What's New - February 2008

Streamed Video in Alberta’s Classrooms

Introduction

Video resources have been successfully used to enhance teaching and learning for many years; captivating students’ attention and improving their retention when used in active learning environments.^{1, 2, 3} Over the years, films and projectors were replaced with analog video, VCRs and TVs. Today as a result of further advances in video and computer technologies, digital video is being shown in classrooms, either through the use of DVDs or by downloading or streaming video from the Internet. Rather than showing entire videos, teachers and students can now access, select and replay specific video clips or segments to help meet their teaching and learning objectives. For a discussion of the benefits of as well as strategies for the effective use of digital video in the classroom, see the articles listed in the footnotes below or visit the Video Strategies section of the National Teacher Training Institute web site at http://www.thirteen.org/edonline/ntti/resources/video1.html.

In Alberta, on-demand access to curriculum-aligned streamed video has been made possible through the advent of the SuperNet, and the placement of Content Delivery Devices (CDDs) in Alberta’s schools. The SuperNet provides the high speed broadband network required (see http://www.albertasupernet.ca/ for more information) as part of the Content Delivery Network (CDN). The CDD, a specially-designed standard solution provided by Alberta Education, is a computer with large storage capacity to facilitate local content storage, and proprietary software to enable the computer to function as a video server. Additional proprietary software on the CDN resolves the bandwidth issues typically associated with the delivery of high-quality streaming video, and redirects users to the next closest CDD as necessary. Transparent to end users, these devices and software work together to enhance the use of video content in schools, providing quick, uniform, cost-effective, and reliable access to streamed video from the LearnAlberta.ca and Alberta Video Co-Acquisition Consortium (COAC) web sites. CDDs are placed in schools by district technical personnel. Technical support for CDDs is provided through the Learning Resource Centre (contact the LRC Support Centre, Technology Initiatives - Content Delivery Devices, (780) 427-2767 (Option 1-6), lrc.support@gov.ab.ca, for more information).

Most of the video resources available via Alberta Education’s LearnAlberta.ca web site are streamed from the CDD. Streaming⁴ simply means that the user can start watching the video almost as soon as it begins downloading rather than having to wait until the entire file has downloaded. The exceptions are those videos from the CBC Archives.⁵

LearnAlberta.ca offers a library of over 2800 streamed video resources; each of which has been correlated to a program of study in Kindergarten or grades one through twelve. These resources have either been produced or licensed for “authorized users” in Alberta (see http://www.learnalberta.ca/Browse.aspx?View=FAQ&Expand=%203,%20#3 for a description of authorized users).

Searching LearnAlberta.ca by media type (i.e., video), as well as grade, subject and/or keyword reveals information about video resources that fit the search criteria. The displayed information includes: the name of the resource; the grade, subject and outcome correlation; a brief description of the resource including the duration of the video; any plugins that may be required (e.g., Quicktime or Windows Media); and teacher support materials, where available. Clicking on “Start” begins the streaming process. Most video resources are actually video clips or segments of short duration; however, full length videos are also available for viewing.

It is worth noting that members of the Alberta Video Co-Acquisition Consortium (COAC, a partnership of Alberta school districts, learning/media resource centers, regional resource centres and Alberta Education that purchase provincial licenses for educational videos) can access streamed video programs from the COAC web site (https://coac.learnalberta.ca/). These video programs are searchable by distributor, grade, subject, language, and keyword (see https://coac.learnalberta.ca/Search.aspx). COAC members can also borrow DVDs from either their school district or regional media resource centres or purchase masters or copies of licensed COAC video programs for their district. Note that any Alberta school district can become a member of COAC. Visit https://coac.learnalberta.ca/About.aspx to learn more about COAC or contact Jan Dunn, 780-464-5540, jdunn@cams.ab.ca, to become a member.

¹ Denning, David; Department of Social and Natural Sciences, Faculty of Education, University of Victoria; Video in Theory and Practice: Issues for Classroom Use and Teacher Video Evaluation; http://techintegration.cciu.org/Digital%20Video/VidPM.pdf; Retrieved Dec 2007
² Brooks-Young, Susan; Video Streaming: Harnessing a Unique Capability of Technology; ; Retrieved Dec 2007
³ Gallacher, Lynn; British Council; Video and Young Learners; http://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/think/resources/video_young1.shtml; Retrieved Dec 2007
⁴ Streaming media is multimedia that is constantly received by, and normally displayed to, the end-user while it is being delivered by the provider. The name refers to the delivery method of the medium rather than to the medium itself. In other words, the end user can start watching the file almost as soon as it begins downloading. In effect, the file is sent to the user in a (more or less) constant stream, and the user watches it as it arrives. The advantage with this method is that no waiting is involved. Streaming media has additional advantages such as being able to broadcast live events (sometimes referred to as a webcast or netcast). (Adapted from explanations of streaming methods offered at Media College, see http://www.mediacollege.com/video/streaming/overview.html).
⁵ Videos from the CBC Archives are accessed indirectly from their web site via LearnAlberta.ca. To improve the ease of use of the CBC Archives, Alberta Education correlated the CBC video collection to Alberta’s curriculum outcomes. The relevant videos were then annotated and catalogued, and are accessible by searching the LearnAlberta.ca web site. To download the videos, the user is taken to the appropriate page on the CBC Archives web site. These videos are not streamed.

