How To Enhance

Interdisciplinarity
Using TikTok
and Nanolearning
by Alex Tamulis
 How To Enhance Interdisciplinarity Using TikTok and Nanolearning

Education, particularly language learning, on TikTok offers a myriad of benefits.

Firstly, TikTok's engaging format captivates learners, making language lessons more
enjoyable and effective. Bite-sized content encourages consistent learning, fitting
into busy schedules.

The diverse user base exposes learners to various accents and cultures, enhancing
language authenticity. Additionally, TikTok's interactive features promote language
practice through comments, duets, and collaborations, fostering communication
skills.

Lastly, the global reach of TikTok connects learners with people from all over the
world, facilitating language immersion and cultural understanding.

In summary, TikTok transforms language learning into an accessible, interactive,

and culturally enriching experience.

Bridging the Gap with School Subjects

"Integrating academic content from various school subjects with language learning
on TikTok offers a multifaceted educational experience. By leveraging TikTok's
storytelling capabilities, students engage in a dynamic learning process that not
only enhances language proficiency but also cultivates higher-order thinking skills.
Exploring subjects like science, history, or literature in a foreign language
encourages critical analysis and enables students to view concepts from different
cultural perspectives.

This interdisciplinary approach promotes cognitive growth, enabling students to

synthesize knowledge, make connections across disciplines, and develop a holistic
understanding of complex topics. TikTok, as the storytelling backbone, empowers
students to communicate their insights creatively, fostering a profound
appreciation for both language and the academic subjects they explore.

Nanolearning Benefits

Nanolearning, with its bite-sized content designed to be completed in under 10

minutes, has revolutionized education, especially in academic subjects. Its power
lies in its ability to combine complex, technical subjects with the art of storytelling
and captivating visuals. By breaking down intricate concepts into digestible
modules, nanolearning fosters deeper comprehension and retention.
Through striking images, animations, and compelling narratives, students are not
only learning but also experiencing the subject matter. Whether it's a scientific
theory or a historical event, nanolearning transforms dry facts into immersive
stories that engage learners on a profound level. This approach not only saves time
but also enhances understanding, making education an enjoyable and enriching
journey.

Why is TikTok so popular?

Short-Form Content: TikTok's format focuses on short video clips, typically ranging
from 15 to 60 seconds. This brevity fits well with modern attention spans and
allows for quick consumption of content.

Entertainment: TikTok is a hub for entertaining content, including comedy, dance,

music, and creativity. Users can easily discover engaging and amusing videos that
offer a brief escape from their daily routines.

Creativity and Expression: TikTok provides a platform for users to express

themselves creatively. The ease of video creation, along with features like filters,
effects, and music, empowers users to showcase their talents and unique
perspectives.

Diverse Content: TikTok offers a wide range of content spanning various interests
and niches. Users can find content related to hobbies, education, fashion, cooking,
sports, and much more, catering to a diverse audience.

Algorithmic Feed: TikTok's recommendation algorithm suggests content tailored to

each user's preferences. This personalized feed keeps users engaged by showing
them videos they are likely to enjoy.

Ease of Use: The app's user-friendly interface and intuitive video creation tools
make it accessible to people of all ages, including those who may not be
tech-savvy.

Interactivity: TikTok encourages user engagement through features like comments,

likes, shares, and duets (collaborative videos). This interactive aspect fosters a
sense of community and connection.

Discoverability: TikTok's "For You Page" (FYP) introduces users to content from
creators they may not follow, promoting content discovery and virality.
Trends and Challenges: TikTok often features viral trends and challenges that
encourage user participation. These trends create a sense of belonging and shared
experiences among the user community.

Global Reach: TikTok is a global platform, allowing users to connect with people
from all over the world. This global perspective can be both educational and
culturally enriching.

Escape from Traditional Media: TikTok provides an alternative to traditional media

sources, offering a more democratic and user-driven approach to content creation
and consumption.

Social Connection: Users can follow friends, family, and influencers, fostering a
sense of connection and community on the platform.

A Practical Example of a Chemistry Lesson using Think-Pair-Share to Aid in

Storytelling

Here’s a think-pair-share activity to help students understand how neutrons hitting

atoms can release energy:

Activity: Neutrons and Energy Release

Think (Individual):

Begin by introducing the concept of neutrons and their role in atomic reactions.
Provide a brief explanation of how neutrons can collide with atomic nuclei,
causing them to split or fuse, and releasing energy in the process.
Ask students to take a moment to think about everyday situations where they've
seen energy release, even if not related to atomic reactions.

Pair (Discussion):

Have students pair up with a classmate.

