Forum Discussion
Opinion: Why "High-Energy" Videos Might Be Hurting Your Students' Retention (The Motion Trap)
Great write-up and explanation of TIE, and I love your decision matrix - it's a great way to model solid instructional practice. I'm not sure if you've come across this blog, but I'm sure you'd really enjoy it: The Science of Learning. Basically, they pick apart all sorts of learning theories with learning science!
Anyway, this TikTok-ing of content stems from the false theory of generational learning—younger generations learn best from short bursts of images and dialogue because that's all their brains can handle. Just like the learning styles theory, generational learning ignores content specifics and the way learners can interact with it in given contexts.
Engagement increases when learners can connect and interact with the content in a way that's accessible and relevant to their needs, and it's the designer's responsibility to make this possible through a whole host of tools, including video if necessary.
*Disclaimer: I'm a bit of an ARCS and SDT fangirl here 😁
Thank you, Jen - I really appreciate this perspective, especially the reminder that engagement is not just about speed, motion, or stimulation. I’m going to spend some time with The Science of Learning as well.
What you said is very relevant to something my colleague and I have been discussing lately: many university students seem increasingly disengaged, especially in complex technical subjects. So the challenge for us is not simply “make it more exciting,” but how to make it more accessible, relevant, and cognitively manageable without losing depth.
Your ARCS/SDT angle gives me a useful lens to think about that more carefully.