Mediathread is used in numerous courses and departments across Columbia University. These real-life examples show how Mediathread can be used to enhance teaching and learning in three different areas: teacher education, social work, and film study.

Example: Analyzing student teaching at Teachers College

Course: The Development of Mathematical Thinking
Department: Human Development, Teachers College
Instructor: Herbert Ginsburg, Sarantoula Sandra Pappas Schattman, Azadeh Jamalian, and Samantha Creighan

Background: Professor Ginsburg and his co-instructors use Mediathread throughout his course on early childhood mathematics education, a course that focuses on theories of developmental psychology as well as teaching and assessment practices derived from research. A series of assignments integrating readings with video footage prepares students to discuss and debate interpretations of learning behavior.

Implementation: For the first ten weeks of the course, students are required to post short essays about clinical interviewing techniques. They also post a weekly reflection on what they learned during in-class instruction. The final project for the course is a comprehensive essay in Mediathread. For this project, students first videotape themselves teaching and interviewing a child to assess the child's mathematical skills development. Then, in Mediathread, students write an analysis of their interaction with the child, using video to provide supporting evidence of class concepts. Professor Ginsburg and his co-instructors then assesses his students' mastery of theory, teaching and interviewing skills, and interpretation of the video.

See also:
Mediathread Example: Social Work
Mediathread Example: Film Study