Month: February 2025

Our Interactive Learning Resource titled “Understanding Sleep” will utilize the principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL). UDL is a framework that accommodates students with diverse learning needs. It uses the following principles (“Introduction to Universal Design for Learning (UDL)”, 2024):

1. The means of representation: The application of different media formats (text, audio, or video).
2. The means of action and expression: The ability to express learned knowledge differently.
3. The means of engagement: The ability for teaching content to be engaged by learners differently.

Each principle plays an important part in the presentation of the Interactive Learning Resource. In this post, I will discuss principles one in more detail.

The Means of Representation

Our Interactive Learning Resource will use different media formats on our website. Our provided resources will be a mix of video content (ex. “What is Sleep? REM Cycles, Melatonin, and Sleep Stages”), scholarly articles, and images (illustrations, infographics, etc.). Each media format ensures that an individual who is impaired either visually or by hearing, will have access to information presented on the Interactive Learning Resource.

The Means of Action and Expression

Our learning activities encourage students to express their knowledge about sleep differently. For example, one learning activity is a jigsaw group activity. In this activity, the teacher provides a subtopic to the group about sleep. The group will discuss and familiarize with the topic. Eventually, each group will have five minutes to present their knowledge to the class. Another way of expressing knowledge to the class is by analyzing sleeping data. Students will collect data on their sleeping patterns and provide an evaluation based on that data.

Conclusion

UDL allows accessibility to a diverse student population. Because of the asynchronous and remote format, UDL is an effective method for inclusivity.

Characteristics of Project-Based Learning

Project-Based Learning (PBL) is an instructional method that uses projects to guide the curriculum and teach a course. Skills like critical thinking and collaboration will be developed using this approach (“What is PBL?”, n.d). All projects should have essential questions. The project should be an answer to those questions. The instructor should present the group with a challenge to solve (Miller & Manderfeld, 2021). These steps should take as long as multiple weeks to a month. And ultimately result in a product/service being created.

Sleep and Project-Based Learning

Our group’s chosen topic is “Sleep”. Project-based Learning requires a problem to solve. In that regard, we can look at the essential questions our group has provided. One of our essential questions is “How does sleep impact our quality of life?”. With this given question, we have our challenge to solve.

Using knowledge and applying it is an important part of project-based learning; therefore, finding the benefits of sleep applies to this method. Creating a structured definition of sleep and healthy sleep, you can apply that knowledge to experiment with your sleeping habits. The result would be a paper of data about what does and does not work.

One question to think about when using project-based Learning to teach the topic of sleeping, is the incorporation of this topic in a group setting. PBL requires collaboration, so one challenge would be creating equal opportunities for team members to contribute for a single-person activity like sleep.

Interactive Learning Design

For our Interactive Learning Design, we will not incorporate PBL. PBL requires a product. Our group wants to use theory and quick discussion activities that are meant to encourage active class participation. Project-Based Learning requires at least weeks of attention to one learning activity. In this case, quick discussion groups, and evaluations are better for learning about one’s sleep than a project that may take too much time that is better spent elsewhere.

Resources

What is PBL?. PBLWorks. (n.d). https://www.pblworks.org/what-is-pbl

Miller, C. L., & Manderfeld, M. (2021, June 1). Project-Based Learning lesson template. Maverick Learning and Educational Applied Research Nexus. https://mlpp.pressbooks.pub/mavlearn/chapter/project-based-learning-lesson-template/