OACS News Service

OACS teacher scores success with YouTube math videos
Envisions online OACS library of YouTube lessons from alliance teachers
Monday May 10, 2010 -- Michelle Strutzenberger
A student who’s missed a math class can watch that day’s lesson on YouTube. Parents trying to help their child with a difficult equation can boot up their computer and see an instant explanation from the child’s teacher. Students who “got” a math concept in class but can’t remember it once they get home, can refresh their memory by watching the lesson, again, on YouTube.

That’s the reality for Grade 7 math students at Halton Hills Christian School, thanks to Grade 7 homeroom teacher and information technology co-ordinator Alex van Donkersgoed.

Van Donkersgoed has created 33 YouTube videos so far for his math class, and he plans on making many more for that subject and the science class he teaches.

He lists numerous benefits to the videos. Besides providing an instant visual lesson at home for parents and students to review or learn for the first time, the videos can be used in class to boost learning.

“I can have myself teaching up on the projector screen and focus my energy on the students instead of the lesson. It essentially allows me to be in two places at once in my own room,” says van Donkersgoed.

The videos can also be a valuable resource for a supply teacher, as van Donkersgoed can record himself teaching the lesson for the day and then have that shown while he is away.

Difficult science experiments may also be pre-recorded and shown in class, avoiding potential mishaps and delays with the inevitable accompanying classroom management challenges.

Van Donkersgoed says he has noticed an improvement in math test results since he’s begun creating the videos, noting that one concept has stumped most of his class for the last couple of years but this year the test results were much higher.

“Since I have a weaker math class and my classroom teaching has not varied much from other years I would attribute this change to the fact that students had a complete example online to review at home,” he says.

Van Donkersgoed says he sees a “huge future” in the use of YouTube videos for supporting classroom teaching.

He suggests teachers from all Ontario Alliance of Christian Schools (OACS) member schools record the best of their lessons and provide that as a library for the other OACS schools — and “perhaps even the world” — to draw from.

Van Donkersgoed adds he has been stunned at how little it costs in time or money to create the videos. He uses a $40 webcam attached to his desk which enables him to create the videos while he’s teaching in the classroom. Sometimes he does need to take some time to prepare a video in advance, but once it’s done he can use it repeatedly.

To watch van Donkersgoed’s videos, visit YouTube and search the username "alex0van0d".

To learn more about creating your own YouTube videos to boost your students’ learning and classroom teaching, contact van Donkersgoed at
a.vandonkersgoed(at)haltonhillschristianschool.org.

If you have feedback on this article please contact michelle(at)axiomnews.ca, or call the newsroom at 800-294-0051.