Contents
- Overview
- Part 1: Video Best Practices
- Part 2: Visual Storytelling
- Part 3: Wrap-up and Assignment
- Assignments
Overview
We will discuss who you are, what brought you to this class, what / who inspires you, and what you’d like to get out of this class. Today’s lecture will focus on an introduction to the educational video genre, world of YouTube, and making videos. The second half of class will be a video workshop led by Chris Boebel.
Part 1: Video Best Practices
Video Chapters
- Introduction and rationale for the course
- Education and entertainment on YouTube
- Examples and discussion of educational science videos on YouTube
- In-class activity: Educational video analysis
- What makes a good YouTube video?
In-class Media: Video Best Practices
- CrazyRussianHacker. “10 Science Experiments You Can Do at Home Compilation.” June 9, 2014. YouTube.
- SmarterEveryDay. “Slow Motion Flipping Cat Physics | Smarter Every Day 58.” August 8, 2012. YouTube.
- AsapSCIENCE. “What If You Stopped Sleeping?” September 22, 2013. YouTube.
- Vsauce. “Why Are Things Creepy?” July 2, 2013. YouTube.
- Connections. “Whodunit?” Season 2, Episode no. 4 (first broadcast in 1994).
In-class Activity: Educational Video Analysis
Students began watching each of the videos below and recorded how long they continued watching. Afterwards, the class discussed the reasons why they wanted to watch some videos for longer than others.
In-class Media: Communicating Evolution
- Evolution. “Bill Nye the Science Guy.” Season 3, Episode no. 6. (first broadcast on 18 February 1995 by PBS).
- Cosmos. “One Voice in the Cosmic Fugue.” Episode no. 2 (first broadcast on 5 October 1980).
- SciShow. “World’s Most Asked Questions: What is the Meaning of Life?” October 21, 2014. YouTube.
- Veritasium. “Forest of Friendship, Baggage Carousel of Jerks.” April 2, 2014. YouTube.
- TED-Ed. “Five Fingers of Evolution–Paul Andersen.” May 7, 2012. YouTube.
- AsapSCIENCE. “The Evolution of Life on Earth.” November 28, 2012. YouTube.
- Khan Academy. “Introduction to Evolution and Natural Selection.” September 21, 2009. YouTube.
- MIT OpenCourseWare. “Lec 31 | MIT 7.0014 Introductory Biology, Spring 2005.” February 8, 2008. YouTube.
Part 2: Visual Storytelling
Video Chapters
Part 3: Wrap-up and Assignment
Video Chapters
- Explanation of Day 1 assignments
- Resources needed for the assignments: Annotation Studio, Tumblr, and YouTube
In-class Media: Stem Pitch
- Time. “10 Questions for Neil deGrasse Tyson.” June 27, 2008. YouTube.
- SciShow. “3 Amazing Photosynthetic Animals.” November 15, 2012. YouTube.
Assignments
Assignment
What’s one aspect of science / engineering that you find fascinating? Can you tell it in a nugget that a middle schooler could remember and find fascinating / memorable, that acts like a trailer for a 5-min. episode on that topic? Post your 1-2 min. pitch to the class tumblr with the tag #day1pitch and think about how this could grow into a full-fledged episode. How would you convince someone with a middle-school background they should care? How would you engage their curiosity? Brainstorm 3 other possible pitches based on other STEM “nuggets” and bring to class tomorrow.
Daily Blog / Vlog
Provide documentation on your process / difficulties in completing this assignment. This can take the form of a written blog post reflection, photos, another “selfie” video (<2 min.), or other creative media format of your choice. Upload the post to the class tumblr with the tag #day1.
