Response to Chris Anderson

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I like the point that Chris Anderson makes about the power of web videos. Seeing what other people are able to do does force us to "step our game up." This could be used in teaching by the innovation of teaching sources, materials, and ideas being collected in online groups, which has already begun. I can see, as I have from my growing PLN on Twitter, what other teachers can do and have done, giving me ideas to bring into my own classroom. There is virtually no end to the amount of material and people I can find online. The fact that teachers can give me ideas leads me to want to contribute. Anderson talks about the desire people have to gain the noteriaty based on previous people's success. This extends not just to viral video sensations, but to people in any type of job. What if I can help a million other teachers just by sharing one of my own ideas online? What a cool concept.
I believe that this concept could stem out to students, as well. Just as that six year old learned to dance, maybe a sophomore in high school can finally "get" Geometry by watching a video on the Khan Academy website. There are countless sites students can go to to find information to help with homework. Some people may argue against these sites, however, if the student is learning, should it matter? Should I, as a teacher, take offense to the fact that my students did not learn from me but actually took the time to watch a video online to learn it? No, I should be jumping for joy that they took that time and that they have such resources available to them.
How cool would it be to someday connect your classroom via video to a classroom halfway across the world? Just recently at the school where I work, a former student Skyped a group of other students from his semester abroad in Europe. So amazing! I loved this video and loved the ideas it brought up. Online videos are far more than cute animal videos on Youtube (although those are great, too!). This medium offers a wealth of opportunity for not only education, but human life in general.