necessary to grasp the content. Additionally, students can join the YouTube community and post their own videos on the subject to aid other themselves and other students in learning the necessary material.
 * Step 1: Create an Account **

It is my opinion that YouTube can defiantly be uses in the field of educational technology and can be used to enhance teaching and learning in any K-12 classroom. YouTube videos can also be used in the higher education setting because YouTube videos are available in a plethora of subjects and can aide in the enhancement of every educational level.

References How to Use YouTube Like a Pro. Retrieved on March 6, 2010 from [].