10 Top Educational Videos of 2011

Another year is coming to a close. And with the New Year approaching, it’s a great time to reflect on topics and issues that impacted our learning in 2011.

I traveled all over the country again in 2011 speaking to K-12 educators on the power that video can have on student learning. I have personally witnessed the amazing influence video has had on my own students’ learning during my past nine years in education. 2011 was no exception in the diverse and powerful videos that some of our world leaders, or future world leaders, created. Therefore, I have decided to list the top 10 educational videos I watched this past year.

Now, I will concede that there may be better videos in our global stratosphere. But, I have to admit I was blown away in one way or another by the following list. Most of these videos came through my Professional Learning NetworK (PLN) via Twitter, or through my own personal research. So here it goes.

10. To make a video, age simply doesn’t matter. 1st and 2nd grade students from Ancaster Meadow School (Ancaster ON), created fun and educational field trip videos using iPod Touch devices and flip cams.  (Bonus 10 videos in this selection. Couldn’t help it!)

Grades 1 And 2 At Ancaster Meadow School

9. My list wouldn’t be complete if I didn’t offer at least one video created by my own students. Just this past November, my class was “hired” by the Association for Career & Technical Education (ACTE), to be the onsite media journalists for their national convention. The opening keynote speaker? Sir Ken Robinson. And a few of my students produced this piece.

Sir Ken Robinson on SchoolTube

8. Media literacy is a repertoire of competences that enable people to analyze, evaluate, and create messages in a wide variety of media modes, genres, and forms (From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia). It is a topic that is very important to me and I believe, is a skill that is necessary for all 21st century learners. Cultural Anthropologist Mimi Ito, discusses Connected Learning, Children, and Digital Media.

Cultural Anthropologist Mimi Ito on Connected Learning, Children, and Digital Media

7. iPads in the classroom are becoming increasingly more popular. This video from iTunes U illustrates just how students are using iPads to facilitate their own learning, and benefiting from its power. The following collection is filled with great videos. I personally was struck by #3 on the list.

iPad in High School English

6. Remember I mentioned ease and accessibility when it comes now to video production? How about a free App?!

Meet Videolicious

5. The “Flipped Classroom” model has been discussed quite a bit in 2011. And much of the discussion began with Salman Khan on Ted Talks in March.

Salman Khan: Let’s use video to reinvent education

4. This AT&T documentary is beyond powerful. Our school screened this film to the entire student body, and it was the talk of the halls for weeks.

AT&T Don’t Text While Driving Documentary

3. Thomas Suarez is a 6th grade student at a middle school in the South Bay of Los Angeles. Oh, and he may be the next Steve Jobs. Really?! 6th grade?!!! Kids are amazing.

TEDxManhattanBeach – Thomas Suarez – iPhone Application Developer… and 6th Grader

2. Filmed at the Stanford University graduation ceremony in 2005, this video went viral once again after the death of Apple’s Steve Jobs on October 5, 2011.

Steve Jobs: How to live before you die

1. What does challenged based learning look like? Just watch this video, and read the accompanying website, to learn how a group of Australian students accomplished amazing tasks to help others around the world.

What Does Challenged Based Learning Look Like

applesforkids.org

There ya have it. My top 10 educational videos of the year.  If there is a video on your list that wasn’t on mine, please share! I would love to watch what you are watching. Thanks for reading……Happy Holidays!

Don Goble is a Broadcast Technology & Film Instructor at Ladue Horton Watkins High School. Don is also an advocate for technology and digital media in the classroom. To contact Don, email: dgoble@ladueschools.net, follow on Twitter at dgoble2001, or visit http://about.me/dongoble.