Module 4: Principles of Learning Design and Active Learning

In this module, I delved into the world of learning design principles and the dynamic realm of active learning. This learning journey provided me with the chance to create Interactive Videos, and Drag and Drop content with H5P on my WordPress Blog. H5P stands for “HTML5 Package,” and is “a free, versatile, open source authoring tool integrated with WordPress and many other platforms that allows you to quickly create, share and reuse a wide variety of interactive and engaging learning activities” (Mary, 2023). Through this module, I gained insights into active learning methodologies, developed a comprehensive lesson plan, and engaged in profound reflections on my educational experiences.

Overview: 

In this week’s module, I focused on creating a lesson about apples. Apples are a nutritional powerhouse, offering a myriad of health benefits. They are packed with antioxidants and essential nutrients, including dietary fiber, potassium, vitamin C, vitamin A, and various minerals (Bondonno., et al. 2017, p. 244).

The dietary fiber found in apples promotes healthy digestion and has a positive impact on various aspects of health, including healthy digestion, blood sugar regulation, hydration, skin health, cholesterol levels, blood pressure and managing a healthy weight. Additionally, they are known to reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, strokes, various chronic illnesses, tooth decay, cognitive decline, Alzheimer’s disease, and certain types of cancer (Bondonno., et al. 2017, p. 244).

Recognizing the significance of good nutrition, especially during childhood, is essential for achieving and maintaining optimal health throughout one’s life. Our health is intricately connected to the foods we consume, making it crucial to instill the principles of nutrition from an early age.

Children often have a preference for sweet foods, which can pose a risk to their overall diet. However, fruits, such as apples, provide a healthy, naturally sweet alternative that not only satisfies their cravings but also delivers essential nutrients. Apples are the second most popular fruit, primarily because they are readily available across various regions and throughout different seasons (Bondonno., et al. 2017, p. 243).

In Module 4, we delve into the concept of active learning, which fosters a more enriching educational environment for both teachers and students. Extensive research consistently demonstrates that a child’s diet significantly influences their cognitive abilities, concentration levels, and behavior in the classroom. Malnutrition can lead to disruptive behavior, reduced focus, and have long-term consequences on a child’s brain development (Benton & ILSI Europe a.i.s.b.l., 2008). Thus, prioritizing nutrition in educational institutions is of paramount importance for parents, teachers, and students.

The 2023 Canada Food Guide provides valuable recommendations for daily dietary intake, focusing on three primary food groups (Canada.ca, 2023). According to the guide, it is recommended that roughly half of your plate at each meal should be filled with fruits and vegetables, with a quarter dedicated to protein sources, and the remaining quarter to carbohydrates (Canada.ca, 2023). The category promoting healthy and active living within the Physical and Health Education curriculum underscores the importance of food in contributing to overall health (gov.bc.ca, 2023). This is a mandatory component of the British Columbia curriculum, beginning in kindergarten and progressing in complexity with each grade (gov.bc.ca, 2023).

The central theme driving my choice of the topic—apples—is the paramount significance of student health. The big idea of the lesson on apples is to educate learners about the critical role of nutrition, the various health benefits of apples, the different parts of apples, their origins, cultivation processes, and the diverse types of apples available. My intention is to educate children on the nutritional value of apples through the engaging methodology of active learning. This approach not only imparts knowledge about apples but also underscores the importance of instilling healthy food choices from a young age. 

In this lesson, students are actively encouraged to document any aspects that have sparked their curiosity, surprised them, piqued their interest, and/ or inspired them to delve deeper into the subject matter. This approach not only fosters engagement but also supports the principles of active learning, making the learning experience more dynamic and fulfilling for the students. 

In approaching this lesson, I utilized Constructive Alignment and Backward Design as guiding principles. These methodologies emphasize the importance of first identifying the lesson’s “big idea” and “learning objectives” before proceeding to devise assessment activities and create multimedia content. This approach ensures that the overall course ideas and outcomes are the driving forces behind the instructional design. It fosters a cohesive and effective learning experience, aligning all elements to meet the predefined learning objectives.

