Teachers now have their very own version of YouTube.
TeacherTube, launched in March 2007, is video-sharing site designed exclusively for educators. Created by a 14-year veteran educator (with technical help from family members), the site aims to “fill a need for a more educationally focused, safe venue for teachers, schools, and home learners.”
TeacherTube provides many of the same tools featured on the popular YouTube site, which is blocked by many schools. Teachers can use the TeacherTube to upload and share instructional videos, comment on and rank videos, and create video groups to bring together users with similar interests. Videos can also be easily embedded on Web pages.
In keeping with its educational focus, the site’s producers aim to feature mainly instructional and professional development videos. Users are encouraged to “flag” videos that might be inappropriate.
Videos currently on the site include specific lessons, class projects, demonstrations of unique instructional approaches, and expressions of educational philosophy.
