Wow in the World Orangutan Teacher
May 23, 2022
Join Guy and Mindy on a wild adventure to learn from the best teacher on Earth—an orangutan! Discover how these amazing creatures teach their young to forage for over 200 different foods. They explore how orangutans build cozy nests and what unique methods mothers use to guide their offspring to independence. Guy picks up valuable teaching tips, like the importance of patience and demonstrating skills step by step. It's an entertaining dive into the world of animal education that will leave you saying 'WOW!'
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Learn Teaching From Real-World Experts
- Seek out great teachers in unexpected places and learn by observing real-world experts.
- Use their techniques—like calm modeling and stepwise support—when designing your own lessons.
Orangutans Teach Foraging In Stages
- Sumatran orangutans are expert teachers who guide offspring through staged learning of 200+ foods.
- Mothers adjust support as babies age, letting them take food early then withholding to encourage independence.
Extended Childhood Enables Cultural Learning
- Orangutan juveniles stay with parents up to ~12 years, far longer than most animals, because learning complex foraging demands time.
- Extended childhood enables transmission of cultural foraging knowledge across generations.
