TED-Ed
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this youtube.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that the TED-Ed YouTube channel shares the same goal of informing viewers as other TED content. The organization is a nonprofit, focusing on education, empowerment and building a community, which is exactly what this channel strives to do for tweens, teens and adults. The channel, which launched in 2011, covers and array of topics like science, technology, mental health, the arts, climate change, media literacy and much more. Some videos may be more suitable for older kids, or require adults to watch with their kids, such as the "Let's Talk About Sex" series, which discusses sexual health, or a series focused on the dark side of history. Viewers of all ages are sure to find something insightful and intriguing on this channel. From riddles and bug science for the younger set, inspirational student talks from peers for teens, and professional development for adults. This channel is well-rounded and a great way to spark discussion and make learning fun.
What’s It About?
TED-ED creates educational videos about "lessons worth sharing". While it sometimes veers into topics more mature topics – including discussions of Adolf Hitler, eating disorders, and the U.S. syphilis experiment – it approaches these topics with an objective, scientific perspective. Videos typically use narration, sound effects, music, and animation to make learning fun and engaging and speak to different learning styles. With so many different topics covered and new videos consistently being uploaded, theres no lack of intriguing content. The channel has a nice blend of science, history, sports, social-social emotional topics, skill building, and fun activities (riddles and poetry). An added touch for tweens and teens is the series featuring student voices, where they can see their peers giving powerful and informative TED talks.
Is It Any Good?
Most educational content channels stay in their lane, but this diverse and dynamic channel spans an entire highway of knowledge. From the information, to the representation, to the amazing production quality, the TED-Ed YouTube channel sets the bar high. It offers fun engaging content through its riddles series, teaches media literacy and social-emotional skills, and offers a thoughtful look into the insight of young students. The combination of interesting facts with fun animation makes it easy and enjoyable for viewers of different skill levels to learn something from any given video.
Some TED-Ed videos might even help viewers develop a better understanding of who they are, the world around them, and how to process new information. Others simply pose thoughtful hypothetical questions – like "what makes muscles grow?" or "how to spot a liar". It doesn't hurt that the TED Talk brand is already well known and trust. Viewers of all ages – especially tweens and teens – are sure to get a lot out of the TED-Ed YouTube channel.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how TED-Ed includes a wide variety of topics, from science to history and beyond. Does having such a broad focus make the channel more or less successful in reaching a wider audience? How does this diversify the viewership?
Most TED-Ed videos utilize animation to illustrate their points. In many cases, music, sound effects, and narration are also a part of the presentation. How do these elements help make the lessons easier to digest? How do they speak to different learning styles?
TED-Ed sometimes covers more mature topics including those involving sexuality, drugs and alcohol, and the darker parts of history. How do these videos help spark discussions that may be difficult have? Did the approach to these topics make them more or less intimidating? Why?
This channel encourages curiosity. Why is this an important character strength?
YouTube Details
- Genre: Lifestyle
- Topics: STEM, High School, History, Middle School, Ocean Creatures, Science and Nature
- Character Strengths: Curiosity
- Last updated: December 16, 2022
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