YouTube, Podcasting, and blurred lines
A colleague here at the university has begun posting vodcasts for one of his Communication courses on YouTube.
While viewing his vodcast/video recording it occurred to me that YouTube may represent an evolution in the idea of podcasting and vodcasting. Until YouTube arrived, vodcasts were not nearly as numerous as podcasts, and now YouTube hosts millions of videos. Whether or not you consider the “real” education videos on YouTube the equivalent of vodcasts, I think YouTube represents new potential for podcasters and vodcasters.
Like podcasts, vodcasts on YouTube vary widely in quality. For example, the vodcast for the UCLA Ed leadership Program (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQ9eUxuvcbY) is a good example of a fairly polished video. And, the commentary on educational technology by Ian Jukes (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJOYFmfb8Ng&mode=related&search=) looks like a fairly well produced clip.
Many of the videos on YouTube range from poor to bad in terms of quality. However, the shear number of videos posted on YouTube indicates another convergence of technology and broad social interest. Podcasting research has barely begun, and a new channel with educational potential is making a big splash.
YouTube does have it’s down sides however. While viewing my colleague’s vodcast, my eyes wandered around the screen, and I noticed links to a XXX video with a vulgar title. Pop-ups, and annoying ads are one thing, but some educators may be skittish about having porn-like video titles appearing on the same page as their video. Of course, that’s more of an interface issue that could be addressed by YouTube (or Google, now that they have bought the company).
