The Explainer


Book Description

What happens to recalled meat? What’s the difference between a serial killer and a spree killer? How do you stop a lava flow? Does homeowner’s insurance cover murder? And what is Ovaltine anyway? Answers to these and other fascinating questions you never thought to ask, from the writers at Slate Magazine An entertaining and genuinely informative compilation of answers to some of life's most improbable questions, from the writers of the online magazine Slate. Often inspired by events in the news, the “Explainer” column asks the questions we never think to ask, or that we’re too embarrassed to admit we don’t know how to answer. Filling in these overlooked blanks of our daily lives, the book provides memorable tidbits for conversations, further rumination, or important context as we follow current events from day to day. Full of fascinating information about unlikely but important subjects, The Explainer will entertain and inform anyone who has ever stopped to wonder who runs Antarctica, how cell phones can reveal your location, or whether one can live off lizard meat.




The Explainer


Book Description

Ever wondered how vaccines work, why whales strand themselves or if luck exists? The Explainer: From Déjà Vu to Why the Sky Is Blue, and Other Conundrums is a collection of around 100 of the best articles published in ‘The Explainer’ and ‘Monday’s Medical Myths’ sections of The Conversation. The book answers questions on everyone's mind about a diverse range of topics, abstract concepts, and popular and hard core science. Sections include: animals and agriculture, body, climate and energy, medical myths, mind and brain, research and technology, and more. Expert authors combine facts, analysis, new ideas and enthusiasm to make often challenging topics highly readable in just a few short pages. This book is for the curious, those with a thirst for answers, and those with a fascination of how phenomena, new technologies and current issues in our daily lives work.




Thing Explainer


Book Description

The creator of the popular webcomic "xkcd" uses line drawings and just ten hundred common words to provide simple explanations for how things work, including microwaves, bridges, tectonic plates, the solar system, the periodic table, helicopters, and other essential concepts.




Zero-Variable Theories and the Psychology of the Explainer


Book Description

In Zero-Variable Theories, Dr. Robert Wicklund invites the reader to consider the psychological perspective of the "explainer". In examining the over-simplifications that have become dominant in modern psychology, the author points to such factors as competition with other explainers and pressure to offer and promulgate a unique explanation. The explainer is characterized as equating theory with simple, fixed categories, and as defending those categories as one would defend a personal territory, fending off competing explainers through mis-use of statistical devices. The end result is the formulation of theories that neglect the perspectives of those whose behaviors are to be explained, and which simultaneously exclude psychological variables.




The Art of Explanation


Book Description

Your guide to becoming an explanation specialist. You've done the hard work. Your product or service works beautifully - but something is missing. People just don't see the big idea - and it's keeping you from being successful. Your idea has an explanation problem. The Art of Explanation is for business people, educators and influencers who want to improve their explanation skills and start solving explanation problems. Author Lee LeFever is the founder of Common Craft, a company known around the world for making complex ideas easy to understand through short animated videos. He is your guide to helping audiences fall in love with your ideas, products or services through better explanations in any medium. You will learn to: Plan: Learn explanation basics, what causes them to fail and how to diagnose explanation problems. Package: Using simple elements, create an explanation strategy that builds confidence and motivates your audience. Present: Produce remarkable explanations with visuals and media. The Art of Explanation is your invitation to become an explanation specialist and see why explanation is now a fundamental skill for professionals.




Explain Yourself!


Book Description

Want to make explainer video? This book is a fast and easy way to learn how to make your project successful. It will help you avoid big mistakes and wasted efforts, while creating the best project for your needs.In this book, you get to see explainer videos through the eyes of Ben Marvazi, whose team at Promoshin.com has produced thousands of video projects for clients in every industry imaginable, all over the world. Ben shows you how to:-Start your project properly with 10 Critical Self-Analysis Questions to focus on the essential content, style, and marketing purposes for your project. -Learn the pros and cons of 10 Popular Explainer Video Styles, so you can choose the one that matches your goals. -Discover The 5-step Script Formula for explainer videos that will tell your marketing story concisely while increasing sales conversion rates.-Get 9 Quick and Effective Pro Tips for script length, conciseness, animation styles, voiceover languages, translations, calls to action, and more.-See the 20 Smart Questions to Ask when hiring a video production company. The expert knowledge in this book will help you focus your project, avoid mistakes, cut costs, and make your marketing messages convincing, so you can grow your business. Why not take advantage of the author's expert experience to make your project better? In this book, Ben takes you through the journey of an explainer video from an idea to a finished product and beyond. Ready to take the first step?




The Bible Explainer


Book Description

When you need help understanding God's Word, turn to The Bible Explainer-- answering 250 who, what, when, where, and why questions about the world's best-selling book. People, places, things, and ideas are covered, from Genesis through Revelation, with insight, intrigue, and a dash of humor. Questions and answers are presented in logical order, from larger, more general issues (for example, "What is the Bible?") through the more specific (such as "Was Jesus a pacifist?" and "What is the significance of 666?"). Bible Explainer tackles the tough ones, too--like How could God "regret" making humans? Did God command Israel to commit genocide? Why do Christians follow the Old Testament's teaching on homosexuality but not its commands about eating bacon and shrimp? The Bible Explainer acknowledges the variety of viewpoints in the larger Christian world while taking a conservative historical approach itself. It's a fascinating read that will enhance your appreciation of scripture--plus, it's illustrated in full color!







Teaching and Learning STEM


Book Description

The widely used STEM education book, updated Teaching and Learning STEM: A Practical Guide covers teaching and learning issues unique to teaching in the science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) disciplines. Secondary and postsecondary instructors in STEM areas need to master specific skills, such as teaching problem-solving, which are not regularly addressed in other teaching and learning books. This book fills the gap, addressing, topics like learning objectives, course design, choosing a text, effective instruction, active learning, teaching with technology, and assessment—all from a STEM perspective. You’ll also gain the knowledge to implement learner-centered instruction, which has been shown to improve learning outcomes across disciplines. For this edition, chapters have been updated to reflect recent cognitive science and empirical educational research findings that inform STEM pedagogy. You’ll also find a new section on actively engaging students in synchronous and asynchronous online courses, and content has been substantially revised to reflect recent developments in instructional technology and online course development and delivery. Plan and deliver lessons that actively engage students—in person or online Assess students’ progress and help ensure retention of all concepts learned Help students develop skills in problem-solving, self-directed learning, critical thinking, teamwork, and communication Meet the learning needs of STEM students with diverse backgrounds and identities The strategies presented in Teaching and Learning STEM don’t require revolutionary time-intensive changes in your teaching, but rather a gradual integration of traditional and new methods. The result will be a marked improvement in your teaching and your students’ learning.