I remember when I was a kid and one of my teachers would show a 8mm film from the 60's in class. Those film strips were painful to watch. Not only were they boring but they lacked any substance. Later, with the advent of cable and the hundreds of TV channels, our options increased. Now better shows could be recorded on VHS.
Now as many of you are sure aware, the Internet can provide those shows to us for free and on demand. No longer do you have to have a pile of VHS tapes laying around. With the creation of tools like Slingbox, which brings live TV to your computer, and Hulu.com, access to relevant shows has never been easier and simpler.
While Hulu.com may not have access to all the shows you want yet, the model itself is worth acknowledging. As we move further into the 21st century, it will be Internet's ability to provide the resources we need for education to greater and greater numbers of people that will truly change the world. The equity that an Internet connection has brought will not only enhance education but provide more and more people with the opportunities to learn.
While streaming video and it's potential cannot be overlooked as a fad, it's potential is only as good as how it is implemented. As educators we must make sure that while we provide access to these tools, they do not stand alone as the only means of instruction. The video is a tool that must be supported by the proper activities and methods of reinforcement for a true educational impact.
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