In module 4, I got the chance to dive into the fundamentals of learning design and understand how crucial active learning is. Besides just learning about these concepts, I’ve also put them into practice by designing mini lessons that include interactive elements aimed at enhancing learning.

Lesson plan

Introduction

This week’s lesson will focus on the various parts that make up a computer. Computers are a part of our everyday life, whether we’re working, playing, or communicating. They’ve become essential to modern life because they allow us to handle information and complete tasks quickly with minimal manual work.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this course, you should be able to:

Identify computer parts correctly

Explain the usage of certain computer parts

Have a understanding about basic computer components

Assessment

Students will engage in completing a series of H5P exercises crafted by me, designed specifically to evaluate their comprehension of the lesson’s content. These exercises, developed with the interactive H5P tool, aim to challenge students by testing their ability to match computer components with their respective functions and to accurately identify these parts within a diagram. This activity will not only assess their understanding but also reinforce their learning by enhancing their ability to recall and apply the information learned.

Self-reflection activity

The objective of this section is to foster enhanced active learning and creativity, motivating students to engage deeply with their acquired knowledge and think innovatively about its applications.

Please answer the following questions:

  1. Which computer components do you consider to be potentially redundant in the current setup?
  2. Suggest a way to improve the cooling system without increasing its noise level.
  3. Propose a deign change for a motherboard that could make it more user-friendly for upgrades

H5P activities

Self reflection

How have you found the balance of passive and active learning in this course for your learning? How does it compare to your experience in other courses?

In EDCI337, I’ve really appreciated the effective blend of passive and active learning throughout the course. It kicks off with passive activities like readings and videos, where the role is mostly to absorb information. This sets the stage for the more engaging part: actively applying what we’ve learned by writing educational blog posts.

This structure has worked out exceptionally well for me. Initially, I underestimated how challenging it would be to articulate my understanding through blog posts. This task pushes me to engage deeply with the content. In essence, the moment of true learning comes during the active phase, especially when I employ strategies like constructive alignment and backward design. This approach helps me stay focused on the core learning objectives, avoiding unnecessary distractions.

Contrastingly, in many other university courses, I’ve often felt like a mere recipient of information, passively consuming what’s taught. Although these courses include assessments like projects and exams to deepen understanding, making those connections in self-directed projects can sometimes be elusive.

What sets this course apart for me is the level of autonomy we’re given with our assignments. Unlike the tighter constraints in my other courses, EDCI337 allows for greater creative freedom in how we approach our projects.