BrainPOP: Interesting beginnings
BrainPOP is the idea of Dr. Avraham Kadar a pediatrician and immunologist. This venture began as a way for Dr. Kadar to explain difficult medical concepts to children and expanded to various parts of K-13 Curriculum including ESL. BrainPOP includes a variety of movies about a particular topic with interactive quizzes and activities to reinforce the information in the video. The studies (by BrainPOP (so take with a grain of salt) shows that students learn much better using BrainPOPs videos and interactive quizzes.
Dr. Kadar’s motivation to create this company- explaining difficult information to children is the breeding ground for a great venture. I have never encountered information like this for children to understand medical concepts. This seems to be particularly helpful for children and their siblings with life altering diseases like cancer. It is both fun and interesting. His expansion to the regular school curriculum might not have been the best choice, as the market seems saturated with fun activities for children. The first part of the motivation of his ideas seems original but not his emergence on the field of k-12 education.
The BrainPOP team consists of twenty-two various “advisors.” There are advisors for Math, Science, English, Social Sciences, Phycology, Health, Writing, Music, Art, Special Education, and Technology. The team seems very well rounded with people assessing all areas of the spectrum. The BrainPOP board consists of a similar number of people as the advisory board with positions ranging from CEO to District Relations. Dr. Kadar began as a CEO but has been replaced by Nadav Kadar (a possible relative) and the vice president of the company being Maya Kadar.
This company seems to be well represented and has an interesting product. While I feel that BrainPOP is an interesting tool for physicians I do not feel that it will make a big impact in the classroom. It is an interesting resource to use but nothing more than that.
Please see click for a picture of Dr. Avraham Kadar
I apologize for no embedded picture. I am working through some tech issues.
Posted in: Week 02: The Edtech Marketplace
Karen Jones 10:41 am on September 30, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Hi Tamara,
I was wondering if you had viewed some of the BrainPOP and BrainPOP Jr videos, as there are a number that they offer for free viewing. They are most definitely targeted at K to 10 classes, and serve as useful introductions and reviews for a wide variety of topics, from science to English. We use three or four of them a week in our grade 9/10 classes, and find the pre-made quizzes cover curricular material in a fun, yet adequately challenging way. I must admit to having never used the other resources that are associated with each video, but as they are designed by teachers, I think they could be useful, perhaps at lower grades. Before BrainPOP, I found that othere “educational” videos, such as those made by Bill Nye, were too long to include in 50 minute classes, whereas 3 to 5 minute BrainPOPs are perfect!
Oops, is this more than 2 bits worth? Sorry, I must admit to a passion for BrainPOP!
KJ
murray12 12:03 am on October 1, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Hi Tamara,
I was very excited to see that you chose BrainPOP as your venture. Over the last couple years I have used BrainPOP regularly in my classroom. Either as a primer for a new topic, or just at random to learn something new as a brain warm up. Since the site addresses such a range of topics, I was surprised to learn that its origins come from a medical background. I guess the site really expanded over time.
Interesting research, Tamara!
khenry 6:04 am on October 1, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Hi Tamara,
One of the things resonating throughout this activity for me has been whether or not I can place or see myself as an entrepreneur with a successful venture. In my research, and in some of the others I have read, what stood out is the wealth of and years of experience in CEO/heads of department positions, and in education, research and development that the CEOs/founders bring to the table.
What is heartening in this post is the natural development of a solution to an identified need that is then further developed into a venture. This is more in line with how I see myself and future venture efforts. However, I am cautioned by what seems to be the necessity of strong relationships, boards of advisors and networks to supplement lack of experience, in order for ventures to be successful and garner support, whether consumer and/or investors. The CEOs’ experience et al. really were important in my analysis of if I would buy/invest in the product therefore where does that leave me? What about you? Where do you see or position yourself/your success/needs as an entrepreneur in this milieu?
BTW check your category. It seems you categorized this entry under Week 2: Edutech Marketplace rather than Week 4: Entrepreneur Bootcamp
Kerry-Ann
Keisha Edwards-Hamilton 2:15 pm on October 2, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Hi Tamara,
BrainPOP is an excellent learning technology. I am impressed with where it is now in the market …. It is now used widely in U.S. schools and also offers subscriptions for families and homeschoolers, considering it was designed to explain medical concepts young patients using animation. I wonder if Dr. Avraham Kadar expected that this innovation would be so successful?
Keisha