James Ellis' EDCI Blog

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Intro to Sleep: The understanding of sleep and how to improve better sleep habits

December 2, 2021 / / 0 Comments

Dedicated Website: https://edci337pod2.opened.ca/

Learning outcomes

By the end of the material, the learner should be able to: 

  • Understand the meaning of sleep 
  • Gain a better understanding of sleeping habits/hygiene
  • Improve sleep routine
  • Know the tools available to help sleeping schedule and improve sleep

Diagnostic Assessment – click here

Infographic: here

  • The infographic’s purpose was to provide the learner with a limited capacity of information. Humans can only process a limited amount of information and the infographic provides it in a digestible amount. The intrinsic load is also taken into consideration. The information is provided in chucks to allow for adequate processing. 

What media object material was used

Multimedia learning provides many opportunities to gain knowledge throughout this learning content. Quizzes, infographics, PowerPoints were just some of the multimedia designs created in this learning content. The way the material is presented and laid out plays a crucial role in how the learner absorbs it. The multimedia provided have explanations of their use. 

How is are media objects created

The learning has many different opportunities to view and engage with the given material. By providing different formats of multimedia objects, the learner can encounter many different ways to understand the information. Not only can the learner absorb the information, but they are also given many opportunities to apply it. The multimedia objects are created around the idea of incorporating multimedia learning. 

Why does the media object allow for learning

The material presented has been arranged in a format that is digestible from a simple form. It is broken down in a way that does not overwhelm the learning but rather intrigues them to learn more. As mentioned previously, the media objects are created around the idea of multimedia learning, and this ensures the best learning theories are applied. We focused on facilitation understanding, not knowing facts. By applying the backward design process, we were able to identify the goal, determine the evidence required for students to learn, and plan for learning experiences (activities). 

Summative assessment – Click here 

  • Assessment of how efficiently sleep hygiene material was taught and how well the students retained the information presented. A short 10 question quiz to check their understanding of the materials. Student’s are able to retake the quiz as many times as needed until they receive a passing completion mark of 100%. 
  • The quiz is not only an assessment, it can be viewed as a game. Instead of assigning plain questions for learners, this provides an easy, relaxing environment for students.  The questions selected are reasonable and easy to understand. 
  • The quiz is an example of gamification, which involves using game-based elements such as point-scoring. Gamified quizzes can motivate students to participate in class, and it can also stimulate a more competitive environment in the classroom. Learners are encouraged to talk about the quiz with their peers and make reflections of improvements they can make for the next time.

Hands-on activity 

The goal of the hands-on activity was to allow the learner to develop their own personal experiences with the multimedia objects. Learners can interact with the material and content. These resources are applicable tools that can assist learners in obtaining the end goal of a more effective sleep regime and understanding the importance of sleep. 

Make the Most out of Your Sleep

  • This PowerPoint was developed with a variety of multimedia principles in mind. Cognitive load theory is a big component of effective PowerPoint presentations. Each slide accompanied this theory by only including one main idea and not including more than six objects on each. Too much slide information is a very ineffective way to transfer knowledge through a PowerPoint as viewers lose interest. Signalling principles were another component kept in mind for this presentation. Text size differentiating and bolding the main point of each slide allows for the viewer’s attention to naturally move through the information on each slide. This is important for ensuring that the viewer takes in the main point of each slide and then supporting information. A step-by-step list approach was also effective for breaking the topic down into smaller sections that can be easily understood.

Multimedia Lesson Plan

Goal

Learners will take the provided information and apply their new knowledge to achieve better sleep hygiene/sleeping habit

Prior Knowledge

No required prior knowledge, learners just need to remain motivated and dedicated to incorporating the lifestyle changes into a daily routine

Structure

Beginning

â—Ź Introduction – “What is Sleep Hygiene” — describe the importance and practice of achieving good quality sleep

â—Ź (Overview) Why Practice Sleep Hygiene — provide relatable background knowledge

â—Ź (Overview) Consequences of Sleep Deprivation — detail effects of lack of sleep on health

● Diagnostic Assessment – Allows the teacher to assess current student understanding of the subject

Middle

Tips to Improve Sleep Hygiene + Supplementary Multimedia Content Highlighting importance of sleep. 

