UW on YouTube

The University of Waterloo now has a YouTube channel. This channel, which can be found at www.youtube.com/uwaterloo is currently home to 84 uploaded videos – and is continuing to grow. It has received over 3000 channel views and upwards of 46,000 total upload views.

The channel has a diverse selection of videos that include science lectures, UW top ten lists, residences, academic programs, guest speakers, and businesses started by alumni. Channel videos include “Dead Aid: Why Aid is Not Working and How There is a Better Way for Africa,” “Bill Gates’ February 2008 visit to the University of Waterloo,” “Graduate Studies at UW,” “ Geography and Aviation: Night Flight,” and “Talking Fair Trade Coffee.”

The most viewed video on the channel is “Thank You to Alumni @ IBM.” The video features UW students thanking IBM employees for contributing funds used to upgrade the university facilities and to provide scholarships. Although this is the most viewed video, it has an average rating of only 2 out of 5 stars. The low ratings of this well intended video are potentially due to the over used text animation, the screen in screen shots, the shaky camera work, or the over-enthusiastic students in the video.

UW’s YouTube channel will also help to ensure that you get your daily dose of cheese. If you would like to see what I mean, check out a video entitled “Who is The Mathiest? Math by Video – Problem 8: Lite-Brite Points,” which creates geometry problems based on the Lite-Brite toy.

UW faculty, staff and students are encouraged to contribute videos related to the university. According to UW’s Web Manger for Communications and Public Affairs, Sarah Forgrave, “We are seeking video contributions that reflect the university’s attributes and share our research, stories, and innovations with the world. These may include, but are not limited to, lectures, interviews, promotional material, and features on the activities of [the University of] Waterloo. All contributions will be reviewed for suitability and videos from Waterloo students are welcomed, and encouraged.”

If you wish to upload a video to the channel, you must use the Waterloo YouTube Uploader, which can be found at www.youtube.uwaterloo.ca. Once at this page, you will be prompted to enter your WatIAM userid and password, read over the content standards and technical standards, and check a box indicating that you have read the guidelines and believe that your upload is suitable.

Considering midterms are lurking just over the horizon, you might want to check out UW’s YouTube Channel to help delay studying the next time you have exhausted all your usual procrastination websites.