Uploaded November 2015 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
‘Happiness comes from between’ (J. Haidt). Picture the scene: It’s the first day of college. Freshmen walk around feeling lost and somewhat apprehensive or just sit somewhere looking around them wearily. Humans are social animals and compulsive communicators who usually hang around with friends or family. This scene is about as unnatural as can be. Then some of the students notice the large, red fridge placed conspicuously in the yard. Perhaps having a Coke would help? So one of them reaches inside and picks up a bottle. But wait! What’s this? To her amazement she finds she cannot open it….
A fantastic idea aimed at getting people (nay, ‘forcing people’!) to get together and break the ice. After that, the automatic human bonding responses should take over. Q: Can we come up with similar ideas in our classes?
[NB: I do not own the copyright to this video clip. I have uploaded it here for educational purposes].
‘Happiness comes from between’ (J. Haidt). Picture the scene: It’s the first day of college. Freshmen walk around feeling lost and somewhat apprehensive or just sit somewhere looking around them wearily. Humans are social animals and compulsive communicators who usually hang around with friends or family. This scene is about as unnatural as can be. Then some of the students notice the large, red fridge placed conspicuously in the yard. Perhaps having a Coke would help? So one of them reaches inside and picks up a bottle. But wait! What’s this? To her amazement she finds she cannot open it….
A fantastic idea aimed at getting people (nay, ‘forcing people’!) to get together and break the ice. After that, the automatic human bonding responses should take over. Q: Can we come up with similar ideas in our classes?
[NB: I do not own the copyright to this video clip. I have uploaded it here for educational purposes].
