{"id":333,"date":"2023-01-14T14:43:12","date_gmt":"2023-01-14T22:43:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/malat-webspace.royalroads.ca\/rru0256\/?p=333"},"modified":"2023-01-16T06:48:04","modified_gmt":"2023-01-16T14:48:04","slug":"6-design-principles-to-support-well-being-in-a-virtual-learning-environment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/malat-webspace.royalroads.ca\/rru0256\/6-design-principles-to-support-well-being-in-a-virtual-learning-environment\/","title":{"rendered":"6 Design Principles to Support Well-Being in a Virtual Learning Environment"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In our latest assignment for LRNT 524, we were asked to use a design thinking process to emphasize, ideate, and determine a possible solution for a design problem that we encounter in the real world. My partner, Jessica Gemella, and I looked at how we could create learning environments that minimize stress and anxiety<\/a> due to rigid structures and policies and exacerbated by collective trauma resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic. As a follow-up to that process and assignment, I have been considering how I might use some of these learnings, such as design for well-being, to create design principles that can be applied to my own context where I facilitate professional learning and collaboration concerning comprehensive school health<\/a> for educators in the K-12 system. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Considering the context around comprehensive school health, a collaborative learning environment in which well-being is valued, supported, and modelled is a natural extension of the learning content. As such, the following design principles can help guide the creation of synchronous learning environments that foster and reflect well-being while minimizing stress and anxiety, specifically in a virtual setting. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don\u2019t Assume Digital Literacy <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not understanding how to use technology can result in an inability to cope and can negatively impact the learner’s mental health and learning outcomes (Biggins & Holley, 2022; Bondanini et al., 2020). Support digital literacy by providing an orientation to the platform and tools that will be used in the learning environment and provide technical support as needed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Foster a Sense of Belonging  <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fostering a sense of belonging can be supported by including and valuing diverse perspectives and worldviews, ways of knowing and thinking, and culturally sensitive and responsive design practices (Adams et al., 2021; DeLorme, 2018; Gunawardena, 2020). A sense of belonging can help learners feel more comfortable and open to sharing knowledge while creating space for diverse meaning-making. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Be Flexible  <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Designing for flexibility in a virtual synchronous learning environment means creating opportunities for participation, allowing for spontaneous discussions, the use of chat and mic features for communication, representing content in a variety of ways, and offering options for self-directed learning pathways (Racheva, 2018; Yamagata-Lynch, 2014). Flexibility can increase motivation and engagement of learners and can help improve their overall learning experience and outcomes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Build Social Presence <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Social connection is an essential dimension of a learning environment that supports well-being. Using a social-constructivist framework to inform learning design can help develop social presence, enhance well-being, and positively affect learning outcomes (M\u00e4kel\u00e4, 2018). Moreover, taking time for informal sharing helps to build trust among learners and can lead to more open knowledge sharing and collaboration (Holton, 2021). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Be Clear <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Adult learners are goal orientated and like to know why what they are learning is important to them (Merriam & Bierema, 2014). Being explicit about the value of the learning material to the learner\u2019s context, developing and sharing meaningful learning outcomes, using simple language, and providing clear instruction can help provide clarity and direction for the learner while limiting confusion and stress. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Promote Self-Care & Mindfulness <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Opportunities to practice self-care and mindfulness in the learning environment can enhance well-being while modelling best practice for learning design that reflects and supports well-being. Incorporating mindfulness activities can create an inviting learning environment that is open and flexible, helps learners feel connected and cared for, develops strong self-regulation skills, and benefits learners experiencing psychological distress (Palalas, 2020; Roddey et al., 2017).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

References <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Adams, S., Bali, M., Eder, Z., Fladd, L., Garrett, K., Garth-McCullough, R., Gibson, A. M., Gunder, A., Iuzzini, J., Knott, J. L., Rafferty, J. & Weber, N. L. (2021). Caring for students playbook: Getting started with key terms and challenges. <\/em>Every Learner Everywhere. https:\/\/www.everylearnereverywhere.org\/resources\/<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Biggins, D., & Holley, D. (2022). Student wellbeing and technostress: critical learning design factors. Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education <\/em>(25). https:\/\/doi.org\/10.47408\/jldhe.vi25.985<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bondanini, G., Giorgi, G., Ariza-Montes, A., Vega-Mu\u00f1oz, A., & Andreucci-Annunziata, P. (2020). Technostress dark side of technology in the workplace: A scientometric analysis. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17<\/em>(21), 8013. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/ijerph17218013<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

