Entertainment or Engagement?
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     The answer to this question might at first seem obvious, but in practice it is often confused.If Education were simply entertaining would anything be really learned? Would you get any content that would help you in the near future? Most likely not, but if you were to try to find an education that was simply engaging how long would it take you before you got bored and would lose interest?

This issue doesn't just apply to schools but also effects how we treat business, church issues, science, journalism, and many others. Today in popular culture we can turn on the TV, watch a youtube video on the internet, got to a park. All of which take no more engagement than getting ready for it to begin. There are many websites and blogs that go over the issue of how entertainment has produced a negative effect on society. But, if we already have it, and we already know we can't get rid of it, shouldn't we use it to our advantage or should we try replacing it with learning that is engaging? To have a better answer to this question lets look at....

• Entertainment  is passive (no involvement = spectators vs. entertainers) while Engagement is active (i.e. mentally or physically involved).

• Entertainment is for enjoyment/amusement (Note: learning can be enjoyable, but not everything that is gives joys gives knowledge and understanding) while Engagement is for learning that is relate to what is being taught.

• Entertainment tends to be short-lived - what entertaining is today will be different tomorrow - while Engagement has long-term benefits/results (knowledge to use for the future).

• Entertainment doesn’t require relevance - many examples of movies, commercials, etc can be funny but not relevant to future use, meaning it has little or no value to the student - while Engagement is meaningful and applicable (i.e. shows us hands-on how to do this for future use).

• Entertainment allows [or encourages] escape from problems while Engagement is about trying to solve problems, in a Christian's case biblically.

•  Entertainment is using the creativity of others (meaning that you aren’t actively doing something to improve yourself or others) while Engagement is using the creativity of the participant (when you participate with someone both you and the participant learn something from it giving you opportunity to learn and grow from it).

Conclusion?

Much more could be said on both sides, but you can see how engagement tends to more biblical benefits whereas entertainment has a tendency towards complacency and a lack of efficient learning. Should education be entertaining? Yes, but this should not be the main goal. The main goal is that is should engage the student to participate in a learning experience that will improve his way of life so that he/she can better serve God with their abilities. Hope you have enjoyed reading and have also found it engaging. Bye for now.

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photos found @: http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQhiBL9vwRv_ySplDaMlXaEvcViuMupsFVMNZrbW5DufCOOEkC-NQ, http://sciencefair.math.iit.edu/projects/forces/roller_coaster.jpg,  http://blog.standupandeat.org/image.axd?picture=iStock_000005274124XSmall.jpg


Resources 


1 (See http://doug-johnson.squarespace.com/blue-skunk-blog/2008/1/24/engage-or-entertain.html)