902- CUE Workshop YouTube & GSuite

Introduction

So, this post is the last of a great set of workshops. CUE very rarely disappoints. I think part of the reason is that it is all about the learning. All about the sharing. All about the growing as educators. The class this time was led by Brian Costello. (@btcostello05). He mostly shared about YouTube and gave a brief overview of of some of the GSuite apps.

Brian was also good about checking the chat box for questions and answering quickly.

YouTube

Now, for most of the world, YouTube (YT) needs no introduction. It is THE place to find and create videos. This session was great because Brian went through some of the basics and also shared many ways to utilize YouTube in the classroom. Most of the attendees have access to YT at school, but one didn't. While I certainly share some of the concern about YT content, it seems with some good District level filters, and teacher "with-it ness", we can alleviate many of those concerns.

One of the first tips he shared was in response to a question about adding audio (or making a video slideshow). He shared a way to add audio to a single slide that plays automatically, but is not really noticed. If you import a YT video and make it very small, and set the autoplay, it will play on that slide. While that didn't answer the question about a slideshow (the real answer seemed to be that it's more complicated than it needs to be), it was a great tip.

Create

The other natural progression is to create content, as a teacher and helping our students. This part, for me, is exciting and terrifying at once. But, putting that aside, the ability to do this is becoming easier and easier. Many of our kids want to be YT stars. If our kids find out we have a YT channel, we can be an even bigger rockstar. :-) If we help kids create content for school and fun, we are giving them a powerful tool for their future.

Brian showed us how to use the Video Manger and shared many of it's current options. One of the challenges of YT is that it changes often. One of the newer functions is the ability to upload a video as Unlisted. What this does is makes it so the video is only accessible through a direct link. It is not searchable, so it is technically not public. This is great to be able to create videos in the classroom and helping protect the privacy of our students.

There were many other things shared like:

• Creating Playlists, which has many cool possibilities for the classroom
• Creating shorter videos versus long ones.
• Adding various elements that could give some options like a Choose your own Adventure style videos.
• Recording Live to connect to your community of parents.
• Having student creators to give students another outlet for sharing their knowledge, hobbies or other learning.

All in all, another great session.

• What did you think was valuable? Why
  • A lot of the things shared about YT are easily adaptable, useful in the classroom, and the learning curve for getting started is pretty low, with many things offered for more advanced users.
• What did you NOT think was valuable? Why
  • Nothing. I wish he had more time to share some of the other features of the GSuite that we had not heard of.
• Will the discussion change any of your teaching practices? How?
  • I am already planning on using this in the classroom next year. I even created a tutorial on how to get to one of the tools. :-) I love the idea of having the students be creators. It gives a boost for student engagement for sure, even for the littles.
• What do you think is worth sharing with colleagues?
  • I will be sharing the playlists, how to get started and how to get students started. And certainly the unlisted possibility and the blurring effect.
• What are you inspired to do, think, etc..
  • I can't wait to get started myself, starting to get videos (and playlists) for my students and others at my site. For content areas AND for basic instructions on projects, how to login to certain things. The sky's the limit.