DeLorme, C. M. (2018). Quilting a journey: Decolonizing instructional design. AlterNative: An International Journal of Indigenous Peoples, 14(<\/em>2), 164\u2013172. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/1177180118769068<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gemella, J., Yardley L. (2023, January 8). Design challenges in a post-pandemic world<\/em> [Video]. Canva. https:\/\/www.canva.com\/design\/DAFWuaVFBoc\/EEUDFFvkYimI53ZhbDuEJQ\/watch?utm_content=DAFWuaVFBoc&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link&utm_source=publishsharelink<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Holton, J.A. (2001). Building trust and collaboration in a virtual team. Team Performance Management, 7<\/em>(3), 36-47. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1108\/13527590110395621<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Joint Consortium for School Health. (2023). What is comprehensive school health? <\/em>http:\/\/www.jcsh-cces.ca\/en\/concepts\/comprehensive-school-health\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

M\u00e4kel\u00e4, T.E. (2018). A design framework and principles for co-designing learning environments fostering learning and wellbeing. Jyv\u00e4skyl\u00e4 Studies in Education, Psychology and Social Research.<\/em> https:\/\/www.jyu.fi\/edupsy\/fi\/tohtorikoulu\/kasvatustieteiden-tohtoriohjelma\/valmistuneet-vaitoskirjat\/makela_tiina_vaitoskirja.pdf<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Merriam, S.B., & Bierema, L.L. (2014). Adult learning: Linking theory and practice<\/em>. Jossey-Bass. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Palalas, A., Mavraki, A., Drampala, K., Krassa, A., & Karakanta, C. (2020). Mindfulness practices in online learning: Supporting learner self-regulation. The Journal of Contemplative Inquiry, 7<\/em>(1). https:\/\/journal.contemplativeinquiry.org\/index.php\/joci\/article\/view\/222<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Racheva, V. (2018). Social aspects of synchronous virtual learning environments. AIP Conference Proceedings, 2048<\/em>(1), 020032. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1063\/1.5082050<\/a>  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Roddy, C., Amiet, D.L., Chung, J., Holt, C.J., Shaw, L.K., Mckenzie, S., Garivaldis, F.J., Lodge, J.M., & Mundy, M. (2017). Applying best practice online learning, teaching, and support to intensive online environments: An integrative review. Frontiers in Education, 2<\/em>(59). https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/feduc.2017.00059<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yamagata-Lynch, L.C. (2014). Blending online asynchronous and synchronous learning. The International Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning, 15<\/em>(2), 189-212. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.19173\/irrodl.v15i2.1778<\/a> <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In our latest assignment for LRNT 524, we were asked to use a design thinking process to emphasize, ideate, and determine a possible solution for a design problem that we encounter in the real world. My partner, Jessica Gemella, and I looked at how we could create learning environments that minimize stress and anxiety due… Continue reading 6 Design Principles to Support Well-Being in a Virtual Learning Environment<\/span> →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":267,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-333","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-lrnt524"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/malat-webspace.royalroads.ca\/rru0256\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/333","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/malat-webspace.royalroads.ca\/rru0256\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/malat-webspace.royalroads.ca\/rru0256\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/malat-webspace.royalroads.ca\/rru0256\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/267"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/malat-webspace.royalroads.ca\/rru0256\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=333"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/malat-webspace.royalroads.ca\/rru0256\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/333\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":337,"href":"https:\/\/malat-webspace.royalroads.ca\/rru0256\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/333\/revisions\/337"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/malat-webspace.royalroads.ca\/rru0256\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=333"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/malat-webspace.royalroads.ca\/rru0256\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=333"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/malat-webspace.royalroads.ca\/rru0256\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=333"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}