Entertainers In Education

-
Entertainers in Education was created in 1992 by a group of Southern California entertainment designers, along with educators from Pepperdine, Cal State Long Beach, USC and UCLA. Our purpose was to explore ways to combine education and entertainment to create experiences which engage, empower and inspire participants. At the core of these discussions was an inquiry into "what happens when entertainment educates and education entertains." The conversation has continued, both formally and informally, for the past nine years.
-
Some of the inspiration for our discussions came from Albert Einstein's thoughts on education.

-
"The point is to develop the childlike inclination for play and the childlike desire for recognition and to guide the child over to important fields for society. Such a school demands from the teacher that he be a kind of artist in his province."

"It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge."

"Teaching should be such that what is offered is perceived as a valuable gift and not as a hard duty."

"The real difficulty.... the difficulty which has baffled the sages of all times, is rather this... How can we make our teaching so potent... that its influence should withstand the elemental psychic forces in the individual."

"Imagination is more important than knowledge"

Albert Einstein

The Domains
-

"Anyone who attempts to distinguish between education and entertainment does not understand the first thing about either."
Marshal McLuhen
-
While closely related on many levels, the education and entertainment industries have evolved in very different ways. We started with the idea that a new possibility exists outside the practices and perceptions of either of these two domains.

The Possibility
-

Working together, entertainment and education professionals can create experiences which invite participants to Discover, Explore, Imagine, Dream, Invent, Create and Celebrate the joy of learning about themselves, each other and the world around them.

Create immersive environments which encourage learning
Provide engaging contexts for learning opportunities
Design experiences to open up new possibilities
Use entertainment tools to engage, inspire and empower
Provide opportunities for further exploration and discussion

The Challenge
--

-
Unfortunately, most attempts to combine data and storytelling (often referred to as "infotainment" or "edutainment") tend to be neither entertaining nor educational. The opportunity for entertainment to engage and inspire is FAR greater than its ability to enhance the presentation of information.
-
(Karl's commentary on "Edutainment.")

The Tools
-

-This unique partnership of entertainers, educators and industry experts has many of the most powerful, proven and effective entertainment tools available to them.

Storytelling
Theatrical Design
Immersive Environments
Music/Sound Effects/Voices
Video/Film/Digital Media
Interactive Media
Special Effects & Illusions
Theatrical Lighting
Talent Direction & Training

The Exercise
-
Imagine a place designed to celebrate learning...
-

Click the link to see more of our Discovery Park concept.

Click here for a listing of books related to
Educational Entertainment Design
and effective communication.

Click here for a few examples of outstanding
Educational Entertainment Design

Return to Karl's Portfolio
-