Lesson Objectives: 

By the end of this lesson learners will be able to: 

• Determine where apples come from 
• Understand the stages involved in growing apple trees
• Recognize the parts of apples 
• Identify National Apple day 
• Differentiate between various types of apples
• Understand the nutritional value of apples
• Intentionally include a greater amount of apples in their daily routines.

Read/ Watch:

• Apple Facts | Facts About Apples For Kids – (5 minutes) – A kid friendly overview video on facts about apples 
• https://kids.britannica.com/kids/article/apple/352769 – (5 minutes) – Online article titled “apple” by Britannica Kids 
• LEARN ABOUT APPLES | an apple a day keeps the doctor away – (3 minutes) – Health benefits of apples 
• The Amazing Superpowers of Apples | Discover the Fun and Healthy Benefits! – (2 minutes) – The nutrients in apples enhance the functionality of our bodies.

Content:

• Before the lesson, teachers should thoroughly prepare by enhancing their knowledge of apples. The effectiveness of instructors’ demonstrations significantly influences students’ ability to comprehend and acquire future materials and skills, aligning with the demonstration principle (Merrill, 2002). Consequently, it is imperative for instructors to attain a comprehensive understanding of the topics they are demonstrating. This ensures a more successful and impactful learning experience for their students.
• Here are some useful resources:
  • https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tifs.2017.04.012
  • https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-008-3003-x
  • https://jackson.agrilife.org/files/2020/04/Apples-1.pdf
• The teachers will show all the different types of apples with pictures
• 
• The teacher will display visual diagrams of the origins of apples
  • Illustration of an apple tree: 
• Regions apple trees grow:
• The teacher will present a video on the nutritional value of apples:
• The Amazing Superpowers of Apples | Discover the Fun and Healthy Benefits! – (2 minutes) – The video highlights how the nutrients in apples enhance the functionality of our bodies.
  • Following the video, the teacher will expand on the relationship between nutrition and academic achievement. The utilization of this video, coupled with its real-world relevance, aligns with the activation principle (Merrill, 2002), fostering a more engaging and impactful learning experience for the students.

Application: 

• Teachers will instruct students to bring an apple from home into the classroom and share real-world details on the topic with their peers. Merrill suggests learning is promoted when new skills are combined with their everyday lives (Merrill, 2002).
  • Students will reveal the following questions about their apple:
    • What is the type of your apple? 
    • What colour is your apple? 
    • What does your apple taste like? 
    • Which country was your apple transported from? 
• By integrating real-world demonstrations, students will apply their new knowledge 
• When students apply new knowledge their learning improves according to the application principle (Merrill, 2002). 
• In this module, students will actively participate in three H5P learning activities carefully designed to assess their grasp of the course material. These activities encompass two interactive videos and one drag-and-drop task. These pre-configured interactions provide students with a platform to practice and apply their knowledge, enhancing their understanding in an engaging manner. The videos are equipped with embedded multiple-choice questions, and students’ accuracy of their responses in the drag-and-drop task will be evaluated allowing students to gauge their understanding actively. This evaluation process enables instructors to closely monitor students’ progress and deliver constructive, formative feedback to aid in their mastery of the learning concepts.

These learning activities are fully responsive, to ensure accessibility for students to access them virtually via mobile devices. By fostering a more versatile and accommodating learning environment underscores H5P’s commitment to inclusive learning.

Reflection: 

After completing this lesson, students are tasked with revisiting the comments and observations they recorded during the active learning activities. To wrap up the lesson, students will engage in group discussions consisting of 3-4 individuals to reflect upon the following questions: 

• What aspects of the lesson did you find particularly interesting?
• Were there any elements of the lesson that surprised you?
• Has this lesson sparked your curiosity to learn more about nutrition and health?
• Do you feel that this lesson will influence the amount of apples you consume in the future?
• What was your favourite part of this lesson? 
• What did you find to be the most challenging aspect of this lesson?

This reflective approach empowers students to not only absorb knowledge but also to contemplate their learning experience, promoting a deeper understanding of the subject matter and enhancing their ability to apply the principles of active learning.

