Why #TikTok has no opportunities in edutainment and digital learning
TikTok is currently growing faster than almost any other social media platform. Most people still imagine dancing teenagers and easy makeup tutorials. There is nothing wrong with this. But ByteDance’s app has quietly become an important educational hub. You don’t have to be a historian to see this change. This algorithm provides users with information as easily as comedy.
Why are these short information clips so popular? Can you really learn from them? Can teachers use them without disruption?
The Rise of “Edutainment” Editing
Consider this conversation that starts with one of Maria’s popular videos.
Customer: “Give me a tomato.”
Clerk: “Is that a meat tomato?”
Customer: “Don’t eat meat. I’m a vegetarian.”
Clerk: “No, no.” Refers to juicy tomatoes. * Indicate the date in the tomato. *”Jujube tomato”.
This is outrageous. This is very interesting. This is also a legitimate German lesson. Maria, a teacher named @dein_sprachcoach, uses these skits to teach difficult vocabulary. He didn’t start this with intent. He does this in exchange for everything that helped him learn the language all those years ago.
“TikTok is more than funny videos. My job is to share tips to help you learn German.”
This is more than just a creator. This trend is huge. Law students, researchers and doctors take over. See @doc.felix. We share and explain complex medical topics such as “What is a migraine?” In melting bursts. He has 770,000 followers. He wasn’t just funny. he explains.
The format is the same between fields. 30 seconds. Cut fast. Punch line. It is “education”. More education and entertainment. The theory is simple. Having fun helps you stay focused. Because the dopamine stimulation remains constant, your ability to concentrate is impaired.
#LernenMitHow TikTok is changing the game
MD student @dieWissenschaftler started posting in March 2020. He has uploaded over 1,500 clips. He was an early adopter. However, the platform officially launched this wave in June 2020.
TikTok has announced that it will invest 4.5 million euros to support the creators of short educational videos in Germany. The name of the campaign is #LernenMitTikTok. The strategy is clear. Harnessing the growing scientific enthusiasm during the climate crisis and pandemic.
It worked. This hashtag has been viewed 16.7 billion times. This is not a niche interest. This is mainstream consumption.
Using TikTok in the classroom
So can I bring this to school? The answer is yes, but there are some caveats.
Teenagers are already using the app. That’s what they do anyway. If teachers can tap into this intrinsic motivation, engagement can increase. Claudia Wipke from the Karlsruhe University of Education suggests using this existing way to facilitate learning.
“Teachers find this internal motivation to use media. We hope that students are more motivated to learn.”
But there are also risks.
Consider the scenario. “Okay, TikTok time is over. Put your phone away. Let’s continue.”
It never works. Paul showed an interesting clip to his neighbor. Sina confiscated Mr. Muhammad’s cell phone. Araya continues to roll. The potential for disruption is too great. Education experts say careful planning is needed. Just don’t interrupt.
Either we dedicate a whole class to this. Or you can pick up the phone immediately after the event. Half-measures actions lead to disruption.
Misinformation trap
This is the ugly side of feeds. Misinformation spreads as fast as facts.
If an attractive woman on your feed claims that brushing her teeth gives her cavities, it’s time to stop. Not everything in the app is true. Opinions and facts are injected into the same short video format. The algorithm pushes them out without a filter.
Users can only curate their feed.
This is where teachers can save the day. Instead of banning the app, it could be used as a case study in critical thinking.
Who publishes this? What is their agenda? Is this true? Where is the source?
These questions are perfect for 30 second videos. You don’t need a textbook to teach skepticism. When the screen goes dark, ask the right questions.
This platform is still young. The algorithm is still being developed. But habits are formed. Now we learn little by little. And clips are getting smarter.
