Need a video to help explain a concept in your first-year seminar? These TED Talks, YouTube videos, and other clips were collected just for you. Use the short descriptions below to find videos that fit your curriculum. The form is a guide to help you easily decipher the video’s length, main purpose, and discussion points for class and possible reflection questions for a student assignment.
If you need a resource in an accessible format, please contact Mike Slocum.
*Matt Cutts: Try something new for 30 days
This video introduces the concept of study habits and time management and gives one way to try to change the ones a student comes into college with.
This video emphasizes education as a means for self-improvement and the opportunity to make college a fresh start.
This video is good as a motivational piece and could pair well with a time management lecture.
*Ruth Chang: How to make hard choices
This is a good video for students because it emphasizes the importance of personal values against outside pressure. It’s good for them to know that they have options and don’t have to drift.
*Chimamanda Adichie: The danger of a single story
This video focuses on the necessity of having multiple points of view and not accepting one story as the definitive idea of anything. This is a great way to discuss choosing majors and not choosing based on one piece of information.
*Derek Sivers: How to start a movement
This video emphasizes the fact that there isn’t just one leader in any situation and that it takes multiple people to get things going.
*Simon Sinek: How great leaders inspire action
This video reminds students that they need to be driven by a purpose.
This is good for students because it advocates for a new perspective on failure. This is especially good for first-year students, especially those who did well in high school because they tend to shut down when the first thing goes wrong in a semester.
*Margaret Heffernan: Dare to disagree
This video speaks about critical thinking and questioning what we think we know. It helps students to understand how to think critically and how to describe what it means to think critically.
This video allows your students to meet the student success advisors and career consultants in University College Academic and Career Development (ACD). Our team is here to serve students and to help them plan for success—both during college and after. Watch this video with your students to introduce them to the staff in the office.
College is the time for students to learn more about themselves, discover new interests, and take initiative to shape their future. This video provides an overview of the possibilities and how ACD can assist students in the process of self-discovery. The intent of this video is to get students excited about the career development process and the possibilities of experiential learning.
*Student interviews on major exploration
This video introduces IU Indianapolis students who went through the process of exploring majors. Students will be able to learn about the stories and the advice their peers have to offer regarding career exploration. Through this video, the process of major exploration is normalized.
