Web 2.0 Not In Words Video
March 7, 2009 Tags: Education, Not In Words, Social Media, Video, Visualization, Web 2.0
Category: Education, Social Media, Video, Visualization, Web 2.0 No Comments 
Here is another creative visual way of discribing social media, but this time without any words. I really like how innovative people can use the video/animation medium to explain things & spark learning.
Not In Words – Learn Through Pictures
What I really like about the concept for “Not In Words” videos
- Creative
- Original
- Unique / Stylized
- Explains things in a different way
- Visual
- Memorable
Where these “Not In Words” videos may fall short
- Certain topics & subjects do actually need language to be explained effectively, it is not always the case that learning through pictures yields highest educational level of efficiency + retention
- Educational medium is targeted solely towards visual learners & most people are varying combinations of audio, visual, experiential learners
- May not be the most effective or informative (thus not the most efficient) video for explaining Web 2.0 as a concept
- Focuses on the specific popular platforms, not the concepts. For example, putting the logos for blogging software (WordPress, Blogger) rather then the components/tools/elements of social media like “Blogs!”
- The creators have focused on what popular platforms are today (the short term because they may not be popular tomorrow) which may lend the video not so educational in the future & perhaps speed up obsolescence
Though I think this is another positively creative step for open source Web 2.0 education, I also think that the Common Craft social media videos are much more effective for the time they consume. They hit a rhythm of the right combination of moving, static images & audio narration in a way that is easy for everyone to understand. When people see Common Craft Paperworks they just “get it”, with Not in Words they may or may not get it. Then again I am comparing apples to oranges here, so pick what works best for you.
At the very least having to explain something “not in words” is a challenging, creative, mental + educational exercise to do.
Comment Questions
- What was your first impression of this video?
- Describing this video by picking just one word
- For those of you new to social media, did you “get it” when you watched this video?
- What is the best educational social media video you have ever seen?