• Keep a consistent sleep schedule — importance of maintaining a routine (sleep-wake cycle)

• Avoid caffeine and heavy meals — time frame for consuming rich and fatty meals as well as caffeine

• Get regular exercise — best times to exercise and when to avoid

• Limit/avoid naps during the day — disruption of sleep-wake cycle

• Keep your room quiet and comfy — emphasize importance of sleep environment

• Unplug before bed — dangers of blue light and its interference with the hormone melatonin

• Inclusion of PowerPoint Lesson + Other related Multimedia content

End

â—Ź Useful Applications (Hands-on Activity) – provide an opportunity for students to interact with material (use sleep applications to    improve sleep quality) and develop unique personal experiences with multimedia objects

â—Ź Assessment on material learned – provide a quiz to assess how efficiently sleep hygiene material was taught

Delivery

Content will be delivered over a single WordPress site with embedded videos, texts, and pictures. Learners will be assessed on content learned and will be able to share their favorite tools/applications when achieving quality sleep in the comments as well as being able to leave comments in the form of instructional feedback on each section of the lesson plan (optional).

Why Practice Sleep Hygiene?

Missing out on the recommended 7-9 hours of shut-eye nightly does more than just make you wake-up feeling groggy and tired. It can have long-term  adverse effects on both your mental and physical health.  

This is why practicing sleep hygiene is important for everyone of all ages, from childhood through adulthood. A good sleep hygiene routine promotes healthy sleep and daytime alertness. Good sleep hygiene practices can also  prevent the development of sleeping problems and disorders that can persist indefinitely if no changes are made to your habits. 

Consequences of Sleep Deprivation

 Listed below are some of the effects poor sleep hygiene can have towards your health.

1.       Memory/Cognitive Issues – During sleep your brain forms new connections that help in processing and recalling new information. As a result of poor sleeping habits, you can negatively impact both your short-term and long-term memory. Your concentration and critical-thinking skills are also lacking when you are sleep deprived.

2.       Weakened Immunity – Little to no sleep leads to a stunted immune system leaving you more vulnerable to viruses and making it more likely that you will fall sick when exposed to germs.

3.       Risk of High Blood Pressure – Sleep studies have shown that if you get 5 hours or less of sleep per night your risk of developing high blood pressure increases. This increased risk of high blood pressure also correlates to an increased risk of developing heart disease as increased blood pressure is one of the underlying associated factors.

4.       Risk of Developing Diabetes: Low amounts of sleep also affects your body’s release of insulin causing a spike in your blood sugar levels. This is associated with an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes. 

Watch this video for some additional information regarding the effects of sleep deprivation to help round out your understanding of this topic. https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=Ld9RlIVN57M

Citations

Felson, S. (2020, October 16). Stages of sleep: Rem and Non-REM Sleep cycles. WebMD. Retrieved November 28, 2021, from https://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/sleep-101. 

Fry, A. (2020, September 11). Why do we need sleep? Sleep Foundation. Retrieved November 28, 2021, from https://www.sleepfoundation.org/how-sleep-works/why-do-we-need-sleep. 

Suni, E. (2021, March 10). How much sleep do we really need? Sleep Foundation. Retrieved November 23, 2021, from https://www.sleepfoundation.org/how-sleep-works/how-much-sleep-do-we-really-need#:~:text=National%20Sleep%20Foundation%20guidelines1,to%208%20hours%20per%20night

Watson, S., & Cherney, K. (2020, May 15). The Effects of Sleep Deprivation on Your Body. Healthline. Retrieved November 30, 2021, from https://www.healthline.com/health/sleep-deprivation/effects-on-bodyWhat is sleep & why is it important for health? American Sleep Association. (n.d.). Retrieved November 28, 2021, from https://www.sleepassociation.org/about-sleep/what-is-sleep/.

Assessment Blog Post

November 23, 2021 / / 0 Comments

Typical high school and university assessment methods of tests and exams are a method I have questioned at times throughout my education. For some classes, where obtaining the full grasp of the material is at the extent of either understanding it or not, this format of assessment seems applicable. An example of one of these classes would be a mathematics or statistics class, where the formulas are given and the questions are relevant. This would provide the invigilator knowledge of whether the student understands the material or not.

For other classes, this method may not be as appropriate. For example, social studies and more arts-based classes are effective at provoking thought and looking at things through different lenses. A multiple-choice exam would not be an effective way of testing a student’s knowledge of these class concepts. I find for these classes, a multiple-choice type results in an emphasis on memorization rather than understanding. Dates, names, and events are memorized for a short period of time and then forgotten shortly after. In my opinion, a more effective testing method would involve using class concepts in a project-type environment. This forces a student to really understand the concepts and present them in a way that proves the full grasp of the material.

