Sunday, September 18, 2011

Modern History Class?


I occasionally hear or read about the need for education to make things more interesting/entertaining for kids. Experts say that schools need to use modern technology to get the students' attention because teachers are now competing with all sorts of e-gadgets/social networking, and who knows what else. Of course, since I am a stodgy senior citizen, I can't figure out what is wrong with how I learned things in school---work, sometimes really hard work.

I came across this video about 1066 and the Norman Invasion and the Battle of Hastings (on Ravelry, of all places). Granted, the students will have 1066 embedded in their minds after watching this---but so do I and that was just from reading about it a million years ago.

I guess this is sort of entertaining, in an hypnotic, weird sort of way. But was it intended for the classroom?

It does make me laugh, though.

2 comments:

Ann in NJ said...

That was... interesting. But if I didn't already know something about 1066 and the Battle of Hastings, I'm not sure that would have been more educational than confusing. If you wanted to use it in the classroom, you'd have to do it in addition to background and build up of the whole story.

Ann in NJ said...

Ok, I showed it to my kids and they thought it was hysterical. If you watch it on YouTube, it pops up links for a whole series of these things - so far my favorite is "Henry the 8th" to Abba's "Money Money Money". I think they ARE meant for classroom use - and if they serve to reinforce something you're learning anyway, that's a great thing!