Throwback to the pandemic and teaching from home: “An ocean in a bucket”

I had completely forgotten about a video that Kjersti and I produced in 2021 to prepare her students for rotating tank experiments by addressing a common misconception before they ever set foot in a lab. But since it is so hilarious and also such a throwback to how all our meetings looked for months and months, I want to share it here!

The misconception we are addressing is that in a rotating tank experiment, the centre of the tank represents a pole and the edge of the tank represents the equator. This is a very common misconception, especially in cylindrical tanks, and it is also easily reinforced by the way we commonly set up experiments. But it is still wrong!

The process of planning that video was actually very interesting. We first thought about showing a rotating tank (the way I do for example here), then simplified the tank filled with water to a disk on a central axis, and then, in the end, let go of all gimmicks and decided to just film a (clearly scripted) conversation to not distract from the main message. I find that this is actually a very common process I have to go through when I prepare teaching: Chopping away more and more of the “fun gimmicks” to not distract too much and really focus on the core of what I want to do… But then I do love coming up with fun gimmicks!!

But here is the final video:

The other day, Kjersti mentioned that she had met students who she hadn’t met before (the course is now taught by another teacher), and they said they recognised her from “the video”. So I had to check it out again. And I find it so hilarious — I knew I am moving my eyebrows a lot when I am talking, and especially when I am teaching, but wow! :-D