"Teach By Magic" Doesn't Make Grade
With the cheesy and inaccurate statement, "Teachers are Replacing Chalk with Magic to Provide Lifelong Learning," (really...chalk?) a recent press release touts a new firm, "Teach By Magic," which promises to instruct teachers on using magic to enhance class lessons.
According to the release, the firm's magic tricks are "designed to inspire student imagination, interest and engagement, ensuring that lessons are retained through innovative, fun, and visual lessons..."
If you educators out there are rolling your eyes, I think you have every reason to do so. Imagine that. A bunch of magicians who have never stood in front of a class think that they know how to motivate and teach students.
Same Old Tricks
Looking over the various magic tricks that the site teaches (subscription fees apply), I find that they're the same ones found in many beginning books, as well as some, admittedly, that are taught here (for free). So much for specially designed magic tricks.
Out of Context?
I have a problem with the supporting information. The "Teach by Magic" release quotes an unnamed study that suggests "83 percent of human learning occurs visually." And it states, "...people retain only 10 percent of what they heard from an oral presentation, 35 percent from a visual presentation and 65 percent from a visual and oral presentation; add magic and suddenly it is unforgettable."
After some web research, I found that the referenced "studies" seem to combine commonly cited figures from New York University and the Federal Government. While the figures may be valid, they don't mention magic. When one is pitching professional educators, one can't throw out such contrived and convoluted associations and figures.
Magicians Aren't Teachers
Anyone who works with kids knows that a magic trick can capture their attention. But at most, the site teaches a few tricks that may liven up a day or two of class. And these are common, well known tricks.
Finally, and the reason for my acrid reaction, I think it's plain arrogant for a magician to think that he or she can teach educational professionals how they can do their jobs.
Let's leave the teaching to the professionals. And they'll leave the magic to us.
More Reading:
The Best of the Easy Tricks
The Best Magic Books for Beginners
Comments
Thanks for saying what needed to be said. I’m a teacher and I can’t believe that these magicians think they have all of the answers. Let’s see them prepare a real lesson and spend an entire day with the kids and see how far their simple magic tricks take them.
I’m also an amateur magician and I sometimes do tricks for the kids as a reward. The tricks I see on the teacher site are ones that I teach the kids. I find that some of the kids already know these when I teach them. I wouldn’t want to try and fool them with those simple tricks.
As Wayne says, leave the teaching to the pros.
I’m a magician AND a teacher. Every so often, I will demonstrate a math concept that looks like a mentalism routine, ie the magic calculator, Grey Elephant in Denmark, but I show the algebra or math concept along with it.
To use magic to teach the lesson is ridiculous. It doesn’t speak well for you as a teacher if you have to entertain your students to teach them. While education can be entertaining, education is not entertainment, and shouldn’t be treated as such.
Sounds like these “Teach by Magic” guys are just out for a quick buck. The educators I know would never go for it.
Wow, we have a lot of teachers on here. I’m a teacher as well and I agree with the idea that this site (yes, I did look at it) seems fishy. The irritating thing is that the base concept is a good one. Magic CAN be very useful in class.
For example, in my EFL (English foreign language) classes today, I’m doing a chop cup routine to teach prepositions. “The ball is ON the cup/UNDER the cup/IN the pocket.” That sort of thing.
I’m actually writting a paper (possibly to become a book in a few more years of doing this) on classroom magic. I’ll post it to the forum when I finish.
The funny thing is that these other comments while criticizing seem to be saying that they do exactly what the site says. Getting the kids attention with a simple and easy magic trick. I didn’t see anywhere where they claim to have entire lessons to teach. These appear to be just ideas for teachers to begin their lessons with. Just like you and I do.
(Just to avoid confusion, Comment (4), “Wayne,” is a reader and not this site’s Guide – thanks for writing)
I think the quote from the press release says it all…
“Teach By Magic recently revealed their unique program designed to inspire student imagination, interest and engagement, ensuring that lessons are retained through innovative, fun, and visual lessons using magic tricks.”
Throughout, the release’s text emphasizes “lessons,” which is why I responded as I did.
Carter Sensei (3), the preposition-based cup routine sounds brilliant. Now that’s a great magic-based lesson.
-Wayne (Site Guide)
I agree with the comments made so far, I’m also a teacher and I think the idea of using magic to teach is great, but you’re better off to have teachers that are also magicians to help develop the product. Lon Mandrake, the famous Mandrake’s son, is a retired teacher and magician and he presents an amazing workshop to teachers.
I like the “Healing with Magic” Program. I’ve used it with special needs students. The program uses magic with advice from medical specialists.
Carter Sensei, I’m looking forward to reading your paper. I myself have thought about working on my masters with a focus on using magic in the classroom.
I think we can add stuff like this as another reason why the art of magic is not well respected. This kind of stuff just cheapens what magicians do (not to mention what teachers do).
Anyone can teach. But not everyone can inspire with their teaching.
Anyone can do magic. But few can do it well enough to inspire and capture the imagination.
I’ve been reading the comments about the Teach-By-Magic site. Coincidentally enough, during the past year, I’ve been using magic to reinforce lessons in Alaska history. The classroom and library programs have been popular enough that I began developing a book and a series of magical effects to highlight American history instruction.
First, I would NEVER try to tell teachers how to teach. What I would offer would be a series of magical effects specifically designed to help them do what they do best, and that is educating our young people. What I would hope to present is more than just changing the patter slightly to make the trick seem educational, but something that incorporates curriculum values within the script. It’s not easy, and not all tricks can be adapted. But that’s where the fun and creativity come in.
I consider my job is to help teachers by providing a few tools, such as custom props and detailed scripts, to assist them in their task. I’m not sure if I can cover every subject with a fancy or non-too-fancy trick, but I do know that magic can be fun and even educational in the study of history. It may not be for everyone, but for those that think that it may be just a little fun, it might be worth considering. It’s not teaching BY magic, but teaching WITH magic, and from personal experience and comments I’ve received, sometimes it actually works! I guess if I can just make a good brush, I’ll be happy of it inspires a few Van Goghs.
If you’re interested in what I’m doing check out my website, and in particular, join the Society of American Magicians in time to read the December edition of M-U-M. It’s even available on line!
Have fun!