While investigating the joys of Google’s new video search engine I found some pretty interesting things. First… an ad that is probably the best I’ve seen to try to help my own (and possibly YOUR own) children think carefully about what they are doing with their “free time” when there is no adult supervision. To view it…go to: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-982704336400793600 (Update 4/2011 – this link is defunct.) Ya gotta love that! From a “marketing message” standpoint, I’d say this ranks as one of the most effective ads I’ve ever seen. Heck, even my mother said it was a great “must see” piece for all teenagers when I sent her the link this morning.
And then, of course, on the other end of the spectrum, was a sample video hocking DVD’s that use sex to teach teenagers calculus. Now THERE’s a new twist. View it at: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7172438422483406719 It just makes me roll my eyes. As IF they are going to get anything educational from that. I have teenage boys. Giving them such visual stimulation would probably only distract them from the topic.
This falls under the “book under a pillow before a big exam to ‘absorb’ the knowledge” theory to me. I think I’d rather just have them sleep on a book. Maybe my age is showing… again.
Update on the Calcu-sex Lesson…
My 15-year old son watched this this evening at my request. Once the show was complete, I asked one simple question… what was the topic?
As I suspected, the boy had NO idea. He blushed and giggled and said, "All I can remember is X, X, X."
Uh-huh, my gut was right, this is no way to teach teenage boys math. It’s much better to get an OLD, Crotchety, MALE teacher — if you want them to actually learn the Rule of Constants. :O)
My son requested that I report this his current grade in Algebra 2 is an A+ (which I verified today), so he’s not just a poor student looking for an excuse. *giggle*
Also, he agreed that the other commercial was incredibly convincing where the issue of safe sex is concerned. It was nice to watch him cringe at the sight of an ill-behaved child. Ahhh, I’m gonna have well-behaved grandchildren… in a decade or so!
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Angela Allen Parker
The “Wicked” behind the “WordCraft”