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.
- 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.
- 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:
- 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.
- 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!
- Green screen kits can be ordered off of Amazon. Set up your own temporary or permanent studio in your home, depending on your space.
- I want to increase my digital reach to others outside of my institution. Being an academic isn’t just about print publishing anymore!
- Model being a #cyberprof for others in a visible way.
- Make it a personal challenge to have a stronger digital presence and to make a difference in the learning of others.
- 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:
- Increasing Digital Presence for Faculty-”how to” expanding your digital reach
- Teaching Online for Faculty-Tips and “how to”
Literacy (focus on K-12 teachers w/ focus on elementary literacy)
- Dialogue Videos with other colleagues about niche area topics
- Key literacy terminology for teachers (tricky concepts): this could be of global appeal
- What teachers need to know about Literacy
- Students who struggle with reading
- English Language Learners
- Phonics and Beginning Reading
- Motivating students to read and write
- Technology and literacy
- 100 things teachers need to know about teaching literacy-what to say and do
- 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!).
