TED (technology, entertainment, design) is a multi-faceted company that runs a website where they upload content called TedTalks for the general public. PeriodicVideos is a Youtube channel where a group of scientists, mathematicians, physicists and videographers from the University of Nottingham come together to upload video content about chemistry and any recent events in the chemistry research world. Both media outlets serve a similar purpose: to educate through speeches or monologues for the general public and allow this information to be accessible as well. There are differences in some aspects of both media such as their audience, reliability, and potential.
TedTalks have two audiences in their videos: the audience within the video itself who listens and reacts to one main presenter and the audience watching online at home. TedTalks cater to those who are curious or interested in the topics that a pundit will present. As stated in their mission statement, “TED is a nonprofit devoted to spreading ideas, usually in the form of short, powerful talks (18 minutes or less).”1 Their goal is to be able to take these audiences and help them understand and nurture their interests. PeriodicVideos has a similar audience except the videos they present are typically much shorter (5-10 minutes) and are strictly based around chemistry (although they do have many other Youtube channels for other topics such as physics and mathematics). PeriodicVideos also does not have the ability to physically see either their audience or how they react to what is presented because the videos are made solely to disseminate information as opposed to TedTalks where the presenters are restrained to the speech and presentation format. As a Youtube channel, PeriodicVideos is mostly informal which allows presenters to have a more relaxed nature in their speech. An important key to note is WHO exactly is dispensing the information.
Both media are trustworthy in their information because only experts of the field who are knowledgeable in what they do and what they know are given roles. In TedTalks, there are a wide variety of experts in all kinds of subjects whereas in PeriodicVideos there is Dr. Martyn Poliakoff2 who is the main expert with only a handful of others who are all knowledgeable with chemistry in some way. Both types of experts who present the information are important because each of the media give a certain appeal to the audience. TedTalks and their myriad experts give a degree of validity and assurance to the audience who then are more willing to absorb information and learn. PeriodicVideos features Dr. Poliakoff’s face in almost every single video, which gives a sense of connection and familiarity to the audience. Many viewers who are looking for quick and fast information will prefer PeriodicVideos for their short length and informal manner; not only will the audience learn but they will also feel less academic pressure to learn. TedTalks, on the other hand, are for viewers who are deeply interested and would not mind listening to a lecture for more than 15 minutes.
However, the future potential of TedTalks outshines that of PeriodicVideos. TedTalks in their various fields and numerous pundits have several decades’ worth of videos to upload and reveal. Technically, their potential is infinite because with every talk or presentation, they can follow up with another video that can discuss the same topic but with a different expert. PeriodicVideos is limited in that way: there is a limited amount of material to teach (such as, the 118 elements of the periodic table3) and any content has to be adjusted to be entertaining and easier to understand for the public. Another drawback is that there are no major companies that support this channel financially so not only are the experts not being paid for their contribution but also their potential to demonstrate and expand is unlikely. This may change in the near future.
Recently, PeriodicVideos announced that they are collaborating with TedEd to allow schoolteachers to use their videos as a teaching tool in their classrooms.4 They have built a periodic table with a video for each element (in numerous languages as well) along with a set of questions to answer for each video. The importance of these tools is evident because through this collaboration, we can potentially drive a future generation of students who are more willing to learn. At the same time, it will ease the process of teaching a subject and making the subject more appealing to students who simply do not understand (or find it hard to understand) the sciences.5 One statement is certain: the use of the internet will slowly but surely find a permanent place in education, if it has not already done so.
1 http://www.ted.com/about/our-organization
2 http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/Chemistry/People/martyn.poliakoff
5 http://grantwiggins.wordpress.com/2014/05/21/fixing-the-high-school/
