Reference

Clark, R. C., & Mayer, R. E. (2011). E-Learning and the Science of Instruction: Proven Guidelines for Consumers and Designers of Multimedia Learning (3rd ed.). San Francisco, CA: Pfeiffer.

Describe where simulations or games might be appropriate to use to enhance learning in your lesson

Games and simulations are a great way for enhancing learning in a particular lesson.  These elements bring something special to the lesson and it helps the audience connect with the content.  The games and simulations allow the audience to review and test their knowledge along with placing that information into their long term memory. 

The games make sure that the audience can see the information presented in a shorter manner and it tests the audience knowledge.  Once the audience has taken part in the game they will be able to take the knowledge and place it into their long term memory.  The game will also help the audience recall this information at a quicker pace.  This enhances a learner’s memory and understanding of the material by giving it a connection point that can be used in the future.  

As for a simulation, this gives the audience a chance to review the knowledge that they were given and they actually get to see the knowledge in action.  Seeing the knowledge in action will help clear up some misunderstandings.  Sometimes experiencing the knowledge in real life helps bring a personal connection within the information and it helps send that information to the long term memory.

Games and simulations provide that extra something to a lesson.  They also take the information and place it into a person’s long term memory.  Not only does it place that information in the long term memory but it creates an easy way to retrieve that information in the future.  These elements help make a lesson ten times more successful than it would be without games or simulations. 

Evaluate how you applied research-based guidelines to your lesson and how these guidelines enhance learning

Many of the principles that were mentioned in the first blog are the researched based guidelines that were used in this storyboard.  Some of these principles are the Coherence, Segmenting and the Pre-training Principle.  These principles provide a base for the whole creation of the storyboard and they are proven to be great guidelines when it comes to enhancing a learning experience.    

Some of the principles are very important like the Coherence Principle.  This principle deals with the abundance of too much information.  It is important to make sure that there is not a lot of information or it will create confusion within the audience.  Too much is a bad thing and too little information is just as bad.  So the Coherence Principle makes sure that the information that is presented is just right.  Then the Segmenting principle helps separate the information in smaller portions.  If the information was just presented at once it could cause a lot of misconceptions.  That will cause the viewers to not understand or learn the content knowledge.  Segmenting helps make sure that the information is presented in a way that will help the audience understand the information.  There is also the pre-training principle.  This principle requires the author to create a beginning or a vocabulary page.  It is like an introduction to the information and it makes sure that audience can understand what is being presented. 

These guidelines help enhance learning by reducing the stress placed on the audience.  Stress is a major factor in learning difficulty.  If information is presented in an unorganized and chaotic manor then the audience will be confused and they will not be able to learn.  These guidelines create that organization and give the presentation a format to follow.  That format will help enhance the learning by making it as easy as possible on the audience. 

Explain the e-learning principles your lesson includes and how they promote critical thinking skills.

Segmenting Principle: 
My storyboard contains the segmenting principle throughout the plan.  The segmenting principle is about separating the information in smaller portions so that it is easier for the audience to understand and remember.  In my storyboard I use this principle by separating all of the different parts to a proper swimming stroke.  This helps the audience understand the importance of each part of the stroke and allows them to practice each skill on its own before combining them. 


Pre-training Principle: 
The pre-training principle focuses on setting the stage and introducing the names of each important concept.  This principle is like introducing the definitions and the meaning of certain words so that the audience can comprehend the terminology.  In my storyboard I made a couple of slides that contains the definitions of vocabulary words that were important for the presentation. 


Personalization Principle:
For the personalization principle, it is about making the information more conversational and more personal to the audience.  In my storyboard I make this principle is evident by using first person while explaining the information.  There is a limit because the storyboard is not only professional but personal as well. 


Coherence Principle
This principle was a huge part of the storyboard.  This principle is about not adding too much information all at once.  So this storyboard focuses on one out of the many different strokes in swimming. 


Multimedia Principle:
For the multimedia principle it focuses on using words and graphics together rather than words alone.  This helps make the information more memorable.  In this storyboard there are many graphics that help enhance the material especially on the ice cream scoops slide. 




These principles help create critical thinking by giving the audience a chance to understand the content information.  Once the audience can understand stand the information without becoming stressed then they will be able to start thinking more critically about the content.