This week we discussed multimedia and learning design in the classroom with Michael. This was an important lesson because it showed how easily we can incorporate many modes of media into our classroom, and how much something as small as a picture or a video can enhance learning experiences and engage learners. The concept of dual-code theory is something I will always consider in my lesson designs, as this is something that helps me as a learner to understand concepts better and engage with course material more effectively. As educators, we are often quick to use powerpoint, google slides, and canva to back-up our lessons as they are an easier way to include visuals, however I started to wonder how else we could include other forms of media.
While Sparknotes can sometimes be a way for students to say that they “read” a text, it could also be a great teaching tool if we need to preface something for a lesson. For example, if I wanted to teach an English class about the horror genre, I might not want students to read the entire Frankenstein novel, but I might want them to understand the concept of a misunderstood monster. Using Youtube to show them a summary of this novel is a great timesaver, and as a teacher we can integrate this into our lesson to further students understanding.
In this class we also talked about two main learning designs ‘constructive alignment’ and ‘SAMR’. Constructive alignment is similar to scaffolding in the sense that everything in a class is working toward an objective or goal. SAMR refers to substitution, augmentation, modification, and redefinition. While both learning designs are something that I could see using in my teaching practice, constructive alignment is something I believe is essential in every unit plan and lesson.