Thing #20

This is a video on how a bill becomes a law in the United States. It is a jingle from an old episode of Schoolhouse Rock. I love Youtube, but it is a double-edged sword. It has a lot of great content, like the Schoolhouse Rock stuff, and then it also has stuff like this...



While I certainly love the Muppets, videos like this doesn't have much educational value. It seems to me that Youtube, like most any Web 2.0 Tool, has a lot of potential - if it is used wisely. That is why I would prefer to keep my students off of Youtube - but lucky for me, someone went ahead and created TeacherTube.

Now TeacherTube is certainly something that could be used in a classroom. It is loaded with great educational content. It is easy to navigate and easy to find great resources. Sound and picture really helps to enhance any lesson - and TeacherTube seems like a great way to find both.

What do you think? Is YouTube helpful or distracting? Will you use it in your classroom?