Lights, Camera, Action: Broadcasting with youtube live

Video is an ever evolving form of educational technology; however more often than not, the way educators have used video in their classrooms has not evolved quite as quickly. One component of video tools that you should get on board with is live streaming or broadcasting. A live broadcast takes the components of a regular recorded broadcast, but adds the capability of interacting with your audience in real time, easily sharing your videos with very little lag time, and allowing you to save your broadcast for others to view later.

A district-supported tool that you can use for live broadcasting is YouTube Live. This is a tool that is available to all teachers in Jeffco using their @Jeffcoschools.us account. Within our Jeffco domain, YouTube Live is not available for student accounts. If you wish to have students utilize this tool, you will need to have them post to your teacher YouTube channel. Please note, that like all district tools, teachers should not give out their log-in information to students and should supervise any content being posted to their account.

YouTube Live is a great tool for teachers to use because it is easy to get started. First, in order to use this tool, you will need a webcam, a microphone, and a computer. For better overall broadcast quality, it is recommended that you use a wired internet connection with your computer. For information on specific equipment suggestions, you can check out the Tech Tips Broadcasting and Video Conferencingpage.

Once you have the equipment to get started, check out the tutorial below to learn how to use YouTube Live. If you are looking for more detailed directions, you can also review these instructions from ECTS.

As you begin live streaming, you may wonder about the best ways to share your broadcast to an audience. As with any sharing you do, it’s important to first consider the content that you are streaming. For example, you should never share confidential information, you should always check to make sure you have parent permission for recording, and you should always cite any sources when referencing other’s work. You may also consider categorizing your broadcasts as private or unlisted so that you can select your audiences as appropriate. Once you have taken all of these considerations into mind, you can share your live stream by sending out the URL provided when you create a new event. The link will also be located in the bottom right corner of your Hangouts on Air window. You will have a new URL for each live streaming event that you create. 

Hopefully using these quick tips and directions will help you get started using this unique and valuable video tool in your classroom! If you are interested in learning more, please contact your Ed Tech Specialist today!