Continuing with our Rising Resources series, today we’re going to be featuring a service that’s basically like a YouTube for teachers. The video production and sharing website, SchoolTube, is a valuable resource for educators and one that can help save them time and boost their creativity. SchoolTube was founded in 2007 and is a video sharing platform specifically designed for students and educators in the K-12 grades. There is a lot this website has to offer, but, to get full access, you either have to log in or create a free account. It’s as easy as registering with the educational institution you would like to work with, allowing for a more tailored experience.
The idea behind the creation of the site was to meet the growing demand for students and educators who wanted to share videos with one another. SchoolTube is a simple platform that hosts, stores, and allows the sharing of these educational videos. Think of it as YouTube but centralized around school-related and student-produced work. Like YouTube, there is a vast database of videos on science, stop motion, sports, and even hair and makeup. But, unlike YouTube, SchoolTube videos must first be approved by educators. This differentiates the sites, allowing for SchoolTube to be more academically recognized.
If you don’t know where to start, there is a helpful search bar that allows you to look for topics, or there is a Discover page that lets you explore the best videos from teachers and students everywhere. There are also several accounts that you can have. Students using SchoolTube can upload and save videos, generate links to their videos, utilize it for help with assignments, and search the thousands of other videos created by students just like them!
Teachers have essentially the same access as students but have more availability to classroom functions. They can create an area to collect student videos and even upload videos to share directly with their class. In addition to students and teachers, schools can also sign up for a SchoolTube account. There is an interesting feature called SchoolTube University, which offers higher education students the opportunity to register for webinars that teach them techniques on how to become a better video producer or composer.
What I really like about SchoolTube is how it’s a segue between classroom and at-home learning. Because videos are accessible anywhere, students can take videos with them and learn on the road. This is a great resource for students who are visual learners since the videos reinforce concepts learned in the classroom without extensive texts or language.
Not only does this platform help students learn, it also lets them showcase their creativity. The videos uploaded can be informational, performances, and even how-to’s. The possibilities are endless! By making videos, students also learn another valuable skill because to learn is one thing, but to be able to teach someone else is a completely different skill set.
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