Educators call for video production skills to be encouraged
A phenomenon of youngsters producing and uploading online video content is something that educators should strive to promote in the nation’s schools and colleges, according to recent research.
The rise of what has been dubbed the ‘YouTube generation’ has led to calls for skills such as video production and editing to be included in the national curriculum. This following a recent research paper, released by the thinktank, Demos. Researcher and author of the report, Celia Hannon commented.
"It's now as normal for teenagers to write a blog as it is to write a diary - that's a massive shift. Youngsters are working out their relationship to the outside world and forging an identity."
A recent article in the Guardian has held up the shining example of Essex teenager Alex Day, whose video diary on YouTube has amassed over 30,000 subscribers.
There are even suggestions that these video blogs could replace the traditional format of the CV as a means of demonstrating skills to potential employers.
"Schools, universities and businesses should prepare young people for an era where CVs may well be obsolete, enabling them to manage their online reputation" said Hannon.
This news however comes with a note of caution, as young people are being urged to consider the implications of video blogs on their privacy.
"This generation of young people are guineapigs...we need an educational response that extends beyond the focus of safety, towards broader questions of privacy and intellectual property."
James Wilkinson of video streaming and production specialists, Streaming Tank had this to say: “We have realised for several years the value of video production and editing as a vital skill for youngsters, this research illustrates that it has a key role to play in the future of education.”
