Skip to content

Project for Awesome: DonorsChoose.org

2008-12-17 · Hank, John · watch on YouTube · Global development · advocacy activism

For the 2008 Project for Awesome, Hank uses John's comic science-challenge footage to argue that US science education is poor and asks viewers to fund classroom projects on DonorsChoose.org, where donors choose the best teacher proposals.

What is said

00:00:00 — Hank introduces the Project for Awesome that he and John organised: YouTubers promote their favourite charities

  • ★★ Hank says he and John, with the help of all of YouTube and some particular people, organised the Project for Awesome; this video is a tiny part of it. — 00:00:00 · Project for Awesome, John Green, YouTube
  • ★★★ Hank defines the Project for Awesome as a day when YouTubers talk about their favourite charities, encourage donations and talk about people doing good things. — 00:00:00 · Project for Awesome > «a day in which YouTubers get the opportunity to talk about their favorite charities»
  • ★★ Hank says a cadre of about 10,000 people will promote P4A videos so they become YouTube's most viewed and discussed videos for at least two days. — 00:00:00 · Project for Awesome, YouTube

00:00:29 — Hank's P4A challenge to John: microwave a CD and touch steel wool to a 9-volt battery; John microwaves a CD

  • ★★ Hank says that as part of the P4A he phoned John the previous afternoon and told him to microwave a CD for five seconds and touch steel wool to a 9-volt battery. — 00:00:29 · John Green, Project for Awesome
  • ★★ John microwaves a Bridge to Terabithia soundtrack CD, panics and turns off the camera, then stands in his kitchen with steel wool and a 9-volt battery. (playful) — 00:00:29

00:00:58 — John's steel-wool footage and his confusion about science; Hank blames poor US science education (17% scientifically literate)

  • ★★ John asks how the battery trick works and says he does not know because of poor scientific education. (playful) — 00:00:58
  • ★★★ Hank says John doesn't understand science not because he isn't smart but because science education in the US is bad. — 00:00:58 · John Green, United States
  • ★★★ Hank says only about 17% of American adults are scientifically literate. — 00:00:58 · United States
  • ★★ Hank says this gives him little hope in democracy's ability to make correct decisions on scientific legislation. — 00:00:58
  • ★ Hank thinks people everywhere should know more about science and asks how to promote scientific literacy among young people. (hedged) — 00:01:48

00:01:48 — DonorsChoose.org: teachers propose projects, donors choose good ideas; Jurassic Park example; Hank's search for science teachers; thank-you cards

  • ★★★ Hank presents DonorsChoose.org: teachers submit proposals saying what they need money for, and if people think the idea is good they give money and the kids get the supplies. — 00:01:48
  • ★★★ Hank says DonorsChoose also pushes teachers to think of good uses for donors' money, since donors fund only ideas that sound good. — 00:02:17
  • ★★ Hank's example: a teacher buying 30 copies of Jurassic Park to excite kids about genetics; some would call Crichton an idiot, others a good idea; donors decide. (hypothetical) — 00:02:17
  • ★ Hank says he spent about half the day on DonorsChoose looking for inspired science teachers who need resources they couldn't otherwise get. — 00:02:17
  • ★★ Hank says he had very good science teachers and equipment, so he feels obligated to help other students get the same opportunities. — 00:02:47
  • ★★ Hank says donors who give more than $100 get a thank-you card signed by the kids. — 00:02:47

00:03:15 — Gates Foundation matching; ask to fund a classroom; thanks to P4A participants; BlogTV; sign-off

  • ★★★ Hank says the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is matching donations on many projects, so it costs 50% as much to do 100% of the good. — 00:03:15
  • ★★ Hank says DonorsChoose has won all kinds of awards and is a great place to spend charity time and money. — 00:03:15
  • ★★★ Hank asks viewers to go to DonorsChoose.org and find a classroom they can really help, science or not. — 00:03:15
  • ★ Hank thanks everyone taking part in the Project for Awesome and says he and John will be live on BlogTV. — 00:03:15 · BlogTV, John Green, Project for Awesome

Humor (significant)

  • John microwaves his Bridge to Terabithia soundtrack CD, saying he's not sorry to part with it — 00:00:58 > «Nothing personal, Miley Cyrus.»
  • John, holding steel wool and a battery, asks Hank how they get the steel wool — 00:00:58 > «Does it involve steel sheep?»
  • After microwaving the CD John panics and turns off the camera — 00:00:58 > «Science smells horrible.»
  • Hank asks how to promote scientific literacy among today's young people — 00:01:48 > «so that tomorrow's old people will know what the frick they're talking about?»

Threads in this video

BR2_e6882d62df