YouTube

Review by Don Bates This is a video sharing website where users can upload and watch videos. Users are not required to download the video because it is played on a flashplayer. After viewing the video, a user can give it a review. Videos are grouped so that users can view other videos of a related interest. One method of downloading is by using the Realplayer media player. After the video is downloaded, the user can convert its format to be used in other applications. Its interface is very easy to use, and it provides a platform for even novice technology people to post videos to the web. The viewing of the videos does require a flash player, but at the present time, approximately 95% of the computers being sold have the flash plug-in from Adobe already installed. One more useful feature is that videos from YouTube can be easily embedded into any HTML page or PowerPoint file, so you can use them on your web site or in a presentation.
 * What is it? **

The use of YouTubes videos in the educational setting has grown tremendously since its inception. Instructional videos are available that cover a number of subject titles. Its use in the educational setting has been so dominant that there is also TeacherTube. This site provides users with videos that are directed more towards the educational setting. There are also presentational videos that are education. They range from Martin Luther King’s //I Have a Dream// speech to President Obama’s inauguration speech. Youtube is even being used to upload and show book trailers, creating a new way to promote books to students. With a little investigating, almost any subject area can find a use for its videos.
 * How can it be used effectively for teaching and learning? **

This is an article about its founders. Cloud, John. [|"The Gurus of YouTube"]. [|Time Magazine]. []. Here is a subject specific resource, but it is probably easiest just to enter keywords in the search and navigate from there. SmartTeaching.org.[]
 * Additional Resources **

Here is the example of embedded YouTube video (a tutorial about using YouTube with PowerPoint): media type="youtube" key="4yzUxNbi1h4" height="344" width="425"