We have always had further goals for this channel and today marks the first steps down the road to the intended improvements. Melinda is establishing a new YouTube channel of her own, called "40 weeks, 40 classrooms!", to begin to release content-based videos intended for CRTs, Tutors and parents wanting a deeper involvement in their child's education.
You will notice that unlike our regular videos, these are monetized. Over time Melinda will be donating some of her videos to the Network which will also be monetized on the Wodonga CRT Support Network's YouTube channel. The income from these donated videos will be given directly to the Wodonga CRT Support Network to help generate a little bit of extra funding to help the Network along in it's day to day operations.
This will allow us to have a little bit extra for catering at meetings and to buy supplies and equipment that the Network needs to operate. Keep in mind that the Network is volunteer run and none of it's officers or members are paid in any way for their services from Network funds! It all goes back into supporting local CRTs.
Melinda hopes to inspire other CRT's to follow in her footsteps down this road of alternative funding for the Network.
So... How will it work?
Having held meetings for over 3 years now, one thing we have come to understand is that everyone has something to offer the CRT community. Whether it be a strategy, a resource or even words of encouragement we havn't run into anyone who doesn't have something valuable to add.
If you want to plan and film a video using your camera, phone or other video device? All you need to do is get the raw video to us and we will edit it, add credits and upload it to the channel. You will get to see the video before it's released and have final approval!
If you don't have the know-how or equipment to make your own videos? We will be organizing days for those of you who wish to bring something to the table! We will organize a venue, bring our camera gear along and help you through the process!
If you are camera shy? That's perfectly OK too! We will play email tag with you about your ideas and when it's all in good shape? We will find someone to go in front of the camera on your behalf. You will recieve full credit for being the one with the ideas and putting in the hard yards, ensuring that you can claim the appropriate amount towards your PD hours should you wish to!
Why video?
Well, we set ourselves a bunch of criteria when we were deciding on which avenues we should pursue (and this won't be the only one!).
First, we wanted to give those of you that keep wanting to give us extra money a way you could give us extra money without actually having to give us money! Online monetization just seemed an obvious way to allow this to happen. Video is one of the easiest ways to go about this one! While we don't expect a huge influx that allows the Network to start funding it's own PD any time in the near future? Every little bit helps.
Next we wanted something that would spread outside of the Network itself to benefit as many CRTs and their students as possible!
We also wanted to do something that you could point to in other arenas (like in job interviews, community events and the like) and say "here's me, not just being a teacher but being an active member of my profession interested in the whole educational community".
And most importantly? We wanted these to be avenues where you could branch out on your own, independant of the Network, and build your own solid offering for the benefit of the world wide CRT community.
This is just a first step and there are places to go from here. We are attempting to ensure that the Network, it's members, other CRTs and our students all gain the maximum benefit possible out of these moves forward.
Where to go from here?
For the time being this will be it. Things like this take time to build up a following and it can be a lot of hard work to get it off the ground. We don't want to take steps that are too big to manage and see everything fall in a heap just because we rushed it like a bull at a gate!
Rest assured there are plans in place on where to go from here and we will be taking those steps when it's time! Until then? We need help to build.
Do you have Facebook? Google+? Twitter? When new videos are posted please share them! Help us get the word out and build a following for our Youtube channel. Do you have a Youtube channel of your own? Please follow us and subscribe to the Network's channel.
So when will all this start?
Soon. We are currently working on a video or two to kick off the whole process and get the ball rolling.
Do you have some good ideas for us? As always you can email wodongaCRT@vit.vic.edu.au to get in touch with us.
If you think you can beat us to the punch? The race is on, lets see who wins! Donate your video to us and we will edit it, add credits, give you some approval time and upload it if you are happy with the result. Alternatively you could even start your own Youtube channel, send us the video link and we'll give you a guest spot on the blog!
Lets get cracking!
Regards,
Paul
(Network 2IC).
** This Youtube Channel has now been added to the YouTube channels links in our sidebar! **
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