Revolutionary Learning

What youtube has brought us is way more than hilarious moments that break the monotonous cycle of work and viral videos out of control. It has brought about a revolution in learning. Now the lucky bastards of the younger generations can tap into this immense resource of knowledge and information right under their fingertips.

I cant get over the power of learning through visual means. Those of us who thrive on imaginary visuals thought up in the chambers of our brains that allow us to comprehend new things, find youtube and the like an amazing source for learning new things. Things we never thought possible a few years ago.



The days without internet were not long ago for those like me who can still remember the days when the term "Internet" started spawning off the tongues of friends more well-read than I. I can remember the first time I heard it. I couldn't comprehend it.

Anyway, nostalgia aside, say we wanted to learn a song on the guitar. Back in the day, I was lucky enough to be learning during the internet phase but before youtube had matured. I used to read tabs off the net, print them out and study them hard. Nowadays a simple search on youtube will show you a person playing the guitar and playing the song that you want to know how to play and chances are you'll find a visual tutorial on how to play it.

The power of visualizing something has been inscribed in the history of man, for example, the ancient Egyptians conveyed detailed stories of the afterlife in vivid pictures. The steps a man goes through as he is judged before the Gods, is carved out and painted on walls of tombs and temples for the people to see and visualize what happens in the afterlife. Vision is the most powerful sense people have. It is the most perceiving of our senses.



It goes without saying, that the ability to record visuals and transmit them over the internet is an amazing capability. For example, I took a course in linear algebra and found videos from Professor Strang at MIT. In them, he explained linear algebra in a simple way. This was extremely beneficial. I was not physically present in the classroom but could see what was going on. The alternative would be to filter through books on the subject and write up notes or something.

So I'm happy to be witnessing this powerful means of conveying knowledge and thought I would share this with you.