The greatest educational video I saw this year didn’t come from a university department or a school. It wasn’t even created by an instructional designer. In the age of YouTube and TikTok, when every second of our attention counts more than ever, I think there’s a lot to be learned from “content creators”. What makes a great educational video – and how to build one (even if you don’t want one)? Let’s try to find out.
Sometimes, you don’t really come seeking knowledge from a book. Some books are valuable for telling you what you already know, but in a new, more powerful way. And some are to be cherished for the way they bring common knowledge together, and for the light they present it in. Is “How to Change” one of these books?
Maybe I’d like to say that deciding to go freelance this year was a spontaneous decision – maybe I’d like to have a “eureka” story to tell at parties. But things are rarely scripted this neatly. Today is National Freelancers Day – my day, as of 3 weeks ago. I want to share six books with you. They helped me make the switch to freelance living this year. Who knows what they will do for you?
In her recent book, “How to Change“, Katy Milkman talks about commitment devices – powerful tools which helped me stay productive on many occasions. She points out, however, that these methods are not very popular with people in general. This made me think – are there ways in which learning designers and teachers could use commitment devices to make learners’ experiences more rewarding?
My recently re-discovered ambition to learn another language led me back to Portuguese. This meant that I was able to download Duolingo again, set up a new account, and reacquaint myself with the mighty Owl. I’ve been away for long enough to be surprised by how Duo’s changed. Learning designers and language publishers, pay attention: is the future of language learning finally here?