You Tube Brings Presidential Debates To Classroom

by Lisi Genaidy
10.25.07

The project handout was familiar to others in all aspects: there were the usual requirements listed, but topics and groups were left up to students. Everything about the assignment was the same except for the signature YouTube logo.

This was the handout Ray Keller’s government students received. Their project was to create, edit and execute a video to submit as a possible question to the Republican presidential candidates who will participate in the YouTube debates.

“The first thing I did was watch the Democratic YouTube debates over the summer and I liked it,” Keller said. “I thought it was fun. I thought young people would like it. It’s a neat way to get them involved in the political process.”

Topics chosen by students included abortion, illegal immigration, space exploration, the war in Iraq and the death penalty.

“Our issue was on illegal immigration,” junior Andrew Blair said. “We chose it because it seems like a lot of the country is split over it.”

After being examined for appropriate context and content, the videos were uploaded to YouTube where virtually anyone can currently view and comment on them. Steve Groves, head of News and Politics for Google and YouTube, who is in charge of setting up the debate with CNN, is among the videos’ viewers.

“He wanted to know what we did and how we did it,” Keller said. “Later on he might want to get in contact and talk about it, to show how we’ve used YouTube in the classroom.”

Aside from making a good grade, students potentially face their video being picked and flown to Florida with a parent for the debates. However only 40 videos will be used for questions on the debate. Many students agree that their videos most likely won’t be chosen, but they still think their question should be asked.

“I think it’s paramount that teenagers be politically aware and vote,” junior Michael Watson said. “I think this has helped a little bit.”

Image from www.youtube.com