Video Resources by Subject

A quick search of LearnAlberta.ca yielded over 2800 streamed video resources. The subject-categorized videos described below represent only a small fraction of what is available on the web site and are provided here to whet the appetite for further exploration. Be sure to have your LearnAlberta.ca userid and password at hand (available through your principal, jurisdictional technology contact and/or teacher-librarian).

Aboriginal Studies

A search of LearnAlberta.ca using the search string “Aboriginal Studies video” revealed about 160 streamed video segments including:

• Many segments from the Earth Voices Video Series which consist largely of video-taped interviews with Elders, athletes, artists, activists, businesspeople, educators, journalists, musicians, and politicians from the Aboriginal community. For example, watch:
  • Renowned Inuvialuit sculptor Angus Cockney share his experience participating in Icewalk, an international cross-country skiing expedition to the North Pole that took place in 1989 (see http://www.learnalberta.ca/content/asevvs/indexVariable.html?asset=SMIL/EMM_Angus_Cockney_
    Interview_1.smil
    &footer=footer.swf&launch=true); and
  • Bernard Ominayak, chief of the Lubicon Lake First Nation, explain the struggle as he sees it for a negotiated settlement from the perspective of wanting to build a more viable community (see http://www.learnalberta.ca/content/asevvs/indexVariable.html ?asset=SMIL/EMM_Bernard_Ominayak_
    Interview_4.smil&footer=footer.swf&launch=true); and
  • Hugh Dempsey, a respected author, historian, educator, and former associate director of the Glenbow Museum in Calgary, speak about his fascination with the oral history of the Blackfoot. He points out that an accurate knowledge of history is critical to understanding the political problems Aboriginal people face today (see http://www.learnalberta.ca/content/
    asevvs/indexVariable.html?asset=SMIL/EMM_Hugh_Dempsey.smil&footer=footer.swf&launch=true).
• A video depicting several assessment strategies related to teaching foreign languages (see http://www.learnalberta.ca/content/ilas/
  movieLauncher.html?movie=smil/assessment_strategies.smil&launch=true); and
• A video that presents highlights from the Aboriginal Education Showcase held on October 12, 2005 at the Northlands AgriCom in Edmonton. The event provided an opportunity for students and teachers to understand and celebrate the diversity of First Nations, Métis and Inuit cultures. Activities included traditional Aboriginal music and dancing and presentations on a range of topics from Inukshuks to moose hair tufting. The video also features excerpts of speeches from government officials and Aboriginal leaders (see http://www.learnalberta.ca/content/asaes
  /movieLauncher.html?movie=smil/aboriginal_showcase.smil&launch=true).

Chemistry

A search of LearnAlberta.ca using the search string “Chemistry video” revealed almost 200 streamed video segments such as:

• Several segments from the World of Chemistry Series such as an introductory segment on the science of chemistry that includes: site visits, interviews, experiments, and molecular graphics. This segment provides a broad view of the many ways that society depends upon and is affected by chemistry (see http://www.learnalberta.ca/content/sec20/openMovie.html?title=&movie=smil/chemistry_woc.smil&launch=true);
• A video that describes the inter-relationships among chemistry, biology, physics, and engineering and how chemistry is involved in the construction of different kinds of materials and biopolymers. Computers, electron microscopes, tunneling electron microscopes, scanners, and hydrogen fluoride chemical lasers are profiled (see http://www.learnalberta.ca/content/sec20/openMovie.html?title=&movie=smil/futures_woc_whereis.smil&launch=true); and
• The video segments combined with interactive media that are available through the Chemistry 20 resource which addresses numerous topics including: The Diversity of Matter and Chemical Bonding; Forms of Matter: Gases; Matter as Solutions, Acids and Bases; and Quantitative Relationships in Chemical Changes. This resource presents: videos from The World of Chemistry video series (as mentioned above); interactive Gizmos licensed from Explore Learning; and videos that feature chemistry experiments and laboratory demonstrations. For example of the latter see the Halogen Activity Series, a resource that demonstrates the reactivity of halogens and their ions and includes a video with explanatory and inquiry audio tracks, a lesson, extension activity, and answers (see http://www.learnalberta.ca/content/sec20/openInteractive.html?folder=Electrochemistry/halogen_activity_series

