I wrote about Next Vista last winter when I first discovered the site. Since then I’ve met the founder of Next Vista, Ruston Hurley, and learned more about the site. Next Vista is a non-profit organization dedicated to hosting and sharing original, educational videos. There are three main video classifications that Next Vista uses. The Light Bulbs category is for videos that teach you how to do something and or provides an explanation of a topic. The Global Views video category contains videos created to promote understanding of cultures around the world. The Seeing Service video category highlights the work of people who are working to make a difference in the lives of others.
The collection of videos has grown substantially since my original review of Next Vista. In particular, the mathematics section of the Light Bulbs category has grown a lot. To continue the growth of the video libraries, Next Vista is interested in hosting and sharing videos created by students. Next Vista is designed for classroom use so all videos are screened for inappropriate and inaccurate content. Next Vista videos can be downloaded directly from the site. The download option is great for teachers that work in schools that have very restrictive web filters.
Applications for Education
Next Vista is a good video resource for classroom use. A good classroom project could be to have students create videos in which they share their favorite mathematics tips. Students can then contribute those videos to Next Vista where they can help other mathematics students.
Here are some related items that may be of interest to you:
30+ Alternatives to YouTube
Most Teachers Have or Will Download YouTube Videos
Vidque – Create a Library of Educational Videos