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Happy Fall Y'all!

This week we're pumpkin-spicing up your life with new research! We're featuring brand-new research that explores how to transform passive educational videos.

Happy Fall Y'all!

This week we're pumpkin-spicing up your life with new research! We're featuring brand-new research that explores how to transform passive educational videos.

The article asks the question:

  • In educational videos, do learners benefit more from embedded questions?

Let's get to it!

Embed, Embed, Embed đź“ť

When considering videos in learning materials, we want to ensure that we can keep learners attended and engaged. If learners are attended and engaged, that will pave the way for knowledge retention! One way to keep learners engaged with videos is through embedding questions throughout, often known as question-embedded videos (QEVs). Torres et al. (2022) evaluated differences in learner engagement/outcomes between traditional (narrative) videos and QEVs, in two different topics - Chemistry and Physics. In addition to the two video groups, the researchers also included textbook and control groups, to understand the impact of video overall.

For learners in the QEV groups, one crucial part is that questions were mandatory to continue with the lecture and could not be skipped. Although learners in the narrative video groups did not have questions to answer, the content did include details on how to solve the same problems so as not to skew the data based on instruction. To evaluate learning outcomes, all learners completed an assessment with multiple-choice and short-answer questions (Torres et al., 2022).

Learners with QEVs “significantly outperformed” those learning from narrative videos (see graph). Interestingly, no difference was found between the narrative videos and learning from the textbook. Although, learners did prefer learning from the videos over the text (Torres et al., 2022).

The results shed light on how powerful QEVs can be for learning! Embedding questions into videos, particularly when they cannot be skipped, helps to keep learners engaged. See LSW Issue #99 for more on embedded questions.

Thinking about utilizing videos for learning? Add in embedded questions and watch engagement/outcomes improve on your course insights!

*Importantly: “Current research suggests that QEVs may offer benefits for students with autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, and other learning disabilities, also leading to more inclusive learning environments.” - Torres et al. (2022)

Key takeaway: Learners seem to perform best on assessments when learning from videos with embedded questions. This finding suggests that, if implementing video, questions should be added throughout to keep learners engaged.

Read More ($): Torres, D., Pulukuri, S., & Abrams, B. (2022). Embedded Questions and Targeted Feedback Transform Passive Educational Videos into Effective Active Learning Tools. Journal of Chemical Education, 99.

Insights Can Help You See Success đź“Š

How do you evaluate what is and isn’t working in your education initiative? The most reliable way, is to monitor, analyze, and compare the performance metrics of learning content. ​​

Not every team has a data analyst focusing solely on achievement targets and goals. So how can program owners do this in a simple, easy-to-understand, visually digestible way?

Intellum’s Insights Module offers a simple, easy-to-understand, visually digestible way to arm yourself with the information you need to make thoughtful and strategic decisions about your education program offerings.

Tying performance metrics directly to content engagement will help you make supported correlations between your education initiatives and business outcomes- ultimately bringing more users to the learning environment.

Explore this course to learn more about the data-driven dashboards of Intellum Insights! Watch this Underscore webinar, “Using Data to Measure Education Program Health”, to dive deeper into the importance of data and measuring what matters.

Instructional Designers:  Find the "Sweet Spot"!

Intellum recently published a blog that digs into what workplace instructional design is and why it's important to look at the whole picture when crafting education programs and learning experiences.

The article provides a high-level look at:

  • The origins of instructional design
  • Analyzing goals and needs to find the “sweet spot”
  • Designing solutions to meet goals and needs
  • Developing solutions and creating content
  • Implementing and delivering content
  • Evaluating effectiveness

It also utilized a continuous analogy of firefighter training to illustrate where and how this "sweet spot" shows up.

Pets of Learning Science Weekly

Meet "Bo", a sweet-faced beagle from Brussels, Belgium! Reader, Camille P. cautions that "he looks very obedient and well-trained, but in reality, he puts on his best puppy dog face to get a piece of candy".

We have to admit, it'd be pretty tough to say no to that face! Thanks for sharing!

Wondering why we’re including animal photos in a learning science newsletter? It may seem weird, we admit. But we’re banking on the baby schema effect and the “power of Kawaii.” So, send us your cute pet pics -- you’re helping us all learn better!

CLICK HERE to send us your pet pics.

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The LSW Crew

Learning Science Weekly is written and edited through collaboration of the Intellum content and learning science teams.

Have something to share? Want to see something in next week's issue? Send your suggestions: editor@learningscienceweekly.com

The article asks the question:

  • In educational videos, do learners benefit more from embedded questions?

  • Let's get to it!