The Cartoon Network as a Teaching Aid?
By Mary HobsonMary.Hobson@animationschoolreview.com
Animation School Review Columnist
Although we usually associate cartoons with entertainment, in fact they can have many more serious applications. Children love cartoons - as we all know from the fondness they have for the cartoon networks - so why not make this attractive medium work for teaching and learning?
There is an industry for teaching cartoons that is building, as the use of cartoons for teaching is explored more thoroughly. One of the more obvious applications is to use animated (or static) cartoons to teach English and composition. The children watch a cartoon, and then discuss the plot, the cartoon characters, and the setting. They then write the story of the cartoon.
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This kind of activity is fairly straight forward, but in fact it can, with some careful thought about the cartoon characters and the plot, start discussions about many other important topics. Language and behavior are the obvious topics; many children learn a large part of their vocabulary from television, and cartoons make up a significant part of their viewing. These discussions can lead on to topics such as gender and social effects of behavior. Cartoons are particularly effective for this kind of discussion, as they are representations of characters, and therefore the children can be encouraged to think in more abstract terms about their behavior.Of course, many cartoons are designed to aid the teacher and there is a growing industry in this kind of teaching aid. You only have to look at the web to see websites advertising general and tailor-made cartoons for teaching purposes. Many people are learning how to create animated teaching aids, and creating a good career for themselves. If you are interested in learning how to create animated teaching aids, take a look at some of the animation programs available - some of them available as online programs.
Source
http://www.education.gov.mtAbout the Author
Mary Hobson is a consultant for technology start-ups in Russia. She has also worked as an executive officer in a defense facility and as a university lecturer in computer science and management information. Mary earned her first degree in textile marketing and subsequently studied education and computer science at a Master’s degree level.Posted on September 26, 2005 at 4:34 PM
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