AR Technology in Medical School

November 16, 2021 / / 0 Comments

Reading about Augmented Reality (AR) and its possibilities in interactive learning resulted in me thinking of effective applications that this technology could bring to education. I had previously heard about the use of AR in medical education and decided to research it further.

From my research, I have discovered three key benefits that AR can bring to medical education.

  1. Realistic Experience
  2. Low Risk
  3. High Efficiency

With a headset and an inanimate object, AR can provide an effective learning experience for future doctors and surgeons because of the realistic experience it creates. Instead of using obviously fake plastic dummies to learn, AR creates an immersive and realistic experience. Students can see how the different parts of the body are built and function together.

A large portion of learning in the medical industry is also typically done on real patients. As AR allows for an immersive and realistic experience, students can have better practice before facing real-world situations. This enhances safety for patients and confidence for students.

Typical learning structures in medical school include scheduled and limited practice environments. Because of the ease and low cost of AR, students are able to practice as much and as often as they seem fit. This increased the efficiency of learning and materials being utilized.

This technology is being used at many schools around the globe and I am very curious to see what the future brings for AR.

The above video gives an example of what an AR experience for a medical student could look like.

Assignment 3: Core Multimedia Skills

October 26, 2021 / / 0 Comments

For my multimedia improvement project, I decided to revamp a PowerPoint presentation from a global development course I completed last year. Analyzing this presentation with the knowledge of multimedia learning principles I have obtained through this class allowed me to recognize many areas of potential improvement. I have included both the original and revamped presentation below.

            On the first information slide, the main area of improvement was the use of bold text to organize the information and single out the main points more effectively. This concept ties into the Signaling & Coherence principles of multimedia learning. I utilized bold text to contrast the main points of the slide. I used the physical separation of the main points and the supporting pieces to move the audience around the information on the slide more effectively.

            On the second slide, I utilized numbers to organize my information. This addition also ties into Signaling and Coherence Principles. The use of numbering added a structure to the slide in which the audience can flow through. The text was also restructured to put the most important and expensive items at the top and the least at the bottom.

            On the third slide, I made the pie chart the key component of the slide. This ties into the Multimedia and Modality Principles. Visuals are more easily interpreted than text and this visual representation of the information is efficient for this slide. I also colour coded the supporting text to better relate the writing to the image.

            The fourth slide was originally very text heavy. With cognitive load theory and the redundancy principle in mind, I removed the text and included an image that overviews the main points being discussed on the slide.

            More relevant images were also included throughout the PowerPoint to better support the main ideas.

Edited:

EDCI-Ass.-3-Edited

Original:

EDCI-Ass.-3-Original-1

Poorly Made Educational Video Characteristics

October 20, 2021 / / 0 Comments

We’ve all seen poor videos in our time. Whether these videos be a commercial advertisement, a music video, or an instructional video, similar characteristics of what can harm a videos’ quality are present in each. When it comes to educational videos, it is very important that effective video-producing tools are used as the primary goal of these videos is to retain information. For this blog post, I will sum up the production qualities that make an ineffective educational video and a few key points on how to avoid these problems.

1. Information Overload

This part of a poor video is associated with our limited cognitive loads. If too much information is being displayed or discussed over a short period of time, less information will be retained. To avoid these issues, tools such as only including key information and really emphasizing key points should be used. A really good example I found that displays this is the Khan academy

2. No Clear Message

One common theme for ineffective educational videos is the lack of a clear message. A lot of information (often valuable) is given, but lack of an overarching key theme to the video results in it difficult to retain this information. Videos should be structured in a way that introduces the key topic(s) and branches off onto supporting evidence or further explanation.

3. Too long

I know for myself that when attempting to find an educational video on a certain subject, I will go to the one that has the shortest length. key elements can often be summed up briefly, while the video creator drags on unimportant information. To deal with this, keep videos brief and to the point. If the necessity for a longer video is present, split the video into segments or multiple clips.

4. No Engagement

Videos that do not make the watcher think or engage are bound to result in minimal information engagement. Videos that involve on-screen questions and time given to answer these questions are great at fulfilling this necessity. Making the watcher be a part of the learning process instead of an idle watcher increases information retainment extensively.

This example by Khan Academy is a great example of how to create an effective educational video.

Effective educational videos

https://www.lifescied.org/doi/10.1187/cbe.16-03-0125

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