About Me

Education, the knowledge society, the global market all connected through technology and cross-cultural communication skills are I am all about. I hope through this blog to both guide others and travel myself across disciplines, borders, theories, languages, and cultures in order to create connections to knowledge around the world. I teach at the University level in the areas of Business, Language, Communication, and Technology.

Friday, March 4, 2011

YouTube as a PLE

Now, you're probably wondering how YouTube could possibly be used to capture your learning in a Personal Learning Environment (PLE). This idea came to me after my daughter explained how she was using her YouTube Channel.

Her school does not have a formal music program. However, she is very musically inclined, having sung before she could speak. She studied piano outside of school for 4 years. Recently, she has pursued her interest in music (as did my son) via YouTube videos that give piano, guitar, and singing lessons.

Without our knowing, she opened up a YouTube Channel in August. At first, I was a bit wary. However, after she showed me how she was using the channel and the security measures she was taking, I allowed her to keep the Channel open.

Lately, she has begun to update some of the original pieces she originally put up, looking at the feedback she has received and trying to improve these original pieces. Her intention is to keep a record of her progress. Not bad for a teenager.

Integrating YouTube into the curriculum as a PLE


This got me to wondering: 1) what other tools primary and secondary schools are using to record student progress, especially in behavioral changes, 2) how schools are preparing students to become aware of their own learning, 3) other ways to analyze non-formal learning or learning outside of the classroom, and 4) how people use feedback in social networking sites such as YouTube, facebook, and blogs.

YouTube is interesting because it can capture a person's performance and get feedback on it. Imagine using it for work performance at different times of a person's career, to demonstrate skills as an auxiliary to a resume, to make a person aware of their strengths and weaknesses in performing a task, and keeping a record for them to reflect on their progress in learning.

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