Let’s Talk About Sex … with 3-D Animation


The days might be numbered for sex ed classes using a banana as a way to demonstrate how to put on a condom. That’s because Northwestern University unveiled Monday a new, online sex education course that incorporates 3-D animation. It's being compared by organizers to Neil deGrasse Tyson’s “Cosmos” TV show – only it’s about inner space instead of outer space.

While targeted to incoming freshman, anyone around the world is welcome to watch the classes, said Teresa Woodruff, vice chair for research in obstetrics and gynecology at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine. Woodruff stars as the instructor in the 21 online videos that cover anything from sexually transmitted infections to menstrual cycles to how alcohol affects sex.

Thanks to our sponsors:

View all sponsors

“Most students entering college don’t have a good understanding of their own reproductive or sexual health,” Woodruff said in a statement. “Having sex is not the same thing as knowing how it all works. And most students have issues beyond sex, like changing menstrual cycle lengths and questions about exercise and testosterone levels. They need to know because it impacts their health.”

Tonight, we’ll talk with Woodruff about the online courses, the catalyst behind it, and her work with sex education that includes Repropedia, a website she launched five years that explains reproductive terms in 180 words or less.

Ready to sign up for the course? Go here.

In the video below, Woodruff introduces Northwestern's online course and provides an overview of the topics.

Thanks to our sponsors:

View all sponsors

Thanks to our sponsors:

View all sponsors