The Stickiness Factor: Sesame Street, Blue’s Clues, and the Educational Virus

1. The Stickiness Factor: Sesame Street, Blue’s Clues, and the Educational Virus Chapter Three – The Tipping Point Stickiness

2. What is stickiness? • Another crucial factor that plays a key role in determining whether a trend will attain exponential popularity is what Gladwell terms “the stickiness factor.” • This refers to a unique quality that compels the phenomenon to “stick” in the minds of the public and influence their future behavior.

3. The Study of Stickiness • The PBS show Sesame Street represented a vast improvement in the “stickiness” of children’s television. • These changes, based in large part on extensive research, resulted in a show that actually helped toddlers and preschoolers develop literacy. • Years later, the television show Blue’s Clues applied many of these same techniques to Sesame Street itself, resulting in the development of a program that research has shown can generate significant improvements in children’s logic and reasoning abilities. Sticky Video

4. Create a Circle Map • In the middle write “Chapter Three – The Stickiness Factor.” • On the outside of the circle map list 10 words words associated with chapter three. • Narrow down the list to the 5 most poignant words.

5. Word Collage • Poverty • Education • Illiteracy • Memorable • Techniques • Celebrity • Connection • Academic • Scrutiny

6. Choose One Image Explain how the image best represents the information shown in “The Stickiness Factor.” Make sure to also write down why you decided against the other option. 2 1 3 4

7. I chose… • I chose image number three to represent chapter three “The Stickiness Factor.” A quote to supports this image is that it is “challenging and conceptual” (Gladwell 114). The image shows children interested in a text which could be challenging. On page 106 Gladwell even says how children stick more to shows that mix fantasy and reality. This image seems to highlight fantasy with the cartoon background and reality with students that enjoy reading.

8. Based on the word collages and circle maps, examine the 6 images. 1 4 Choose one to be a logo for a new “sticky” children’s television show. Explain why you chose that logo. Rationalize and explain why you did not choose the other five. List the terms that led you to why. Based on your understanding of the topic argue which details and textual evidence led you to choose that one image. 2 5 3 6

9. Create or Apply • Assignment Option One: Using textual evidence, create your own show mock up. Describe the show, the characters, and the elements. Use 5 quotations to back up your information. • Assignment Option Two: Using textual evidence, apply the information about educational television to a new show. Describe the show, the characters, and other important elements. Use 5 quotations to back up your information. • Have logical explanations prepared about the show. Use textual evidence.

10. Steps for Claim and Evidence • Your Name and MLA Heading • Show’s Title: • Premise of the Show: (Brief 2-3 sentence description) • Characters: (List, describe, and use quotations to explain their stickiness.) • Educational Point of the show: • Explanation of HOW Children learn from the show: (i.e. interaction, etc.) 1st – Find five quotations. 2nd – Make sure that all five quotations support what a children’s educational show must have to make it “sticky.” 3rd – If any quotations are not supportive enough, replace them. 4th – Begin the format on the right to explain your created or studied television show.