using videos in the classroom

You might be scared as a teacher to use videos or movies in the classroom because the means you're 'not teaching' according to some. I completely disagree. In a time period where media like television has the highest impact on our students, how can we not use that impact to our advantage?

Yet I offer some thoughts:

1. Is the movie you are playing applicable to the material you are learning?

2. Is the movie increasing rigor in your classroom?

3. Are you engaging students throughout the movie with checks for understanding and general discussion?

These are the things one must answer yes to if videos are to be used effectively in the classroom. Not all students learn by listening to a lecture. Some need to see it happen and since I can't take my students to the ocean, I have to very graphically bring the ocean to them. Videos are the way I can do that.