1,000,000 minutes of historical YouTube goodness (and cat videos)

What could you do with one million minutes of historical YouTube video clips? If I’ve done my arithmetics correctly, that’s almost 7000 days or just over 19 years worth of video goodness. What could you do with that many video clips?

Deliver a base of foundational knowledge. Hook students into content. Develop writing prompts. Supplement instructional. Create a playlist of subject and period specific clips. Generate interest in a topic. Design a PBL unit around a series of related videos.

If your brain isn’t already bouncing off the walls in your head with other possible ideas, head over to the AP and Movietone YouTube channels to check out thousands of online video resources. I will guarantee that you’ll leave the vault with all sorts of possibilities.

According to their press release, the Associated Press and British Movietone, one of the world’s most comprehensive newsreel archives, are together bringing more than 1 million minutes of digitized film footage to YouTube. Showcasing the moments, people and events that shape the world, it will be the largest upload of historical news content on the video-sharing platform to date.

Hacking #iste2015: Tammy is terrific and so are her video flipping tips

One of the first people who welcomed me to ESSDACK 15 years ago was Tammy Worcester. Even back then Tammy was a rock star, publishing books and posting powerful tips on her site – Tammy’s Technology Tips for Teachers. And she was incredibly helpful as I settled into the ESSDACK world.

Several years ago, Tammy left the Hutchinson office and moved east. She still works for ESSDACK but we don’t often enough have the pleasure of spending time with her face to face. So, of course, when she’s doing an ISTE session, I want to be there.

Because she’s still a rock star. Bigger even. Because she’s got great stuff to share.

Sweet Googleness: Goggle tools, tips, tricks – Part Deux

Yesterday I shared something most of you already know. I love the Google. I’m getting into the idea of Keep and Tasks, my new favorite Google tools. Yesterday, you got a few of my favorite Google Search tips and tricks.

Today? Google Drive and YouTube.

It’s Big Block of Cheese Day! And #SOTU

If you’re a West Wing fan – and I know you are – Big Block of Cheese Day is something you’re already familiar with. If for some reason Big Block of Cheese Day doesn’t ring a bell, head over here for a quick West Wing refresher.

The West Wing version of Big Block of Cheese Day was inspired by an open house hosted by President Jackson in 1837, for the public to mingle with cabinet members and White House staffers, where guests were served slices from a 1,400-pound block of cheese.

And tomorrow, for the second year in a row, the current White House is offering up an actual version of Big Block of Cheese Day. It’s all part of the State of the Union goings-on and for me, it’s like Christmas in January.

HBO, The March of Time, and free historical videos

It’s never easy finding short video clips that you can use in a history or geography class. Thanks to HBO’s YouTube channel, it’s gotten just a little easier.

HBO has created a series of playlists that includes a variety of old and new video clips. And they seem like a perfect fit for talking about human geography and regions or for using as introductory activities to different history topics.

My favorite?

Tip of the Week: Vine, or how I learned to love history in 6 seconds

I’ll be honest. I really had no idea what Vine was until this summer. It was my college-age son, of course, who introduced me to the tool.

And I never laughed so hard.

Jake is great at telling incredibly funny stories in the six seconds of video allowed by Vine. Most of the clips he created involved me and the rest of his family. I’m pretty sure that I had nothing to do with the funny parts.

If you’re not familiar with Vine, it’s fairly simple. Vine is a mobile app that that lets you capture six seconds of video and post it online. Just as Twitter is a micro-blog of 140 characters, Vine is a micro-video of just six seconds.

Think visual Twitter and you’ve got it.

I know what you’re thinking. Six seconds? Really? But just like thousands of educators are using Twitter as part of teaching and learning, more and more teachers are finding ways to incorporate Vine into their classrooms. So what does that look like?