"Surf Dracula" and Why Students Need to Catch Waves Early

Prestige TV has given us a new metaphor for education: Surf Dracula. The idea comes from a viral critique of shows that delay their own premise—spending entire seasons on backstory before ever letting the main character do the thing the audience tuned in for. In education, we fall into the same trap when students are told to sit through endless setup before they ever get to “surf” for themselves. ASMSA Executive Director Corey Alderdice explores how the Surf Dracula problem shows up in classrooms, why delayed payoff can leave students disengaged, and how educators can create opportunities for students to catch waves of authentic learning earlier and more often.For additional thoughts from Corey, visit coreyalderdice.com.You can also follow him on Twitter/X, LinkedIn, BlueSky, YouTube, Instagram, and Threads.