By Lynita Newswander, Jun 18, 2009 in Pedagogy and Teaching
The readings for June 17 ("Thinking about Technology and Teaching") and June 19 ("Teaching the Millennial Generation") got me thinking about the proper role of technology in the classroom. Of course, many questions regarding teaching style refer further back to the fundamental goals of any given course. In the past I have asked myself: What will my students get out of this? What do I want them to learn? And how can I best facilitate that process?
When it comes to teaching millennial students and integrating technology in the classroom, there is surely there a middle-ground between pandering to students’ laziness and completely ignoring opportunities to make the content more relevant or accessible to them. One of my favorite options is youtube. In the past, I have used short video clips to illustrate a point or to help students to remember important facts (for example, the James K. Polk song by They Might be Giants is probably indelibly inscribed in my students' minds—for better or worse—and along with it, the names and characteristics of several mid-nineteenth century politicians. Through YouTube, students can view meetings of various political organizations and watch interviews with contemporary scholars of political philosophy. Although some might argue that what is popular on YouTubeis not always "correct" or accurate, I think that students can gain a lot from critically analyzing the opinions demonstrated in various video clips if professors make careful use of them. For example, during the most recent presidential race, my class watched a video clip with images of Obama, the crowds he attracted, and the messages attached to him (hope, change, and belief) set to the song "Personal Jesus": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6UCwaDDGqw. This odd and rather disturbing clip gave us the opportunity to compare these images of Obama with other variations on the themes of religion and media in politics and led to a wonderful discussion. Perhaps most importantly, clips from shows such as the Daily Show (this clip portrays a conflict between federal and local interests: http://www.thedailyshow.com/video/index.jhtml?videoId=163653&title=mar…) or the Colbert Report provide students with what feels to them to be a sort of common ground. Through these media, we can start with the politics that already interest them and build a more theoretically grounded, stable foundation from there.
My use of YouTube in the classroom consisted of one or two links to a 30 second to 2 minute clip integrated into my usual powerpoint presentation. I also think that longer clips (like a 30 minute interview or short documentary) could be used as part of a "reading" assignment. In these instances, I think a little effort on the part of the professor can go a long way toward helping the students connect historical or theoretical ideas to contemporary politics and their own lives.
3 Responses to "Youtube in the classroom"
Gerson Moreno-Riano on Jun 18, 2009
I appreciate your thoughtful use of technology in the classroom as a means to enhance your teaching and not as a substitute for content. I think you are very correct that in many ways it comes down to a "little effort on the part of the professor." It is the creative, discerning and thoughtful use of technology by professors that is needed and not knee-jerk reactions about technology as cyanide. This is obviously a complex issue that demands careful attention to disciplinary context as well as the essential matter of content and not just technique. But excellent content without good technique or with a poor technique is a malady that all of us need to stay away from. Technique does not imply technology (though it can encompass it). And we need to at least consider and discern the use of appropriate and inappropriate forms of technology and not just cleave to irrational prejudices.
Aaron Nathaniel Coleman on Jun 20, 2009
I've never considered Youtube in the class but you certainly give me food for thought on why I should. One thing I use to great enjoyment of my students is music. I play songs from the 17th/18th century and they generally love it. They enjoy that some of the issues brought up in these songs of a supposedly more refined era are the same as those in today's less than musical music.
Anonymous on Jun 25, 2009
Dan Bonevac, a philosophy professor at the University of Texas, has had great success incorporating clips from The Simpsons into his Introduction to Philosophy course. I've sat through a few of these lectures, and they really are engaging. http://www.utexas.edu/features/2008/philosophy/
While there is certainly a danger to using popular culture references in the classroom, I think it can be an excellent way to meet students where they are, make them laugh, and help them connect philosophical theories with the world in which they live.