Academics: Reasons to Start your Own YouTube/Video Channel

I’ve had a mostly academic-focused YouTube channel for a while now-since 2007. It has numerous clicks and views (over 660,000+ minutes viewed in total so far) and I’m proud that it serves a purpose. It’s a good idea for academics to start their own video channel. I’ll briefly describe why and then share my strategy for starting a more organized video channel that is focused on sharing information in an open way. I have already shared a few ideas on this in the short video below:

Academics who Blog, Tweet, and YouTube 

Oliver Bateman and Peggy Semingson, faculty at The University of Texas at Arlington share ideas on how faculty can have a digital presence to get their ideas to a broader audience. Oliver blogs and writes for Al Jazeera and other media venues. Peggy has an active YouTube channel that she uses for teaching and as a platform for open idea sharing.

Twitter:

Oliver Bateman @MoustacheClubUS
Peggy Semingson @PeggySemingson

My field is literacy education, with a focus on modeling and mentoring for teachers. As a former practitioner, I enjoy sharing both research-informed knowledge as well as motivating my students with practical advice from my formersyears spent teaching. Both are valid and important types of knowledge sharing. I also hope my students will consider multimedia as ways of sharing, as it is in blended/hybrid models of teaching.

Reasons Academics Should Have a YouTube (or other Video) Channel.

1. Increase your outreach. Consider the types of videos that you want to share.You can make the following types of videos:
   • Quasi-personal videos with academic commentary on issues and topics.
   • Call(s) to action if you are an activist.
   • Teaching videos for blended/hybrid and/or online teaching.
2. Tips:
   • Keep videos short (under five minutes) and definately not longer than 10-12 minutes at the most!
   • Have your own video mentors. What videos in your field of expertise are engaging? Watch them and note what you like about them.
   • Start playlists around themes as you increase the number of videos you have.
   • Have fun with the process! Have an engaging digital persona. Keep your audience in mind. Don’t have a long intro. Jump into the content/knowledge/expertise.
   • Personalize learning!

Why I’m Starting a Second YouTube Channel:

1. The first channel is a bit random, haphazard, with too many dog videos! While these are fun, I want the channel to have a clear purpose, which is academic-focused knowledge sharing.
2. The new channel will use the following to enhance the video component: green screen to have a streamlined background, five-point lighting, better editing, an engaging short intro to videos, and links for resources in the notes. This will take time but it’s worth it!
3. Green screen kits can be ordered off of Amazon. Set up your own temporary or permanent studio in your home, depending on your space.
4. I want to increase my digital reach to others outside of my institution. Being an academic isn’t just about print publishing anymore!
5. Model being a #cyberprof for others in a visible way.
6. Make it a personal challenge to have a stronger digital presence and to make a difference in the learning of others.
7. There is a need for more digital and multi-media based resources in my area of study: literacy education

Thematic Playlists Have a Niche Focus!

Academia/Higher Education Playlists of Videos:

1. Increasing Digital Presence for Faculty-”how to” expanding your digital reach
2. Teaching Online for Faculty-Tips and “how to”

Literacy (focus on K-12 teachers w/ focus on elementary literacy)

1. Dialogue Videos with other colleagues  about niche area topics
2. Key literacy terminology for teachers (tricky concepts): this could be of global appeal
3. What teachers need to know about Literacy
   1. Students who struggle with reading
   2. English Language Learners
   3. Phonics and Beginning Reading
   4. Motivating students to read and write
   5. Technology and literacy
   6. 100 things teachers need to know about teaching literacy-what to say and do
   7. How to sound like a literacy teacher–things to say and practice (modeling and guided practice for teachers)

Here is a video I shared in the Print2Pixel conference in 2013! (I cringe at my hair and dress!).