Caught on Video

Bob Sprankle, a technology integrator, has written a marvelous article encouraging teachers to incorporate videos into their classrooms.  "Caught on Video" not only encourages teachers, but provides over a dozen ideas on how videos can enhance the curriculum, make communication with parents easier and more appealing, leave lasting memories for students when they leave the class, and keep progress of their learning during the class. 

A few ideas that particularly intrigued me are the following: (I have mixed and matched ideas for how I personally would like to use them)

• Videotaping each student at the very beginning of the school year and then videotaping them again at the end and providing them with their DVD so they can see how they had changed over the span of a year (or even perhaps throughout middle school, etc.).  This would be humorous to look back upon, as they continue their developmental stages in life.
• Creating a DVD for each student at the end of the year that highlights meaningful moments with their classmates, teacher, school, and curriculum.  I would strive to capture every student throughout the year and include them in the video to leave memories for them that they would otherwise likely forget.
• Sharing videos with parents, whether they be teacher-created or student/child-created.  These can serve as weekly newsletters or simple tokens of appreciation for their particular child's social, academic, physical, moral achievements.

This article has reminded me to take initiative as a teacher.  A school year can quickly pass by without any evidence of special memories or lessons or events.  If I take a few minutes every week, or even every month, to record my students and their experiences in school, these minutes could add up to a lifelong treasure for my students, their families, our school, and me as a teacher.