Fellow grad student Alex Nwokoukwo and I got together to examine a learning challenge through a design-thinking lens. We quickly discovered that we share the same challenge in our classrooms: learners desire quick results with minimal time commitment and low-effort interaction.
Alex and I interviewed each other to gain empathy for one another’s challenge, seeking to deeply learn about and understand the nuances of the problem. We discussed our different approaches and the various ways in which learners will seek learning shortcuts in our particular educational contexts. We did not set out to find a solution; our goal was to simply examine the challenge.
We share our thoughts through a PechaKucha presentation. The structure of this format is 20 image-only slides that are each exactly 20 seconds in length. Please enjoy, and feel free to share your thoughts.
PechaKucha
References
Kohler, T. J. (2023). Caught In The Loop: The Effects of The Addictive Nature Of Short-form Videos On Users’ Perceived Attention Span And Mood (Bachelor’s thesis, University of Twente).
Murre, J. M., & Dros, J. (2015). Replication and analysis of Ebbinghaus’ forgetting curve. PloS one, 10(7). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0120644
Hi Stephen and Alex,
Your Pecha Kucha presentation is very engaging and tackles a highly relevant challenge that we find in today’s world of education. I like how you framed learners’ preference for quick, low-effort learning as the main hurdle in achieving truly meaningful outcomes from teaching and learning. The analogy of building muscle from Ronnie Coleman to explain the importance of consistency and effort is a great way to convey the need for sustained mental “workouts.”
Your discussion of factors such as decreased attention span and the want for instant gratification are common themes found throughout many different levels of education. I agree with your thoughts and proposal to gamify foundational learning as a way to reduce reliance on shortcuts. It’s an innovative strategy that switches things up and should align well with today’s learning preferences.
I wonder about the origins of the factors drawing students to shortcuts, like decreased attention spans, perceived learning styles, and instant gratification. Could the same digital culture that seems to have contributed to many – if not all – of these challenges also hold the key to their solution? Interesting stuff…
Overall, your presentation does a great job addressing a current problem that is very complex and offers a couple of practical, thoughtful solutions. It got me thinking. Well done!
Darren