The Canon HF200 ($600) is versatile and with Adobe Premiere Elements v.7 ($60 with educational discount) editing software will let you produce video for the web and DVD with no additional software.  It records to 32GB flash memory cards. Much more re-usable than tape, cutting down on supplies in the future. 

We get our software through UCD’s discounter: http://www.ships.shi.com/go/ucdavis

Here’s info about the Canon Vixia HF200 camera: http://reviews.cnet.com/digital-camcorders/canon-vixia-hf200/4505-6500_7-33483231.html?tag=rnav

 If you just want really simplistic, web-only video, the Flip is very popular. http://reviews.cnet.com/digital-camcorders/flip-video-mino-black/4507-6500_7-33059747.html?tag=mncol;psum  Again, this is not good quality for full-screen TV/DVD video, but it is simple.

Communication Services can provide shooting and editing training as needed. Feel free to contact me.

Mike