Videos – Useful Classroom Resources

Michelle ReidEDIT 651

Videos increase student engagement and appeal to multiple learning styles, especially visual learners.

Used at the beginning of a lesson, videos and digital images motivate students, increase curiosity and stimulate discussion.

Videos can be used to highlight or reinforce the lesson content during the lesson and to review the main points at the end of the lesson.

Rationale for Using Videos in the Classroom

Aim: How do human activities pollute our water resources?Objectives: SWBAT Define and describe the types of water pollution Explain the impact of water pollution on the

environment Explain what is meant by environmental

sustainability Describe how water resources can be used

sustainably

Using Videos in an Environmental Science Lesson

Lesson ActivitiesThe teacher will give a PowerPoint presentation,

highlighting the main content areas students need to learn.

Video clips ( 5mins each) on how human activity has contributed to environmental degradation e.g the effects of water pollution on the environment will be shown to reinforce the content.

The videos are accompanied by a discussion guide which provides background information on what is viewed and discussion questions that help students think critically and analytically and find solutions to the water pollution problem.

Using Videos in an Environmental Science Lesson

What is the biggest polluter of water?Why is Stormwater Runoff a major new threat? What's in your drinking water? How can we save habitat for endangered species?

These video clips were found on VITAL New York on Teachers’ Domain – Video in Teaching and Learning for New York State Educators.http://www.teachersdomain.org

“Poisoned Waters” Video Clips

The Poisoned Waters videos are an excellent resource for teaching about an environmental problem and provide support for the rationale that technology should be used in teaching.

These videos are a great motivational tool. Students are able to hear first-hand from the major stakeholders – scuba divers, marine biologists, fishermen, and government officials – the extent of the water pollution problem in America. When students see for themselves some of the consequences of polluting the water with a cocktail of chemicals, such as six-legged frogs and male fish producing testicular eggs, the gravity of the situation becomes true-to-life. These videos grab the students’ attention immediately and help to keep them engaged throughout the entire lesson by stimulating thought-provoking discussions after they are viewed.

Students can apply the information in the videos to their daily lives. The video clip “What’s in your drinking water?” shows that many chemicals that are currently contaminating our drinking water supplies increase our risk of getting breast cancer, birth defects and lower sperm count.

The videos are a catalyst for cooperative learning. After viewing the videos, students can break up into small groups to discuss different aspects of the topic. Each group can then share their ideas with the entire class.

On the Frontline webpage students can post comments on a discussion board to which editors of the Poisoned Waters videos can respond. This feature allows students to communicate with and work collaboratively with others outside their classroom, even with experts in the field of environmental science who study water pollution across the country and the rest of the world.

Using Video Clips in an Environmental Science Lesson

Using videos in an environmental science lesson definitely makes the content presented more relevant to the students.

It allows them to make connections between what is taught in the classroom and what is happening in the real world.

When students see and hear for themselves how human activity impacts the environment the material presented in class is reinforced and learning becomes authentic.

Using Videos In an Environmental Science Lesson