Traditional document
On this page, we are going to walk through three methods of presenting a single history lesson.
I'll describe each method (pros and cons), then you can do a drive-run on each one.
At the end, I'll ask for your feedback.
Ready to get started ? Ok, here we go . . .
Traditional document
The Civil War Lesson delivered via a traditional written document
Sample to right, full document (here)
Pros:
1. It's only two pages
2. It's well written
Cons:
1. It takes a lot of concentration to absorb
2. Nothing grabs your attention except the picture of Meade and the title
3. The "lesson" is there but it's buried.
Open the article in a new window so it's easy to flip back and forth.
Ok, if you haven't already done so, open the document in a new window (right-click, new window),
have a quick glance at it, then re-read this section.
Unless you are a student of the Civil War (or the author's mother), this article won't excite you.
It might interest you, but you won't go away remembering much.
What do you think so far?
Hang tight, we've got two more methods of delivery . . .
On the Web
The Civil War Lesson delivered via the web
Sample to the right, link to article (here)
Pros:
1. It's on the web - easily accessible
2. It's well written
Cons:
1. It takes a lot of concentration to absorb,
especially since there are about a hundred things happening on the page:
- advertisements
- links to other sites
- etc., etc., etc.
If the reader is not careful, they'll be surfing over to who knows where?
Maybe over to ESPN.com (you gotta love their new site) in short order,
and the heck with the General Meade lesson (he was a loser anyway).
-- Ditto from above --
2. Nothing grabs your attention except the picture of Meade and the title
3. The "lesson" is there but it's buried (like a lost mummy in an Egyptian Pyramid . . . you can't see it)
Open the article in a new window so it's easy to flip back and forth.
Ok, if you haven't already done so, open the link in a new window (right-click, new window),
have a quick glance at it, then re-read this section.
While the author (and his mom) might be thrilled to have his article on the web,
this delivery method is not exactly conducive to learning.
No teacher is going to have 8th grade students - or military cadets -
read this article from the web - it's just way too busy there.
Now, what do you think? Now for the best part . . .
The Brain Friendly Style
The Civil War Lesson delivered via the Info-Scroll Learning System
Sample to the right, link (here)
Pros:
1. It's on the web - easily accessible
2. It's delivers "thought chunks"
3. Anyone with passing interest in the Civil War - or today's War on Terror - will be snared in the content.
4. The same content is absorbed in half the time, while the message is retained twice as long . . . and the reader can almost enjoy learning history . . .
5. The "lesson" is easily discernable (visually)
Cons:
1. You tell me . . . (see comments box below)
Open the article in a new window so it's easy to flip back and forth.
Ok, if you haven't already done so, open the link in a new window (right-click, new window), follow the instructions there, then re-read this section.
This is the "brain friendly method".
It's easy to consume, it delivers "thought chunks", and the messsage is delivered clearly and quickly.
Now what do you think? Oh, one more thing.
Remember, the Info-Scroll Learning System can deliver on paper as well as on the web.
Here's the Civil War Lesson, Info-Scroll style, for printing
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