YouTube vs. TeacherTube
February 5, 2008
VS. 
This is probably an easy question to answer but what do you prefer TeacherTube or YouTube? For me, I have to say its YouTube. Unfortunately, YouTube is blocked in my district so I can’t use it to its full potential.
I like YouTube because the quality of videos I find seems to be higher. When I work with teachers its easier for me to find something to capture their attention or get them questioning aspects of technology in the classroom. Of course this means me planning at home (who doesn’t in education) and using a site like ZamZar (again blocked at work) to convert the video so I can show it in my workshops.
One thing that has turned me off to TeacherTube are the advertisements that show up on the bottom of the videos when you stream them online. The last thing I want to do is click off an ad. I see ads everywhere… this is the last place I want to see them. I know ads are all over web pages but they just seem so obtrusive here. A few months ago I was all over TeacherTube but it seems times have changed. Or just I am a woman and I am allowed to change my mind!
What do you think? How do you think I could get YouTube unblocked? What could be my rational?
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1.
Marie Coleman | February 5th, 2008 at 1:08 am
I concur – but I also tip my hat to TeacherTube for their attempt in creating a community that would be education-oriented and school-appropriate. I’m wondering if there will be an effective happy medium. Though I wish filtering and blocking were not so ‘black and white,’ I don’t see that going away anytime soon. Teachers and students alike will find ways to get around those walls as best they can, but changes will likely not occur until there is tranformative change in the way we do ‘business’ in education!
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2.
Dean Shareski | February 5th, 2008 at 1:19 am
I’ve always considered sites like Teacher tube as fakes in terms of student publishing. I can see value for posting teacher videos but not student videos. What student would want their video posted to teachertube as opposed to youtube? None.
Yet it does provide an alternative for those who ridiculously block youtube. Blocking youtube for reasons other than bandwidth is no different than blocking the entire internet. It is filled with good and bad. But almost any high profile, important video is posted there. That’s just the way it is. That would be my argument.
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3.
Willis Whitlock | February 5th, 2008 at 12:12 am
In my district bandwidth is a big issue. So YouTube gets the double whammy. They worry about content and overuse of bandwidth.
I have to deal with the district, county and the filter vendor to get anything unblocked. It all seems so fickle. It would seem that an educationally sound argument would be best, but don’t count on it.
I’ve had success with videos on Google Video. Google owns YouTube so there’s a lot of crossover. They don’t block most of Google. So I often get what I need.
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4.
John Woodring | February 5th, 2008 at 11:27 am
I use both You Tube and Teacher Tube in my class and demonstration. However, if I was to choose between the two I would pick You Tube. Teacher Tube is always stopping to buffer which can get frustrating when you are showing something to a class.
To sell You Tube to your district’s IT and other thought police put together a wiki and embed some You Tube videos that are educational. There are plenty to be found. Make sure they include instructional and serious projects done by students. If you can, get some students in your school to produce something educational and post it as well.
I am using a wiki for my lesson plans including You Tube videos and my principal loves it.
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5.
Wendy Drexler | February 5th, 2008 at 1:41 pm
I also use both Teacher Tube and YouTube for my class. Until recently, YouTube was blocked at my school. We’re in the process of debating the value of unblocking YouTube in each of our divisions (I’m in a k-12 school). However, even as we have unblocked YouTube in the high school, we’re having kids misuse the privilege. The bottom line from my perspective is this…with freedom comes responsibility. That responsibility extends to the faculty to actively teach our expectations with regard to YouTube and other Internet sites. I believe the benefits outweigh the risks, but not without specific instruction.
Wendy
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