Instructify

January 29, 2009

Proyector I am a big fan of using video in the classroom to enhance a lesson. I’m not referring to using an hour long movie to replace my lesson for that day, but adding a 4 minute clip here and a 2 minute clip there can be the difference between kids falling asleep and keeping them engaged. Last year, I used a clip from The Simpsons to demonstrate how the internet can be used. The students loved the video and they understood the concept. It was very powerful.

There is no shortage of video available online. The key is finding something that is going to engage your students yet still be appropriate. I came across a post at the Free Technology for Teachers blog about using Nova in the classroom. The post mentions a site named Snagfilms.

In their own words:

SnagFilms is committed to finding the world‘s most compelling documentaries, whether from established heavyweights or first-time filmmakers, and making them available to the wide audience these titles deserve.
SnagFilms.com is a website where you can watch full-length documentary films for free, but we’re also a platform that lets you “snag” a film and put it anywhere on the web. With a library of ~~nearly 450~~ 510 films, and rapidly growing, you’re bound to find films that resonate with your interests. We make it easy for you to find a film that shines a light on a cause you care about. You can then open a virtual movie theater on any web site, so any one can watch your favorite SnagFilms for free.

SnagFilms can be summed up in four words: Find. Watch. Snag. Support.

My favorite feature of the site is the ability to create my own “virtual movie theater.” You can add up to five films, then embed your movie theater into any site. I’ve embedded my virtual movie theater here.

You can also embed individual films. The video quality is excellent and everything offered is free (which is always good).

Snagfilms

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Photo credit: Roberto Garcia-S on Flickr