In their pairs, ask them to share their thoughts and examples of energy release that
they thought of individually.
Encourage students to discuss whether they can identify any common factors or
patterns in these energy release scenarios.
Share (Class Discussion):

Invite pairs of students to share their findings with the whole class.
Create a list of the examples of energy release on the board or a shared digital
document.
Lead a discussion about how these everyday examples relate to the concept of
neutrons hitting atoms and releasing energy in nuclear reactions.
Summarize the key takeaway: Neutrons colliding with atomic nuclei can release
energy, similar to the energy release in everyday situations.
This think-pair-share activity encourages students to connect abstract scientific
concepts, like atomic reactions, to real-life experiences, making the topic more
relatable and comprehensible. It also promotes peer-to-peer discussion, which
can deepen their understanding through shared insights and reflections.

Explaining Abstract Concepts Using the Above Mentioned Procedures

Teachers always ask me:

“How could I explain something as hard as nuclear fission to a language student?”

I tell them that explaining nuclear fission using the analogy of billiard balls is a great
way to make this complex topic more accessible to students. It’s all about the
narrative. Making it emotional. Making it memorable.

You can certainly incorporate a think-pair-share activity into the explanation.

Here's a step-by-step approach:

Introduction:

Start by introducing the concept of nuclear fission as the process where the
nucleus of an atom splits into two or more smaller nuclei, along with the release of
a significant amount of energy.
Explain that in nuclear fission, a neutron collides with the nucleus of an atom,
leading to the split.

Using the Billiard Ball Analogy:

Describe the atomic nucleus as a "billiard ball" or a solid object.

Use a simple diagram or drawing to represent an atomic nucleus, resembling a

billiard ball.
Explain that in this analogy, the neutron is like another billiard ball.
Think (Individual):
Ask students to think individually about what might happen if one billiard ball
(neutron) collides with another billiard ball (nucleus).

Pair (Discussion):
Have students pair up with a classmate.

In their pairs, ask them to discuss their thoughts about the collision of the neutron
and the nucleus. Encourage them to use the billiard ball analogy to describe the
outcome.

Share (Class Discussion):

Invite pairs of students to share their ideas and conclusions with the entire class.

Facilitate a discussion about how the analogy relates to nuclear fission!

Emphasize that when the neutron (billiard ball) collides with the nucleus (another
billiard ball), it can cause the nucleus to split into smaller pieces, just like a billiard
ball breaking apart.

Explain that the energy released during this process is similar to the kinetic energy
transferred in a billiard ball collision.

This think-pair-share activity helps students visualize and conceptualize nuclear

fission by drawing parallels to a familiar scenario. It encourages active participation,
peer-to-peer discussion, and a deeper understanding of the topic.

A Video-Structured Approach to Teaching Abstract Concepts

Step 1: Pre-Video Storytelling

Begin the lesson with a captivating and emotionally engaging story related to the
video content. This story should serve as a precursor, creating an emotional
connection and priming students for what they are about to watch. The story can
be personal or fictional but should be relevant to the upcoming video.

Step 2: Video Viewing

After setting the stage with the pre-video storytelling, have students watch the
video attentively. Encourage them to take notes and pay close attention to key
concepts, themes, and any emotional elements that resonate with them.

Step 3: Individual Narrative Creation

Give students time to reflect individually on the video content. Prompt them to
create their own narratives or stories about what they found most relevant,
impactful, or thought-provoking in the video. Encourage them to connect their
personal experiences or emotions to the content.

Step 4: Collaborative Narrative Building

Form small groups of students and have them share their individual narratives.
Within each group, encourage discussion and debate on the different perspectives
and interpretations of the video. Together, they should create a collaborative
narrative that weaves together the various insights and emotions experienced by
group members.

Step 5: Learning Reflection and Skill Identification

Once the collaborative narratives are developed, guide students in reflecting on

what skills, knowledge, and lessons can be drawn from the video and their
collective narrative-building experience.

Encourage students to identify the following:

The main themes or messages conveyed by the video.

The emotional impact and empathy developed through storytelling.
How their narratives evolved from individual to collaborative perspectives.
Any connections between the video content and real-world applications.

Skills such as critical thinking, communication, and collaboration that were

enhanced through this process.

By following this structured approach, teachers can leverage the power of

storytelling to engage students emotionally and intellectually before introducing
video content. The subsequent stages of reflection and collaborative narrative
building not only deepen students' understanding but also foster critical thinking
and teamwork skills.

I hope these strategies work out for you in your context. Please let me know if you
need more and I’ll be more than glad to exchange more ideas, investigate
hypotheses and get in touch.

Best,

Alex Tamulis
Macmillan Education