Chocolate Covered Broccoli

Chocolate Covered Broccoli is a phrase we use to explain a show, game, etc. that we are trying to teach through by masking the learning with something sweet. Unfortunately, chocolate covered broccoli goes down just as good as broccoli. So either way it can be problematic.

When a shows main purpose is to teach a skill or a set of information, it is extremely important to follow certain guidelines.

The content needs to be age appropriate (this includes the problems that are being addressed)
There needs to be organization and structure to the material that is being taught
Whenever a question is asked (specifically if the question is about something onscreen) the answer must be visual.

All three of these guidelines are consistently broken in every episode of MMCH I have seen.

The show tries to teach (1) how to solve problems through critical thinking (2) basic information and (3) cooperation and group work.

(1) how to solve problems through critical thinking:
When the tools in the episode do not make sense in solving a problem, a child isn't thinking critically. They are confused. And the worst thing you can have is a confused child. Why? Because their interest in the show diminishes and the viewers start to look else where for entertainment

(2) basic information:
If MMCH is trying to teach basic information, it should be a top priority. As a educational researcher in children's television, it is obvious that many of the "mini games" and lack luster. In one episode the audience is suppose to help stack blocks in order of height and then in the next they are requested to name off 3D shapes (cylander, cube, etc) these two are games are at different ends of the spectram for understanding. From my expereience, what should be done is that each episode focuses on a knowledge domain. Instead of jumping from shapes to addition and subtraction, the mini games would favor better if there was a central theme. For example, patterns for one episode and shapes for another. 

(3) cooperation and group work:
This is the best aspect of the content. They do this best, it might because the characters are so well engrained in our society and have been enteracting for years. But again there are some flaws. Mickey is the leader of the club... duh. But let some of the other characters lead once in a while. There is a bunch of them. Let Donald steer the ship, cooperation and group work is better when everyone gets a turn to lead.

How to fix it:
If the mini games aren't going to be improved (which shape is this, etc) get rid of them. I would rather have my son watch a show that's not trying to "teach" than a show that is and isn't successful at it. And make the tools realistic. There is already a lot of magic going on in the show, the tools can be grounded here in reality.