By Ryan Deal ’16

If you have been in any history, biology or psychology class, chances are you have stumbled upon “Crash Course” videos. The videos, which average out to about ten minutes long each, attempt to summarize a large topic of discussion in a very short period. The largely animated videos, made by brothers Hank and John Green, have firmly entrenched themselves into classrooms across America since their inception in 2011. John Green also is the author of the bestselling novel, “The Fault in Our Stars.”

Sherwood, along with thousands of other schools, embrace the unique videos. Social studies teacher Beth Shevitz commonly shows “Crash Course,” citing their entertainment value as a major positive. “The videos entertain and educate at the same time. The Green brothers deliver the material in a very unique way. I think students respond to this sort of learning better,” said Shevitz.

The videos are not just limited to in-class viewing but are posted to YouTube, making it accessible for students at home. “I promote it as a solid means of reinforcement. It can be very effective for reviewing and even previewing material,” Shevitz added.