The number of younger students that state they want to have Social Media Careers has been steadily increasing. Some of the surveys I’ve read about have shocked me – 34.5% of students in one survey specifically wanted to become YouTube Creators – with high percentages for Vlogger, Bloggers, Pop Stars, and Movie Stars.
However, we still see schools that block or ban the use of YouTube. Why? Most likely it’s the perception that YouTube is an entertainment platform – and it is. It’s also much, MUCH more than that.
Banning YouTube deprives students from resources that can help them. Tutorials on subjects they are struggling with, video on places they have never visited, documentary and social content that helps them understand concepts and the world around them.
Then there is the entire CREATIVE aspect of planning, writing, filming, editing, presenting, and receiving feedback on videos they create themselves to demonstrate learning. (UDL anyone?)
In the latest episode of my Podcast – The Learning Mindset – I talk about the role that YouTube can play in education and my reaction to some exciting announcements from YouTube about how they are evolving the platform to become even more valuable to education.
Check it out here.
https://www.buzzsprout.com/2018894/11378815
