Mystery Doug is a weekly video series for elementary teachers and students that is based entirely on science questions that real students ask. Short (5-10 min.) videos that investigate and explore questions asked by real students. It’s the perfect minute break for your students to learn someting different!
Type of Material:
High energy, highly accessible, animation and static imagery on YouTube videos with a companion didactic website.
Recommended Uses:
in-class, homework, group, individual, self-paced
Technical Requirements:
None other than the ability to work a web browser and online video plaer. Works on Chrome and Firefox with no special plug-ins.
Identify Major Learning Goals:
Students will be able to bridge the gap between their curiosity and basic concepts in science; explain what they have learned in simple terms; and cultivate a love for learning.
By searching through video library, users will be able to view responses to questions about the origins of invention or practices or nature or science.
Target Student Population:
Elementary School
Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:
Basic computer skills
Content Quality
Rating:
Strengths:
The host learning object uses subject-matter experts to present highly accessible, research-based answers on science-related questions that have sparked students' curiosities. (Students are on video asking their question and, through their teacher, have the ability to vote on what they want to learn about each week.)
The YouTube videos are not directly related to a curriculum, but the learning object hosts a companion website. No prerequisite knowledge is required to learn additional information on a given topic. A nominal fee provides teachers with access to pre-packed, fully prepped, active-learning materials that extend the knowledge from the videos.
Concerns:
Fee for pre-packaged teaching materials. Limited amount of free trials available.
Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool
Rating:
Strengths:
Educators can use videos to introduce topics or to help students develop questions about topics that they may want to research for answers. The main Mystery Science site has more information about lesson use and FAQs. For example there are instructions on how to share only parts of videos with students or how to assign lessons for those without internet access.
The learning object is in response to children's curiosity, which is valuable in its own right to spark enagement with science and a love for learning. For this reason, the learning objectives change with each video.
Concerns:
To increase the effectiveness of this learning object, ensure all the learning materials on the companion website align with Common Core standards for grade school children.
Users need to really search within Mystery Science site to locate page with links to various state and province learning standards.
Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty
Rating:
Strengths:
These are YouTube videos that include accurate closed captioning. User can sort by popular, oldest or newest video entries.
Concerns:
Young children are amazingly tech savvy. Although they cannot register on the companion website (which is a good move), it would be helpful for them to be able to submit questions on a simple web form without having to wait for adult intervention. This would increase autonomy and spark a greater sense of ownership with regard to their learning.
Would be helpful if videos were offered via topical categories.
Creative Commons:
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