Edu 800 Annotation Week 6

Shrum, W., Duque, R., & Brown, T. (2005). Digital video as research practice: Methodology for the millennium. Journal of research practice, 1(1), M4-M4.

             Shrum, Duque,  and Brown’s article discusses the value of using digital video for research into ethnography, a science devoted to the study of human interactions and customs. The advent of digital technology has vastly impacted the ways that researchers can use video to help in documenting and preserving ethnographic behaviors in different cultures as well as help to understand how humans connect and collaborate with each other. The authors suggest that in the future, there will be an even greater need and use for this technology as advances and developments make it more accessible to users.

            The strength of this article lies in the fact that the authors were right in their predictions regarding the advancements in technology over the next 20 years. Since its publication in 2005, so much has changed in digital video. Nowadays, every person on the street potentially has a high-quality video recording device in the palms of their hands. Cell phone manufacturers have placed significant emphasis on designing and providing the very best digital video and camera capabilities possible on all smartphones now.

            With the advent of social platforms like Tik Tok, YouTube, and Instagram, the need for devices that make stellar recordings is ever increasing. If I could speak to the authors of this essay, I would like to tell them that their future is now.  Some of the things that I felt were incredibly relevant were how digital video never degrades with copy, can be edited easily, and even more easily transferred. Since the pandemic, educators have increasingly relied upon digital video for so many parts of the educational process. We have live video conferences via Zoom, Meets, or some other platform as well as the ability to post video content on educator websites and teaching platforms. We even have the ability to have students submit their work via video as well. When I consider all these things, it makes me aware of the fact that we have to diligently work to keep up with the in this race for technology development or get left behind.