The Brilliant Minds Behind Vsauce On Books, Technology, And The Education Addiction
(When I think about making technology fun and interesting for kids—for everyone—I think immediately of the guys who Produce and Host the utterly irresistible Vsauce channels. Michael Stevens (of Vsauce), Kevin Lieber (of Vsauce2), and Jake Roper (of Vsauce3) use their short video format to make learning an addiction. Vsauce episodes are like chips: You can never stop at one. My kids and I love the Vsauce videos so much, I have to admit that there was a very loud geek-out in the Buchanan household when I told them I was going to be interviewing Michael, Kevin, and Jake. I am happy and not at all surprised to report that these guys are every bit as brilliant as they seem in their videos and twice as nice. So clear out your day, dear readers, after you read this you’re going to want to binge-watch Vsauce… and I assure you, it would be time well spent. —Jenni)
Most of the people reading this will be kids and parents who LOVE books and reading, so I guess our first question is… How have books made a difference in your life?
M.S.: Books taught me about articulation, how to express and explain things in my head. To read a book is to watch someone attempt to do that: to explain or tell or describe or move you using only words. The more you read, the more “lessons” you receive in communication. Building those skills, especially early in life, really pays off later.
J.R.: When I was growing up I wasn’t allowed to watch much television so I spent a lot of time reading. I would read whatever I could get my hands on and I loved imagining the worlds the words created in my mind. It allowed me to visualize the characters: the way they moved, the way they spoke, the way they smiled. My imagination was alive when I was reading.
K.L.: Books can transport you into worlds in a way that no other medium can match. You can immerse yourself in new lands with fantastic characters or learn a wide array of information about ourselves and our world. Books have inspired me to become a storyteller and a creator of worlds.
Do you feel books and the short video format (used by Vsauce) complement each other as learning tools? How so?
M.S.: For sure!
J.R.: 100%
K.L.: Short videos like those found on the Vsauce network are a launching pad from which information can take seed. Books perfectly compliment these short videos because they allow curious minds to dive head first into learning more about the snippets of facts or topics that have been distilled into video form.
M.S.: Sometimes, words do a better job explaining something and sometimes, images, animations, and hand gestures help a lot. Also, Vsauce videos are conversations. They’re not lectures or lessons, they’re friends showing and sharing cool things. Books and the ideas explored by them are one of my favorite things to share on Vsauce1.
One of the keys to education has always been inspiring interest and curiosity in learners, do you feel our easy access to information (via the internet, pocket digital devices, etc.) makes inspiring curiosity easier or harder?
M.S.: Easier by far. Curiosity is an innate drive we all have, but it’s easy to ignore if quenching it is too difficult. Technology has made hunting for answers easier today than ever before. I think people are less reticent to keep wondering when they can look up, find, and read the ideas of other people who have wondered the same things.
K.L.: I am constantly inspired to seek out new information because of the instant availability that the internet allows.
J.R.: The internet has made curiosity contagious. By having every bit of info at our fingertips we can immediately share it with all of our friends. If I find a great video/article/image I can post it on twitter and then watch it spread.
K.L.: The internet naturally inundates us with information which can cause a chain reaction of learning.
J.R.: It is this domino effect of information moving through social circles – branching out to who knows where!
32 years ago Reading Rainbow the TV show was started as a way to help kids learn to love reading at a time when comfort with the written word was a key component to success in school and in the marketplace. Today, an understanding of Science & Technology is equally as important. Our kids grow up with amazing technology, but often don’t understand the scientific principles behind it. How do you feel we can encourage our kids to take an interest in these subjects—not just in the use & benefits of science & technology, but in the study and development of them?
J.R.: I think kids will inherently become interested in it because they have to. As we move more digital, we find more and more kids and teens getting into the development of technology.
M.S.: It’s important to avoid mindsets that treat the understanding and application of science as “complicated,” “difficult,” or “for geniuses only.” Rarely is something truly “too hard” to understand. Instead, it will usually just take longer to wrap your mind around than a quick sentence-or-two explanation can accomplish.
K.L.: The most popular show on Vsauce2 focuses on little publicized advancements in science and technology and is called Mind Blow. The entire premise of the show is to deliver the latest discoveries whether it be hyper sleep systems that could help send astronauts to Mars or algae farms installed over highways to provide clean energy. These stories are otherwise ignored by major media outlets so I try to surface them and present them in an exciting, entertaining way to get people inspired.
The Vsauce channels hold a huge appeal to both kids and adults; do you have a target audience for your videos? What do you think is the key to this multi-generational appeal?
M.S.: Vsauce is for everyone.
