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Brief Biography
Brief Biography
Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering from Brigham Young University
Master of Science in mechanical engineering from University of Southern California
YouTube creator and inventor with 11.3 million subscribers
Worked in the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Jet Propulsion Laboratory for nine years
Spent seven years working on the Mars Curiosity rover as a cognizant engineer
Worked at Apple for four years developing virtual reality in self-driving cars
Holds multiple patents from work with Apple
Holds Guinness World Records for the largest Nerf gun and largest water pistol
Select Interviews and Talks
Select Interviews and Talks
Background and Motivation
Background and Motivation
Mark Rober is an engineer and inventor known for his eponymously named YouTube channel, with over 11.3 million subscribers (Rober, n.d.-a) and an average of 27 million views per video (Wall Street Journal, 2019). He worked at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in their Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) for nine years (Rober, n.d.-a), spending seven of those years working on the Mars Curiosity rover as a cognizant engineer (Rober, 2012). His experience as an engineer has influenced his YouTube content, with some of his most popular videos focusing on physics principles and builds (Rober, n.d.-b). Rober also has several prank videos on his channel which has led to him being a frequent guest on Jimmy Kimmel Live! (2019; 2018; 2017; 2016) and a new prank show he co-created with Jimmy Kimmel airing on the Discovery Channel (Discovery, 2019).
For this case study, I am focusing specifically on Rober's Science Class series, which stemmed from his career goal of being a high school physics teacher and wanting to provide a sense of normalcy to students stuck at home during the COVID-19 epidemic stating that "at this moment, more than any, we need a little more connection" (Rober, 2020g).
Although Rober does not specifically refer to himself as a learning designer, his YouTube videos usually involve educational elements that he approaches through a sense of humor and fun. He said that "as a science YouTuber, sometimes I feel people have framed the act of learning science in a negative way. It’s been taught poorly, so it feels scary to them. [...] And my approach is to take the same physics lessons you might have hated and to try and sort of trick you into learning something through something cool" (TEDx Talks, 2018, 11:19).
Design Values
Design Values
Through my observations of Rober's YouTube content, focusing primarily on his Science Class series, as well as his interviews and talks, I've concluded that authenticity, approachability, and transparency are the design principles he most values.
Authenticity
Rober values bringing scientific processes and theories into all of his videos, beyond just the Science Class series. This, combined with his mechanical engineering background, makes him a credible source for scientific content.
Approachability
One of Rober's goals is to make physics more approachable, and that is evident in his delivery style which often includes outlandish concepts and humor.
Transparency
Rober is honest in his delivery. He is open about his iterative design process, any on camera mishaps, and even his fear of public speaking. This openness makes him more relatable as an instructor.
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