"The Class" - a parody of "The Office"

As a fan of "The Office" and someone who's involved in education technology discussions, the video created by an Innovations in Mass Communications class at the University of Denver caught my eye.

In addition, I noticed Dr. Michael Wesch's blog entry about it and the comments that followed. What strikes me is how various elements of learning are pointed at throughout the video and comments.

It appears that the students made this video as a kick-off project for their class, helping them to bond and also helping set the expectation of technology use during the class. Several of the comments (along the lines of "what was the point") spark further discussion about the role of the video itself and its effectiveness. Regardless of your opinion of the video, there's much to be said about student engagement and its role in effective instruction. Creating a video that makes a larger point doesn't necessarily have to be a technical masterpiece. I do like the concept of the kick-off project or mini-project to generate some interest in a particular topic. Good stuff!