J.R.: If you have a pulse, you are our audience. I like to think of the content we create as accessible to a 4 year old and a 40 year old.
K.L.: We do our best to approach topics in a way that is generally appealing, relatable and exciting to all generations.
M.S.: I make a point to avoid relying too much on jargon. Words can handily refer to entire concepts or explanations, but won’t mean much to people who haven’t yet heard them. Often, audiences get tripped up not because a subject matter is “too complicated” but because of vocabulary. I like how my friend from the YouTube channel CGPGrey puts it (I’m paraphrasing here): “overestimate your audience’s intelligence, but underestimate their vocabulary.” Also, words can sometimes substitute for actual understanding. So even if some members of an audience are already familiar with the name of a concept or know that it is “the answer,” that doesn’t mean they won’t be fascinated by a closer, deeper look into what it means and why.
J.R.: I think the key to multi-generational appeal is curiosity. Everyone loves an interesting question and the only thing they love more is finding out interesting answers they can share.
K.L.: And due to the global reach of the internet it’s important to discuss topics in a way that is accessible not only across generations but cultures.
What are the biggest challenges you face (or have faced) in the making of your videos?
K.L.: Perfection. The nature of YouTube comments makes creating videos on the platform somewhat of a trial by fire. Television doesn’t have a live feed of criticism next to the screen. This forces creators to go the extra mile to be completely accurate with not only the information but to present it without any hint of bias or editorializing. Sometimes just telling jokes can insight negative reactions.
M.S.: A lot of research has to be done and then synthesized into a script. It takes a lot of time and it’s important to make sure I understand everything I’m talking about. I rely on the help of lots of super-smart, super-nice friends, all the fantastic resources the internet has, and of course, lots and lots (and lots) of reading.
J.R.: Pushing the limits of every video. How can I explain something in a way that hasn’t been done while still being fun? How can I turn what should be a ridiculous question into a fascinating journey?
What has been the most fun part of making Vsauce videos?
M.S.: The fans. It’s extremely rewarding to see people share a passion for wondering and asking questions.
K.L.: Creating content without barriers. I can research a topic, create a video and post it for my fans without anyone altering any part of that process. We have an unfiltered and direct line to our audience, and that is incredibly valuable.
M.S.: I’m also lucky to have the freedom to choose whatever topic I want to cover. It could be physics next, and then biology, and the poetry. Every episode is different. There’s never a dull moment.
J.R.: I love pressing the “make video public” button and seeing how people react to the content.
What were you like as a kid? What were your hobbies and favorite books? If you were a kid today what would be most appealing to you about your own videos?
M.S.: As a kid I was a combination of the bookworm and the class clown. There are elements of that in Vsauce today. If I were still a kid, my favorite part of Vsauce would be the cool information I could tell to all my friends after watching, but especially the puns and goofy humor.
K.L.: I was hyperactive as a kid and loved playing sports. The Hobbit was the first book that captivated my imagination as a kid and I ended up reading the Lord Of The Rings trilogy immediately afterward. I think the fast pace and exciting things featured in my videos would be the most appealing aspects to me if I were a kid today.
J.R.: My hobbies were building and reading. I would sit in my room and build computers or go in the yard and build structures for my imaginary military. I loved the Boxcar Children books, Goosebumps, and Animorphs. I think I would love that the videos felt unexpected. You never know where the next cut will take you!
What are you reading right now?
M.S.: Arrowsmith by Sinclair Lewis.
K.L.: Ready Player One by Ernest Cline – it’s like catnip for gamers. If you love video games I simply can’t recommend it more. It’s mandatory reading!
J.R.: Immortality: The Quest to Live Forever and How it Drives Civilization. It is AMAZING and delves into human history and human philosophy.
And our final question, one of my favorite questions… If you could give away unlimited amounts of any book to strangers for free, what book would you want everyone to have?
M.S.: A Short History Of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson.
K.L.: A Confederacy Of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole. I absolutely love that book. It brilliantly skewers many facets of humanity and our various institutions and it’s the funniest book I’ve ever read. Hands down – it’s my favorite book!
J.R.: Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. It was the first book I wish I could have lived inside of. My mind kept wanting to return to Wonderland and experience all those nonsensical things. I think everyone would appreciate and accept the ridiculous a bit more with a little Alice in their life.
Michael Stevens, Kevin Lieber, and Jake Roper produce and host Vsauce, Vsauce2, and Vsauce3, respectively. You can (and should!) watch and subscribe to their videos on their YouTube channels (linked to in the previous sentence), and follow them on Twitter at @Tweetsauce, @VsauceTwo, and @VsauceThree.
Source : Perplexeus