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| Reviewed: |
Apr 06, 2012 by Psychology |
| Overview: |
The material takes the form of a Fast Company article by author John Pavlus. The article describes and examines the Born to Learn project, an initiative that has produced “a series of short, simple animations aimed at raising awareness about how the minds of young humans are ‘born to learn’--but not necessarily [to] ‘be taught.’" The Born to Learn project’s three (3) short videos are embedded in the article. The videos present both historical perspectives and important research findings about human learning, and they form the foundation of an argument that is “aimed at changing attitudes about how we mold young minds.” The article’s embedded collection of short videos can be used to inform class discussions or assignments that address learning (particularly in adolescents) and the efficacy of current educational practices. Its use in class would be particularly appropriate for undergraduate students (psychology, education, general education). It also would be useful for workshops/ training for educators, teachers, and course designers.
The Born to Learn website contains further detail about the project as well as additional resources: http://www.born-to-learn.org |
| Learning Goals: |
1. Students will understand how evolution, history, and current research contribute to the knowledge base on human learning.
2. Students will achieve a heightened understanding of an emerging perspective on the relationship between human learning and current educational practices. |
| Target Student Population: |
• Undergraduate students taking courses in psychology, education, or general education
• Educators (teachers, college professors) and course designers. |
| Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills: |
No prerequisite skills or knowledge are required. |
| Type of Material: |
Collection (of animated cartoons demonstrating the need for a change of teaching method in the educational system). |
| Recommended Uses: |
• Resource for class discussions and assignments.
• Presentation for educational workshops and training. |
| Technical Requirements: |
• The article and the embedded animations can be surfed without special software. (Successfully accessed and viewed with Internet Explorer Version 8) |
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| Strengths: |
• The animations represent a creative vehicle for communicating a perspective that current educational practices are out of step with research findings (as well as evolutionary and historical perspectives) on how humans learn. The material presents a complicated topic using a simple/easy technique, and the simplicity of the presentation will intrigue the viewers, at any educational level.
• The article in which the animations are embedded offers a brief analysis of the Born to Learn project’s perspective, thus providing a foundation for class debate and discussion. |
| Concerns: |
• Instructors who use the article or animations as a resource should expect to develop their own context, learning goals, activities, and assignments. |
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Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool |
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| Strengths: |
• The three animated videos represent a progression of concepts on human learning (with emphasis on adolescents) that simply but clearly integrate information that is gleaned from evolution, human history, and current research.
• The article website is interactive; readers/viewers can post their opinion and view others’ opinions through the links posted in the website. • Readers/viewers can explore and drill for more knowledge by clicking through the links posted in the website. |
| Concerns: |
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Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty |
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| Strengths: |
The article is brief and easy to surf, and the three animated videos are professionally produced and engaging. The objectives associated with the animations are clear, and incorporating them in the design of a class discussion protocol or an assignment would be straightforward. |
| Concerns: |
• While engaging, the animations (and the overall message) may be perceived as too simplistic by some. It will be incumbent on instructors to develop a discussion protocol or assignment that deepens the students’ consideration of the subject.
• The animations are monochromatic. Use of some colors (by the Born to Learn project) could have made the presentation more appealing. |
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