The resource I want to tell you about is Ustream and Ustream Producer. Ustream is a free service which allows you to show live video from any computer that's connected up to the Internet - or even from an iPhone! In other words, you can make your own TV shows about anything you like and broadcast them live to anyone who's interested! Your viewers just need your Ustream URL (web address) and they'll be able to see your show directly.
You can also choose to have your Ustream programme saved on the server, which means that anyone can see the recording of your programme too.
There are thousands of Ustream programmes which other people have made available. Some of them are about outer space, others are about animals, sports programmes, lectures … you name it!
Ustream is an on-line live broadcasting service, which you can find here:
http://www.ustream.tv
Ustream Producer is a free programme you can download from this address:
http://www.ustream.tv/producer
Ustream Producer allows you to prepare the programmes you want to broadcast in advance. One of the options is to include pre-recorded videos with the live show. Let's say that your pupils want to broadcast a show about their favourite beach to their partner schools in the UK. They could have taken a video camera (an ordinary home video camera will do fine) down to the beach and taken some footage of what it looks like and what facilities it's got (… so make sure that they know what 'ruschkana' 'gungor', etc are called in English) … or perhaps they want to make up a play about something that happened there. They can then insert this pre-recorded material directly into their live broadcast.
How teachers can use Ustream
For teachers Ustream can be an invaluable source of live, authentic material. However, since you can also watch recordings, it gives you a chance to prepare study materials around the Ustream broadcast. At present, for example, there's a camera out at the International Space Station, which is broadcasting footage of what's going on their continuously live. There are other cameras watching nests and dens for birds and animals all over the world.
Teachers will need to prepare viewings of the recorded Ustream sessions in the same way that they'd prepare viewings of any recorded videos. A good start is to prepare a list of words which come up in the commentary which you think the pupils might need help with. One standard procedure then is to prepare a worksheet where the pupils tick a box as they hear each word (you could start with the words in order and progress to not having them in the order they appear). You'll also need to prepare some check questions to make sure they've understood what they saw and some exploitation questions which provide the reason for using the resource in the first place.
How pupils can use Ustream and Ustream Producer
This could be a very quick and easy way for your pupils to become producers and directors of movies (stars too). If you have a partner school in another country, this is an excellent way for your pupils to publish work to their tandem class - and to have that class produce programmes for them.
What you need in order to use Ustream:
- A computer connected to the Internet
- A webcam (and/or a DV camera)
- A class of pupils with plenty of imagination who want to appear on TV!
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