When TikTok first burst into the international market, it was just a platform for short-form videos. It was an entertainment-centric platform filled with nonsense and human courtship displays. So much so that it caught the ire of conservatives.
But today, a mere 5 years after its debut, TikTok has evolved into a platform that is not only for entertainment but creative, bite-sized, and joyful learning.
In fact, TikTok is changing the way people learn – from long-form prose to short-form videos.
Recently we had a chance to sit down with TikTok Malaysia’s strategy operations manager, Darren Quek and ask him about how educational content evolved and thrived on the short-form video platform.
Scholastic
TikTok breaks down information into 15-second videos, making it easy for learners to understand. It follows an already existing trend in online learning called “micro-learning”
TikTok Malaysia’s strategy operations manager, Darren Quek.
In Malaysia, TikTok has stepped up as an alternative platform for creative remote learning and a supplementary learning tool for educators.
As people were also required to stay at home for most of the last two years, many turned to TikTok to learn new skills.
Since then, we saw an uptick in video creation around teaching and learning content that is housed under our #TikTokGuru hashtag in Malaysia.
It has over 8.8 billion — that’s billion with a ‘B’ — of views to date. The hashtag drove inspiring educational content for users and cultivates a culture of learning on the platform.
TikTok Malaysia’s strategy operations manager, Darren Quek.
Beyond The Classroom
Seeing its success, TikTok also launched the #KelasTambahan campaign with 180 million views. The new tag features a different subject each month to encourage skills learning in all forms.
The main focus for October and November are DIY or Art, Photography Tutorials and Finance Tips.
But the number of educational subjects available on TikTok is vast. From life hacks to science tutorials, motivational tips to quick meals, the platform is helping people access knowledge content that is personal, local and specific to their everyday lives.
We encourage and boost educational content relevant to our users’ personal interests by curating relatable content on the For You feed for users.
TikTok Malaysia’s strategy operations manager, Darren Quek.
We at The Rakyat Post had featured some of these informative TikTok content ourselves.
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Is Educational Content Popular?
In Malaysia, #TikTokGuru was one of the top ten performing hashtags on the platform for 2020, with over 10,000 videos created and 4.5 billion views in that year alone.
While #TikTokGuru covers all sorts of learning, math, science, and language content are the most popular.
TikTok Malaysia’s strategy operations manager, Darren Quek.
Other tags like #MYFoodie, the tag for all things food-related garnered 3.1 billion views and #JomBelajar, the general knowledge tag, had 1.5 billion views.
Cultivating Educators
Educational content is a huge focus for TikTok, and we have actively onboarded more passionate individuals and organisations to create content that promotes learning new skills, habits or information.
TikTok Malaysia’s strategy operations manager, Darren Quek.
Based on his experience Darren says that it usually takes about a month or so for a teacher to get used to making educational content on TikTok.
He said that when he asks the teachers why they want to make educational content on TikTok, the answer is always the same: It is beneficial for the students.
Onboarding passionate individuals and organisations to create content is also another way that TikTok ensures that its educational content is accurate and valid.
Future Of Education On TikTok
We have forged partnerships with key policymakers and work closely with the government to ensure that our education verticals align with the nation’s learning needs.
TikTok Malaysia’s strategy operations manager, Darren Quek.
TikTok recently launched the #BelajarDigital campaign as a part of MDEC’s MyDigitalMaker programme. It aims to support the government’s initiatives to raise awareness for digital learning.
As part of the campaign, TikTok hosted digital learning videos as well as career talks with partners and digital tech companies.
How To Get More Educational Content On Your TikTok
According to Darren, the best way to start is to start browsing educational content on your Discover page, as well as browse through the relevant hashtags such as #FinanceGuru, #MotivationGuru, #LearnonTikTok.
If you do that, TikTok will start serving up all the knowledge you need straight to your FYP (For You Page).
We additionally put the spotlight on educator creators and from time to time even engage them for education campaigns or relevant projects.
TikTok Malaysia’s strategy operations manager, Darren Quek.
Who You Should Follow
Darren works closely with the content creators on TikTok and throughout the interview, he dropped a lot of names, verified educators that make quality content on the platform.
Here they are, in no particular order and in an easy to click list:
- Dr Ben Gee (@drbengee) – Dentist.
- A’minahtul Mardiah (@aminahtulmardiah) – Law tips but also talks about law.
- Cikgu Hailmi (@cikguhailmi) – Science teachers but now have branched out to different videos too.
- TikTok Rasmi Iqbal Ahyar (@iqbalahyar) – One of the best science teachers on TikTok.
- Syahmi Azizi (@sirsyahmi92) – One of the best history teachers on the platform.
- sir aSai (mr/teacher/cikgu) (@sir_asai) – One of the best English teachers on TikTok.
- TikTok Sir Syazwan 🇲🇾 (@sirsyazwan) – Student that teaches Arabic.
- 안녕힐미Hello Hilmi (@hellohilmi173) – Teaches Korean language.
- TikTok Rasmi Irfan Khairi (@irfan.khairi) – Have a business based in Dubai, shares popular business tips.
- 一贷宗师JASON CH’NG (@jasonchng_pit) – Teaches mandarin.
- Nur Aliah Mohd Nor (@liaomey) – Shares gold tips.
- TikTok wanishukur_ (@wanishukur_) – Shares finance tips.
- cikgudebbie (@cikgudebbie) & S.Ling是玲珑坊(@maths.ling) – Math teachers.
