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Project for Awesome: DonorsChoose.org

2008-12-17 · announcement · Hank, John · 3:56 · watch on YouTube

Topic: Global development (also: Nerdfighteria, US politics & society) · mode: Advocacy & fundraising · tags: calendar ritual, fundraising ask, punishment or challenge, guest or collab

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

The parts of the video and what is said in each (★ — how much it matters to the video).

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, YouTube

    “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 (16 December 2008) 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 · aid effectiveness
  • ★★ 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 · 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

Where the stories that moved here went next

Mentioned

Central: DonorsChoose · Project for Awesome · scientific literacy

Also: People: Bill Gates · Michael Crichton · Miley Cyrus

Works: Bridge to Terabithia (soundtrack) · Jurassic Park

Organizations: BlogTV · YouTube

Concepts: aid effectiveness

Places: United States

Only in the description or credits: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

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