Vlog Directions

Before you get started with your vlog adventures, let’s talk about what a vlog is and how you should approach vlogging for our course. You have likely created a blog in a course—a writing based reflective tool with images or videos embedded periodically (maybe) among entries written by you, usually based on a specific topic. Well, a vlog is a video format blog. Same sort of purpose—to share thinking with an audience over a collection of entries, but in video form (sometimes heavily edited and sometimes largely unedited). In our class, you will use a vlog to respond to the modules and then view your small group peers’ vlogs to understand their thinking alongside you about the lives of teachers.

What platform will we use in this class?

We will be using YouTube accounts to upload videos, providing a place for your collection of vlogs to be organized. For each published vlog, you will post your unlisted or public YouTube link to your small group’s discussion board so that peers can respond to your vlog and you can respond to their vlogs, too.

How do I set up my YouTube Channel?

You will need a Gmail account which is free. Once you create an account, use this easy tutorial to get set up with a channel. Be thoughtful about your name, tags, and overall set up; you may initially create this/build on your current account solely for our class but find by May that you enjoy this format of teacher identity and storytelling. I strongly encourage you to set up your presence with the possibility of (1) creating a small but regular following and (2) continuing vlogging after our class is finished.

Vlog Basics

Check your sound and video; do a test.

Make good eye contact but look at notes as needed; keep it natural and do not edit for natural pauses, collecting thoughts, noises—these should be real life not edited extensively.

Keep it succinct. 7‐8 minutes is sufficient for synthesizing the module content, personal reflection, and any additional features (see below for examples) you hope to add.

Back up your finished file on Google Drive or some other reliable storage in case you have upload your video a second time.

Upload in an area with strong internet speed—otherwise upload may stall and fail and require a restart.

Check that your link is live before submitting the published vlog.

What should I include in my vlogs? Each module will include prompts that you should address in your published vlog. How you format the actual published vlog is entirely up to you, as long as the content in the module is addressed. For example, you may set up a pattern of opening the module with a recap of teacher life since your last vlog, then move into the prompts, pose questions or considerations for the viewing audience, and end with personal connections. A second example is using a different setting for each vlog, going right to the module info, and then making connections between the module content and your life in the last two weeks. A third example is setting up a pattern of design similar to examples 1 or 2 but including a feature teaching strategy or tool each time (e.g., children’s literature tied in to the module content, for example). A fourth example is filming each vlog directly from your classroom and including teacher to teacher talk that is either directly or indirectly connected to the module (e.g., showcase a part of your teaching or classroom design that connects to the module’s content, have a parent guest tal when discussing building relationships, bring a colleague in to talk with you about a topic). Outside of the prompts you should respond to thoughtfully, you have full control over how your vlogs are designed for each module.

What’s next after I publish a vlog?

Finished and published vlogs should be shared to your group’s discussion board by 11:59PM on the due date. All links should be either public or unlisted (your choice). It is your responsibility to be sure the link works.

What should I consider about my online presence through vlogging?

Given that you will create or extend a current YouTube presence through vlogging, I do ask that you do not provide photos of students and if you show work samples, please cover any last names. You are welcomed to share your school name or city to contextualize, but be aware of oversharing here. In general, do not share more than you would in a written blog, but certainly capitalize on the opportunity to show your classroom space, be more conversational, and simply demonstrate the life of a teacher differently than you can in a fully written response. If you have reservations about using your name online through a vlog presence, you may use your first name only or Ms./Mr. ______; if you have serious concerns about creating videos with identifying footage (i.e., your face is shown), please contact me and we can discuss ideas for increasing your anonymity online.

So do we not write for this class at all?

Most definitely! First, your final project, depending on your choice, may be completely synthesis and writing. Second, you will respond in writing to each of your group members’ vlogs, potentially circling back to module materials or providing your own connections. Third, when you think about a published vlog entry, you are using the authoring cycle to prepare your response to the modules, even though you may use more speaking here than writing. Finally, from time to time, your module directions will also require a writing component separate from the vlogs—your vlogs and peer responses are the most comprehensive form of student response, but not the only opportunity you will have to respond.