Never fear! Online TV is here! You have been freed from the constraints of network and cable schedules with Web TV. To make it even better, a whole pile of movies are also available on demand and free of charge.
Isn't this overkill?
Maybe. TiVo and DVRs already made it possible to alter your viewing schedule. But consider the value of having TV clips and episodes as well as full-length movies at your fingertips for school use. If you saw something on The Daily Show last night that would tie-in perfectly to what you're teaching in class, you can play the clip. Or if you're reading classic Steinbeck and want to see the characters in action, you can watch Of Mice and Men in its entirety -- FREE.
Enter Hulu and Joost.
Hulu and Joost are two of the most popular sites that provide free video on demand. Another streaming site gaining ranks is Fancast. Of course, there are also full-length TV shows in YouTube. Included in their vast array of offerings are current and classic TV series (full episodes and clips), special programs such as National Geographic specials, and full-length movies. Another great thing: little to no advertisement. (It's amazing how short these shows are without commericals!) These sites also allow you to embed video in other places, such as your blog or your web page. And since it's a Web 2.0 tool, you can share recommendations with other viewers -- but you have
to create an account if you wish to do so. Creating an account also lets allows you to put items in a queue for future viewing, see what others are currently watching, get updates as to what is new, and join special interest groups. Perhaps the only downside is that some of the clips and episodes have expiration dates and will not be available indefinitely. And, no, there is no way to download them at this point.In addition, most network and cable TV stations offer some full episodes and TV clips on their own websites. If you're addicted to HGTV, you're in luck -- full episodes. Or if you've heard from several others that a new show is great, but you've missed the first couple episodes, go to the network's site and see if past episodes are available.
Other streaming sites of interest: FreeDocumentaries.org and SnagFilms, both sources for documentaries and other nonfiction films/trailers. And don't forget about Discovery Streaming, a service to which we currently subscribe.
Other streaming sites of interest: FreeDocumentaries.org and SnagFilms, both sources for documentaries and other nonfiction films/trailers. And don't forget about Discovery Streaming, a service to which we currently subscribe.
Our Challenge to You:
- Explore both Hulu and Joost. Focus on finding TV Shows, movies, or clips that would be useful in the classroom. (Or, if you prefer, for your personal life.)
- When you find something of interest, look for the share icon in Hulu or the Facebook icon on Joost to post the item to your Facebook profile.
- Find the embed code, and embed the video into your blog post. See the screencast below if you need help doing this. (This is also how you would embed videos from, say, YouTube into your blog or web page.)
Points of Discussion for Your Blog:
- Take a moment to recommend some of the TV shows or movies you found on these sites. (If you feel so inclined, you could include the link to these shows as well. Simply highlight the words, click on the little greenish link icon while your writing your blog post, and paste in the URL. This will make a hyperlink.)
- Do you think having access to on-demand TV and video will change your viewing habits? Why or why not?
- How do you think this is affecting the television industry?
Take It a Step Further: (Optional)
- Create a login and add items to your queue for possible later viewing.
- Through your account, recommend a video to a friend, join a group, or explore the add-ons to the website.
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