ShmoopTube

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[Coop and Dino singing]

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When you first heard about video learning, it might have sounded like a dream come true! [Man teaching video learning]

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No more books or writing or anything like that.

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Just sitting down with a screen and some popcorn…like a trip to the movies.

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Well, not so fast. [Boy watching screen and Man appears]

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Video learning can be fun, sure!

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But it's pretty different from going to the movies.

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And not just because it doesn't come with a sound system that could cause short-term [Sound system vibrating]

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hearing loss.

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That's because with video learning, you're trying to actually learn something.

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Hence the name. [Coop discussing video learning]

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When you go to the movies or watch TV, it's okay to kinda space out…it doesn't really

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matter if you miss one song in The Little Mermaid. [Man zoning out while watching a movie]

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With video learning, though, you've gotta keep your mind active, thinking about what

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you're seeing and trying to make connections to stuff you already know. [Man with brain for a head working out]

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Definitely not the typical couch potato experience.

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Before you even watch the video, it's a good idea to think about what you know about the

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subject.

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If you do that, you'll probably end up with a whole list of questions about the subject

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that you want answered…

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…and if you watch the video with those questions in mind, you're much more likely to find the [Boy watching video of coop]

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answers.

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After all, those questions aren't going to appear in your head magically just because

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you pressed "Play." [Arm extends out of monitor and gives boy questions]

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Internet video might be good, but it's not quite that good.

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Say for example you knew that you were going to be watching a video about elephants.

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Being a smart kid, you already know a thing or two about elephants, but maybe you don't [Elephant walking around and boy appears]

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quite know why their trunks are so long.

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So if you ask yourself the question, "Why do elephants have such long trunks?" before

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watching the video… [Boy scribbles down a question]

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…you're more likely to latch onto the answer if it comes up.

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Which is good for you, though maybe not so great for those elephants that like to keep

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a bit of mystery in their lives.

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So even though video learning might be a little more strenuous than regular ol' video watching, [Boy thinking about brain exercising]

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it's pretty rewarding!

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Of course…we kind of have to say that…y'know…

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comes with the whole, "educational video" territory.

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And who knows?

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Maybe your teacher will even let you pop some popcorn! [popcorn popping]

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Which we totally expect you to share with us. [Arm reaches for boys popcorn]

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