To do this week: 

• Watch: Apple Facts | Facts About Apples For Kids 
• Watch: LEARN ABOUT APPLES | an apple a day keeps the doctor away 
• Watch: The Amazing Superpowers of Apples | Discover the Fun and Healthy Benefits! 
• Read: https://kids.britannica.com/kids/article/apple/352769 
• Read: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-008-3003-x
• Read: https://jackson.agrilife.org/files/2020/04/Apples-1.pdf
• Read: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tifs.2017.04.012
• Read: https://doi-org.proxy.library.uu.nl/10.1007/BF02505024
• Complete H5P activity: interactive video 
• Complete H5P activity: interactive video 
• Complete H5P activity: drag and drop 
• Bring an apple to school 
• Reflect with 3-4 peers 

References: 

Benton, D., ILSI Europe a.i.s.b.l.. The influence of children’s diet on their cognition and behavior. Eur J Nutr 47 (Suppl 3), 25–37 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-008-3003-x

Bondonno, Nicola P., et al. “The cardiovascular health benefits of apples: Whole fruit vs. isolated compounds.” Trends in Food Science & Technology 69 (2017): 243-256.

Parts of an Apple Read Aloud | All About Apples. YouTube. Parts of an Apple Read Aloud | All About Apples

WHERE DO APPLES COME FROM? 🍏🍎 Educational Video for Kids | Lingokids. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FX8Z5_bhpk&t=3s

https://images.app.goo.gl/P2MLZGF1PtZQ4Gaz6

https://food-guide.canada.ca/en/food-guide-snapshot/

https://images.app.goo.gl/vzNeNjJHzgLPv5qXA

https://images.app.goo.gl/bhQyLRE8adP5aHU48

https://images.app.goo.gl/XmctDrTiJwjnE4PQ8

Kamas, Jim, and Monte Nesbitt& Larry Stein. “Apples.” Ed. A&M, Texas 7 (2010).

Kurt, S. “Instructional Design Models and Theories,” in Educational Technology, December 9, 2015. Retrieved from https://educationaltechnology.net/instructional-design-models-and-theories/ Dr. Serhat Kurt, Instructional Design Models and Theories. Sept 28, 2022. 

Merrill, M.D. First principles of instruction. ETR&D 50, 43–59 (2002). https://doi-org.proxy.library.uu.nl/10.1007/BF02505024

Reflection question: 

What was your experience of trying out H5P? Which of the activities do you think you would make most use of in your teaching context and what would you use them to do? Which ones do you think require the most resources to create?

My experience with H5P was quite positive. My first H5P activity involved an interactive video combined with multiple-choice questions. Initially, I found it a bit confusing, but the instructional videos provided proved to be very useful. This interactive video activity effectively integrates both passive and active learning as students watch the video and then engage with multiple-choice questions.  

After completing two interactive videos, I was eager to create a drag and drop activity. In response to the H5P activities I would make most use of for teaching vary depending on the grade level. For example, when teaching preschoolers or early-grade levels, I would be inclined to use the H5P drag and drop activity. I believe this activity offers several benefits and is an excellent approach to integrating active learning into education, enhancing enthusiasm, excitement, and engagement. Reflecting on my elementary experience, I always loved challenging activities, including drag and drop activities. I notice a connection between the level of enjoyment, challenge, and excitement with the level of motivation in my learning. Drag and drop activities serve as a form of assessment to monitor knowledge progress, aligning with active learning outcomes that promote a better learning environment for both learners and instructors.

Another beneficial activity for teachers to include in the classroom, particularly for young children, is the word cross activity, as it enhances spelling and vocabulary. H5P offers a variety of excellent options for teachers to enrich their lessons and enhance the learning experience. Additional activities I would incorporate when teaching young students include memory games, course presentations, interactive videos, crosswords, collage, true or false, drag-the-word exercises, fill in the blanks, hotspot identification, and image pairing.

I anticipate that virtual tours and AR scavenger hunts would require the most resources to create. Developing these activities would be time-consuming and demand access to technology, as well as knowledge and experience with this technology to be fully effective. I would be cautious about assigning these activities unless students have demonstrated their readiness at an appropriate academic level. Assigning overly challenging activities can lead to student frustration and may not be an effective learning approach.