Thing # 20

     I actually really love Youtube.  I use it all the time and it is really easy to find a video that you are looking for through a description or a few key words.  It also links you to similar videos that you simply click on and they play.  I chose this Youtube video because it is a fun way to look at an economic principle.  It features John Maynard Keynes and Frederic Hayek.  Two very influential economists of their time with opposite view points.  It's a quick way to get an idea of their work and beliefs.  It uses good imagery and captures the personalities of the two economists as well.  There is also a Part 2 if you are interested and like the first one as much as I do.

     I think there are several features that could be applied to a classroom website.  I could collect different videos for my students to watch about different economic principles.  I think a search bar that is as easy to use as the one on Youtube would also be a good component to add on a classroom website.  I also like that similar video suggestions will popup and I think that would be useful.

      The new tool I visited was called Powtoon.  It is a site that allows you to animate videos and presentations.  Here is a screen shot of what I was playing around with while I was poking around the various sites.

     

     This site could have several  possible uses in the classroom.  The main one would be to spice up a presentation that you will give to your student.  It also allows teachers to make their own animated videos that they could show their class.  For some reason, students love watching videos, even if they aren't particularly interested in the subject.  This could really enhance the ability of an educator to reach their students in new ways.  As well this is something that students oculd play around with if they were to make a presentation.