The Tech Savvy Educator

What?
Just three months ago, Ben Rimes posted a blog about SchoolTube on his website http://www.techsavvyed.net/ .  I was fascinated by this posting because I was just recently introduced to SchoolTube through our Middle School Culture and Instruction class with Dr. Jacobsen.  He shares five reasons why he is satisfied with the website.  First, it is not bombarded with ads like many other websites are.  Second, uploading time is fairly rapid.  Third, its videos can be added to personal homepages.  Fourth, the quality of videos are presentable.  Finally, SchoolTube has quality content.

So What?
Rimes' rating of SchoolTube matters because it is challenging to find worthwhile websites to plug students into for class projects.  Seemingly insignificant things like advertisements and broad ranges of content could make the difference between distracting, inappropriate information and practical, significant information.  Sure, a teacher could have his/her students post a video on YouTube, but using SchoolTube would probably be a safer way to go because it is geared towards educational audiences.

What Now?
This inspires me to incorporate SchoolTube into my own classroom someday, and perhaps even into my current Sunday School classroom.  In addition to the five reasons that Rimes favors SchoolTube, I'd like to add my own five reasons why SchoolTube is a good resource for teachers.
1. Posting students' progress could motivate them to continue working hard (example: a choir concert).
2. Allowing students to post their own projects inspires creativity.
3. Other teachers and students can draw from one anothers' examples and ideas.
4. This is an effective way to connect students from across the street or across the globe.
5. Posting videos that relate to school empowers students and gives them a healthy place to receive the attention they crave.