37 ms·

>my first thought was, "What has changed in the way we teach things that this video looks so refreshingly simple?" I think your perception that the teaching m

by jasode 4y ago

>my first thought was, "What has changed in the way we teach things that this video looks so refreshingly simple?" I think your perception that the teaching method has changed is just "availability bias": https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Availability_heuristic https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Availability_heuristic People have always been making models and filming it to explain concepts. Today's examples on Youtube : - toy models to demonstrate hydro engineering phenomenon (e.g. sinkholes) : https://www.youtube.com/c/PracticalEngineeringChannel/search?query=model https://www.youtube.com/c/PracticalEngineeringChannel/search... - models to show science topics: https://www.youtube.com/c/TheActionLab/videos https://www.youtube.com/c/TheActionLab/videos - CGI models to show various technology: https://www.youtube.com/c/animagraffs/videos https://www.youtube.com/c/animagraffs/videos - ... hundreds of other educational channels like the above ... And before the internet, you had tv shows in 1980s with models to explain machines: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=secret+life+of+machines+tim+hunkin https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=secret+life+of+... That transmission differential video should be notable because it is old and still relevant and not because nobody teaches like that anymore. The limiting factor even today as it was in 1936 is that it takes a ton of extra effort to build models to teach rather than write dry boring text.

cricalix 4y ago
I love that Tim was able to post all the episodes of "Secret Life of...", and then continue with new ones too. I enjoyed his book (https://www.timhunkin.com/40_rudiments_book.htm https://www.timhunkin.com/40_rudiments_book.htm) as a child, and still have it.
- mark_undoio 4y ago
  Tim Hunkin is great and I've enjoyed revisiting his Secret Life of Machines on YouTube. Actually, the original TV programme has a distinct flavour of YouTube to it - in the best possible way it has the feel of talented amateurs. Clear, entertaining and no excess polish covering up the personality of it all.
MontyCarloHall 4y ago
Don’t forget survivorship bias. I’m sure there were many terrible, unintuitive models in 1936–this is one of the few that was so good it managed to survive almost 90 years later.
- userbinator 4y ago
  I don't think there were many at all; the production costs were much higher back then, so if anything those who could afford to film would've wanted it done right far more than today.

by jasode 4y ago

cricalix 4y ago

I love that Tim was able to post all the episodes of "Secret Life of...", and then continue with new ones too. I enjoyed his book (https://www.timhunkin.com/40_rudiments_book.htm https://www.timhunkin.com/40_rudiments_book.htm) as a child, and still have it.

mark_undoio 4y ago
Tim Hunkin is great and I've enjoyed revisiting his Secret Life of Machines on YouTube. Actually, the original TV programme has a distinct flavour of YouTube to it - in the best possible way it has the feel of talented amateurs. Clear, entertaining and no excess polish covering up the personality of it all.

MontyCarloHall 4y ago

Don’t forget survivorship bias. I’m sure there were many terrible, unintuitive models in 1936–this is one of the few that was so good it managed to survive almost 90 years later.

userbinator 4y ago
I don't think there were many at all; the production costs were much higher back then, so if anything those who could afford to film would've wanted it done right far more than today.