English Language Arts

A search of LearnAlberta.ca using the search string “English language arts video” revealed about 80 streamed video segments including:

• A collection of 20 video segments from the ELA Live! Series for Grade 9. This series addresses topics including: understanding texts; skimming and scanning; symbolism; perspective; recording information; transitions; handwriting for different purposes; revisions, connotation and denotation; parallel structure; oral and visual communication; attentive listening and viewing; and group processes (see http://www.learnalberta.ca/content/ellal/index.html?launch=true). For example, see the segment on Symbolism at http://www.learnalberta.ca/content/ellal/MovieResource
  Launcher.htm?asset=movieLauncher.htm?movie=smil/symbolism.smil;
• A collection of 30 video segments from the More ELA Live! Series. This series addresses topics including: engaging prior knowledge; reference strategies; comprehension strategies; tone, purpose, and audience; audience response; clarity, coherence, and emphasis; atmosphere, tone, and voice; irony; musical effects and figures of speech; persuasive techniques; evaluating texts; identifying context; effect of personal factors; developing supporting details; presentation strategies; audience rapport; reviewing the controlling idea; coherence and transitions; word choices; stylistic techniques and rhetorical devices; punctuation; parts of speech; sentences; influence of texts; celebrating achievements; and group processes (see http://www.learnalberta.ca/content/elmlal/index.html?launch=true). For example, see the segment on Achieving Successful Group Processes at http://www.learnalberta.ca/content/elmlal/MovieResourceLauncher.htm?
  asset=movieLauncher.htm?movie=smil/achievingsuccessful.smil&footer=; and
• A video that shows how students can incorporate appropriate transitional words and expressions during the revising stage to make their sentences build on one another and flow smoothly (see http://www.learnalberta.ca/content/ellal/movieLauncher.htm?movie=smil/effectivetransitions.smil&launch=true).

French

A variety of videos are also available in French, most of which are devoted to topics that support the teaching and learning of French as a Second Language, French Language Arts and Français. These videos can be found be using search strings that include the words French or Francais and video. For example, see the video at http://www.learnalberta.ca/content/fl15m2/movieLauncher.html
?smil=quinze_en_ville.smil&launch=true which features people from Pointe-à-Pitre, Guadeloupe and Dijon, France describing various places in their respective cities.

Mathematics

A search of LearnAlberta.ca using the search string “mathematics video” revealed about 70 streamed video segments including:

• A collection of Applied Mathematics videos that demonstrate how mathematics is used to solve problems in everyday life including: budgeting; investments; spreadsheets; sales income; renting vs. buying; cyclic patterns; periodic events; estimating; motor vehicle accident investigation; linear equations; vectors; analysis of graphs; and presentation of statistical data. For example, see the Sales Income video which discusses how a motorcycle shop calculates salary, wage, commission and owner profits (http://www.learnalberta.ca/content/meamr/html/Budgeting/start.html). See the complete Applied Mathematics resource collection at http://www.learnalberta.ca/content
  /meamr/html/index.html; and
• A collection of Junior High Mathematics videos, which are part of a larger resource that also offers interactive math activities, print activities, and learning strategies that illustrate how math is used in everyday life. The resource addresses topics including: Fractions; Integers; Percentages; Rate/Ratio/Proportion; Square Roots; Exponents; Patterns; Algebra; Linear Equations; Polynomials; Angles; Circles; Surface Area and Volume; Area and Perimeter; Triangles; Pythagoras; Trigonometry; Similarity and Congruence; Transformations; Shape Classification; Data Display and Graphs; Central Tendency and Distribution; and Probability. For example, the Exploring Square Roots video takes the viewer to a skateboard park and explains how square roots are used in park design (see http://www.learnalberta.ca/content/mejhm/html/video_interactives/
  squareroots/squareRootsSmall.html?launch=true). To see the entire collection of Junior High Math Interactives in English and French see http://www.learnalberta.ca/content/mejhm/index.html?launch=true and http://www.learnalberta.ca/content/mfjhm/index.html?launch=true respectively.

Science

A search of LearnAlberta.ca using the search string “science video” revealed over 2000 streamed video segments from various sources, most notably the National Geographic Science Centre. Other sources of video include: the Science in Action 9 E-Textbook; and Cyber-Science (Grade 9). A sampling of videos from each of these sources is provided below.

