Let students learn broadcasting through watching tutorials and teaching by example

My name is Mr. Goble, and I teach Broadcast Technology and short film making. In other words, basic video production to high school students. But an amazing phenomena has occurred over the past few years. People from all over the world are doing my job now. What do I mean? Well, I can’t help but go to SchoolTube, YouTube, and Vimeo to find thousands of video tutorials on the exact techniques I have been teaching for years.

Oh, but how I teach it is better for sure, right?

Well, probably not, because you see, students can’t stop me, rewind me, play me over again, pause me, fast forward me, rewind me again, watch me again, and follow me step by step until they get the skill down exactly the way they want or need.

A student can do this with a video tutorial. If they are absent from my class, no worries. They’ll just watch the video online. They’ll “Favorite”  the video, tweet about it, share it on Facebook with their friends, and slowly, and repetitively, allow the lesson to sink in. Enthusiastically I might add.

So am I being replaced? I’ve wondered that myself some days, but ultimately, I’m not concerned. In fact, quite the opposite. I teach by example.

See, these video tutorial resources, which are helping my students with the transfer of knowledge throughout the learning process, have now freed me up to actually teach other skills. Storytelling to be exact, is an art that I love engaging in. I’m also now able to hold students more accountable for time management. I can provide more one on one conferencing, and more detailed critiques with all this “free time” I now have.

By giving my students video tutorials to watch on their own,  I’m now able to facilitate collaboration and teamwork, public speaking, and, how about this…. the art of taking initiative.

“Mr. Goble, I’ll just email Mr. X about that interview,” a student will say.

“Of course,” I reply, “but why don’t you follow that up with a phone call as well. Let’s look up the number. ”

Actually calling someone is a big deal for our students. Believe me. Using their smart phone to actually CALL someone?! GASP… I know.

Why am I telling you all this?! The fact that I teach video production automatically leads other teachers to believe that my students should then know how to produce videos. Obviously they’re right. That is what happens.

But guess what? These are the same students in your Math class, Science class, History class, English class, Yearbook class…..and they didn’t magically appear in my class knowing how to make videos. They took the time to learn how to do it. They are now taking more of their time, their OWN time, to learn how to make videos on their OWN. They will do the same for your class. Teach by example.

The reality is that the current generation of students, and the next generation of students, enjoy creating. Crave creating. And speak a “digital media” language, which is inherently creative.They have a hunger for Digital Media. It is their literacy. And yet, research indicates our students are “just not as creative as they used to be,”

As educators, doesn’t it behoove us to begin finding more ways to allow our students create and facilitate their own learning? Maybe to express themselves through the creation of video? Shouldn’t we allow for this form of creation any chance we get? The fact is that the creation of video can lead to global innovation. And by encouraging this form of creation, we will be building upon the visual literacy our students already possess.

My name is Mr. Goble.….and I teach by example by allowing my students the freedom to create videos. Do you?

Do you allow students to create videos in your class? If not, why not? Do you need support to incorporate video in the classroom? I can help with that. Follow me on Twitter @dgoble2001 or email me at dgoble2001@yahoo.com.

http://www.teachhub.com/author/3158

Don Goble

Don Goble is an award-winning Broadcast, Technology, Multimedia and Film Instructor at Ladue Horton Watkins High School in St. Louis. Journalism Education Association's National Broadcast Adviser of the Year in 2015, Don is also an Apple Distinguished Educator, PBS Lead Digital Innovator and author who advocates for media and digital literacy for all learners. Don masterfully engages students to author and craft media messages to build their voice and share their story.

Don Goble has 52 posts and counting. See all posts by Don Goble

One thought on “Let students learn broadcasting through watching tutorials and teaching by example

  • September 7, 2011 at 1:07 pm
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    Are your students able to tweet in their district? Does your district have the tools for video production?

    If the math teacher wanted to have a student make a geometry video, how would you work with that teacher?

    are their any video tutorials for making videos?

    great post!

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