The idea of combining education with entertainment has never gone out of style. Indeed, edutainment’s main role is to make learning more delightful and effective. Nowadays, in the digital world, learning through visual and auditory forms such as educational videos has proved to be one of the best ways. But how exactly does it work? Here are 3 remarkable edutainment examples in eLearning that definitely worth your attention.
What is Edutainment?
To put it simply, edutainment is the combination of both education and entertainment. By using media like videos, edutainment is set to enhance learners’ performance in a captivating way.
Below are some educational entertainment examples, which allow you to enjoy both stunning visual and simplified scientific concepts.
Okay, so this video is all about Stephen Hawking talking about the super mind-blowing stuff he discovered about the universe. The complex ideas are delivered comprehensively and stunningly through animation:
Wonder if it’s an asteroid that caused dinosaur extinction, or there is something else? This video will sastify you.
3 Noteworthy Examples of Edutainment Video
For a deeper understanding, let’s go through three eLearning programs that have the most inspiring videos. We’ll unveil what’s so special about these edutainment examples and how learners benefit from it.
1. Vox – “The Mind Explained” series
Though not really an eLearning program, this Netflix docuseries definitely gives us insightful knowledge about rather complex topics, such as memory, anxiety, dreams, and how the brain works. Still, the series received amazing feedback from viewers due to its fascinating way of presenting information.
So how do they manage to introduce such complicated subjects while still maintaining learners’ attention?
Combining multiple forms of edutainment: cartoons, gifs, pictures & audio
Like almost any documentary show, “The Mind Explained” uses narrators and interviews from experts to convey the facts or messages. But here’s the difference, various edutainment forms like cartoons, animations, and pictures are being applied throughout the episode.
This way, instead of feeling bored with theoretical facts, the audience is fascinated and engaged in the conversation. For example, sometimes while the experts are talking, animation comes in as a visual aid to lift the mood of the scene. Also, it’s a great idea to strengthen the expert’s point as well.
Similarly, gifs, photographs, or audio appear occasionally in clever timings. However, they are not overwhelming, since learners will get distracted from learning. As a result, the audience never feels like they’re learning dry science, but rather are entertained by interesting facts and varied media.
Visualizing abstract subjects
Dreams, anxiety, memory…these conceptual matters are hard to explain. So how do you introduce it to new learners? To solve this puzzle, Vox turned to animation for help. In effect, the result is extraordinary! With a creative touch of animation, the series is able to embody dreams, relive memories, and visualize anxiety’s activities inside our brains. For instance, look at this video to see just how creative and imaginative it all is!
There you have it, the elements that made this series a hit and a source of fine edutainment examples to learn from.
2. CrashCourse
Another awesome edutainment example is Crash Course. In fact, this educational YouTube channel was founded by John Green and his brother. Notably, it includes tons of different, interesting courses, such as film history, mythology, computer science,…you name it. With each course, CC provides an overview of the subject through fast-paced, vivid edutainment videos.
What is special about it?
Up til now, Crash Course has almost 10 million subscribers and no less than thousands of views on every video. Impressive, isn’t it? So what exactly helps bring so many people into their platform?
Witty narrators
Usually, on a typical Crash Course video, there’ll be a narrator to guide us through the learning process. The Green brothers, Craig Benzine, Nicole Sweeney, and many more. And, they all have one thing in common, that is wit.
In fact, these people don’t just merely push the information to learners, they find a humorous way to tell them. In detail, it can be a history joke, a relatable comparison, or the expressions they make. Either way, the audience seems to relax and be interested in what the narrator has to say. Therefore, people feel more like listening to a charming person, rather than being lectured.
Prominent animated visual aids
History is one of the most loved topics on the Crash Course channel. Not only because their contents are good, but it is also because of their bright-colored animated visual aids. Although dealing with challenging subjects like history, there aren’t always available materials to work with. Not everyone has access to valuable historical footage. And sometimes there isn’t any footage at all.
So, this is where animation comes in handy. With an eye-catching animated style, they can relive history on screen. Hence, complex historical events are now simplified and fun to watch. This will help learners have a better understanding and remember the factual information much longer than reading a book.
Moreover, the friendly appearance and the time-saving nature of animation help Crash Course achieve their goals. It provides concentrated knowledge to learners of all ages, in a relatively short amount of time.
3. Ted-Ed
The last example of edutainment you may have heard many times, it’s Ted-Ed. It is an extension of Ted, a platform that spreads well-curated lessons via educational animated videos. With over 10 million followers and nearly 2 billion views in total, Ted-Ed is one of the top excellent edutainment examples nowadays.
What is their secret?
Focus on their edutainment side, what do you see?
Custom animated learning videos
Clearly, every video is made entirely from high-quality animation. As mentioned earlier, we already know that animation has many advantages to learning, including visualizing abstract matters, being easy to understand, friendly-looking, simplifying information, and more.
| Read more: » What is behind high-quality animation |
The consistency of style
By using animation in every lesson, Ted-Ed has successfully established their own style and method. Not only it feels more professional, but it also helps learners know what to expect when they come to the channel. Furthermore, the consistent use of animation builds up a distinctive, comfortable feeling for learners. As a result, they will be more likely to be eager for the next lesson!
Conclusion
Vox, CrashCourse, and Ted-Ed are wonderful edutainment examples, which have proved to convey the lessons incredibly. And these 3 examples have one thing in common: They all applied animation to attract attention and spice up the lesson.
Now do you want to exploit the potential of animation in your eLearning courses too? F. Learning Studio is ready to help. We not only leverage animation but also provide stunning interactive elements, clear graphics, and impactful storytelling. Moreover, with the learner-centric approach, we skillfully “chunk” your content into digestible and customized modules that meet learners’ preferences. Contact us now and we can elevate your eLearning content together:
- WhatsApp: (+84) 378 713 132
- Email: [email protected]
- Fanpage: https://www.facebook.com/f.learningstudio
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/f-learning-studio/
Read Further:
- Animation in eLearning: The great way to improve your online course
- How can animation improve completion rates for online courses
Sean Bui, the founder and creative director of F.Learning Studio, is a respected leader in the e-learning and multimedia production industry. With over 10 years of experience, he has dedicated his career to helping organizations create engaging and impactful learning experiences.
Under his leadership, F.Learning Studio has grown into a trusted partner for organizations in the education, healthcare, and corporate training sectors, producing over 2,000 minutes of educational animation.
