Choose Your Own Adventure Videos

In this blog post, Greg Kulowiec, a high school history teacher and classroom technology integration specialist, describes how to create your own Choose Your Own Adventure videos on YouTube. Students plan and shoot videos, and then create clickable hot spots on the videos linking to other videos they've made representing the choices.

Kulowiec's students used the concept to create videos comparing the French Revolution and recent Egyptian revolutions. Two examples of these projects can be selected and viewed at the end of the string of tutorial videos.

This format encourages contrast and comparison. Perhaps viewers can choose different actions "at" a historical event—watching versus active participation, for example—and the viewer's decision can link to videos relating the accounts of eyewitnesses and participants who made similar decisions. Another option would be to have students create works of historical fiction, or videos which describe class differences (choose between being born into a wealthy family or a poor family in a particular time and place, choose between being born male or female, etc.). The opportunities are endless.

Finally, the comments provide some insight into green-screen techniques for beginners.

(Note: To view the videos, you will need to be connected to a network that allows YouTube access.)