National Geographic Science Centre
The National Geographic Science Centre (see http://www.learnalberta.ca/content/ngs/index.html?launch=true), licensed from The National Geographic Society, includes videos, teachers' guides, activity sheets, data pages, maps, graphics, games, articles, and assessment items. These resources are supplemented with material developed by Alberta Education and are correlated to natural science topics including: Needs of Animals and Plants, Seasonal Changes, Small Crawling and Flying Animals, Animal Life Cycles, Waste and Our World, Plant Growth and Changes, Electricity and Magnetism, Mechanisms Using Electricity, Weather Watch, Wetland Ecosystems, Sky Science, Trees and Forests, Interactions and Ecosystems, Planet Earth, Cells and Systems, Freshwater and Saltwater Systems, and Biological Diversity. A more focused search of LearnAlberta.ca using the search terms “weather video” provides several specific examples of the videos in this collection that relate to Grade 5 learning outcomes associated with the topic of weather (e.g., learn about the importance of weather at http://www.learnalberta.ca/content/ngs/
movieLauncher.htm?movie=smil/weathercomerain_importance.smil&launch=true or take a video quiz on weather at http://www.learnalberta.ca/content/ngs/
movieLauncher.htm?movie=smil/wherestormsbegin_videoquiz.smil&launch=true).

Science in Action 9 E-Textbook
In addition to videos, The Science in Action 9 E-Textbook (http://www.learnalberta.ca/content/seetb/html/index.html) published by Addison Wesley, Pearson Education Canada, provides comprehensive coverage of the Grade 9 Science program, including interactive multimedia and self-assessments. An example of one such video is the Diversity of Life video which can be viewed at http://www.learnalberta.ca/content/seetb/html/movieLauncher.html?movie=video/unit_a/A1_1_P09.mov.

Cyber-Science (Grade 9)
This collection of interactive resources addresses topics including: Biological Diversity; Matter and Chemical Change; Environmental Chemistry; Electrical Principles and Technologies; and Space Exploration. The resources allow students to explore a variety of concepts and to carry out scientific investigations in a number of settings, including virtual science laboratories. Cyber-Science also features several interactive Gizmos licensed from Explore Learning.

Two Cyber-Science resources, Reflecting Telescopes (http://www.learnalberta.ca/content/secs/html/space_exploration/Reflecting
/index.html) and Refracting Telescopes (http://www.learnalberta.ca/content/secs/html/space_exploration/Refracting
/index.html), include videos that feature Frank Florlan from the Telus World of Science. In these videos, Frank describes the features of and safety factors associated with the use of reflecting and refracting telescopes.

Social Studies

A search of LearnAlberta.ca using the search string “social studies video” yielded a list of approximately 160 annotated video resources from a variety of sources including Video Space: Social Studies, the Earth Voices Video Series and the CBC Archives. A sampling of videos from each of these sources is provided below.

Video Space: Social Studies
http://www.learnalberta.ca/content/ssvs/index.html?launch=true
Video Space: Social Studies is a collection of National Film Board videos selected to support the learning outcomes identified in the Social Studies Program of Studies. The videos present stories that promote student learning and inquiry into issues of sense of self, community, and responsible citizenship in an inclusive democratic society. The videos at each grade level have been organized by general outcome or topic of study. For example, three videos are provided to support learning outcomes associated with global citizenship in Grade 3 (e.g., A Family for Maria, Friends of the Family, and Why?). A Family for Maria (http://www.learnalberta.ca/content/ssvs/movieLauncher.html?movie=smil/nfb_familyformaria.smil) tells the story of a young Latin American girl who is adopted by a North American family. This un-narrated video shows Maria’s struggle adapting to her new environment and illustrates some of the problems endured by abandoned children in developing countries

Earth Voices Video Series
http://www.learnalberta.ca/content/asevvs/html/index.html?launch=true
This series offers several video interviews with prominent Aboriginal people that address topics organized under the following headings: worldviews; organization; symbolism; Métis; treaties; legislation; schooling; self-government; land claims; peoples; and issues. Six video interviews ranging from approximately 2 to 8 minutes in duration are available on the topic of treaties (see http://www.learnalberta.ca/ content/asevvs/html/index.html#ID=AB.AB.VID.THEM.TWEN.TREA) including an interview with Harold Cardinal, a Cree lawyer (see http://www.learnalberta.ca/content/asevvs/indexVariable.html?asset=SMIL/EMM_Harold_Cardinal_Interview_1.smil&footer=footer.swf).

CBC Archives
http://www.learnalberta.ca/content/sscbca/index.html
Organized by grade level and general outcome or topic of study, this resource presents descriptions of and links to each video or audio selected from the CBC Archives based on its direct correlation with the Alberta Program of Studies. The historical and cultural perspectives in each news story are engaging, informative, and respectful of the diversity in Canadian society.

Once at the CBC Archives web site, additional details are offered such as: The Story, Did You Know? and Credits which help to enrich the context of each piece. Options to choose more audio and video clips on the same topic are available as is a timeline that displays all available clips on the same topic. A For Teachers section is also provided.

example of one such archival piece is the collection of news clips illustrating Canada’s role as a global peacekeeper (see http://archives.cbc.ca/IDD-1-71-659/conflict_war/diplomacy/). This collection relates to Grade 12 learning outcomes associated with global interactions.