Embedded Files
Learning Environment
Learning Environment
Mark Rober (2020g) has stated that Science Class was a way for him to share his passion for physics to students home from school during the COVID-10 epidemic. However after reviewing all the videos in the series and listening to how he talks about his work in interviews, I think it is more accurate to say that his learning design aims to make physics more approachable.
The Science Class learning environment is designed so viewers can partake in synchronous or asynchronous inquiry-based learning. Rober's "students" are his viewers who watch Science Class live on YouTube as well as those who watch the recorded video after it airs. Each video is recorded live from a set Rober and his team built specifically for this series (Rober, 2020f, 2020g) that mimics a high school science classroom. The multi-camera set includes a chalkboard, concrete workbench, brick backdrop, and Rober's YouTube channel logo (Rober, 2020f). Rober and his team also bring in various store bought and handmade props to aid in his science demonstrations and he occasionally shares content from previously recorded videos created by himself or others (Rober 2020c, 2020d).
In each Science Class video, Rober (2020f) works through a question of the day, for example "Does farting make you weigh less?" (and no, it does not), which is displayed on the chalkboard. The clues Rober provides to help viewers infer the answer to the question are also displayed on this chalkboard, as well as any relevant formulas or diagrams Rober may want to share (2020e). Because Science Class is recorded live in a studio separate from a physical audience, Rober is unable to interact with his students in real time. Instead he dedicates the last few minutes of each session to answering questions submitted in the YouTube chat section of the video (Rober, 2020g).
The release schedule for the Science Class series was originally set to be Mondays, Wednesday, and Fridays, airing live at 1 p.m. Pacific time (Rober, 2020g). However due to the amount of time Rober and his team needed to prepare for each session, plus Rober's schedule, the release schedule was adjusted to be on Wednesdays only (2020b). Viewers unable to watch live sessions are still able to view the recordings, although they are unable to participate in the live chat.
"Why is the sky blue? And maybe in your head you're like, 'ehh, blue light scatters' and you just memorized that fact. But you should know by now, we're not about facts here. This is about mental models. Let's get a good mental model of why it's blue because that's more useful, you can extrapolate and have a deeper level of understanding."
(Rober, 2020e, 0:18)
Learning Goals
Learning Goals
By framing complex physics problems as fun questions and breaking down these concepts into smaller chunks, Rober hopes to make physics easier for students to understand (2020g; TEDx Talks, 2018). Rober stated at the start of the series that he would teach high school level physics concepts and anticipated an audience ranging from young children to adults with doctorates (2020g, 5:10). Although the motivation behind Rober's design is to make physics more approachable, each Science Class session has a specific learning goal:
Students will be able to explain the concepts of density, frequency, and force.
Students will be able to explain the concepts of density, buoyancy, and force.
Students will be able to explain the concepts of wavelengths and frequency.
Students will be able to explain the concepts of cohesion and adhesion.
Students will be able to explain the concepts of inertia, mass, and weight.
Students will be able to explain the concepts of pressure and force.
Students will be able to explain the concepts of momentum and impulse.
Rober demonstrating the concept of pressure with a right angle ruler and an apple (2020b, 7:43).
Science Class Highlights
Science Class Highlights
Viewer Challenges
Viewer Challenges
With each video, Rober challenges viewers to recreate one of his demonstration or to come up with their own designs to showcase one of the concepts he teaches. He includes viewer-submitted videos and pictures in each of his videos; these are a few select responses.
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