For my Learning Design Topic, my team and I explored various strategies to help teens identify common causes of anxiety during adolescence and develop effective coping mechanisms. To help convey this messaging, I found a valuable video titled “What is Anxiety?”. This video provides a foundational overview of anxiety and its implications for adolescents. To incorporate this video into my learning design, I’ve considered various interactive elements to engage students and enhance their understanding.

In what way are they likely to respond to the video on their own, e.g., make notes, do an activity, or think about the topic (learner-generated)?
After watching the video, I expect that students will take notes on key points, particularly those relating to the nature of anxiety and its effects. This initial engagement will encourage students to reflect on the causes of anxiety and how anxiety might personally affect their life. As they note their thoughts, students will start to form connections between the content and their own experiences.

What activity could you suggest that they do after they have watched the video (designed)? What type of knowledge or skill would that activity help develop? What medium or technology would students use to do the activity?
Following the video, students will participate in a group activity where they will discuss specific situations that may trigger anxiety, such as exams or social interactions. Afterwards, they will brainstorm and evaluate coping strategies relevant to these situations. This activity will help develop critical thinking and communication skills, allowing students to articulate their thoughts and share ideas. Students could use collaborative platforms like Google Docs to document their discussions, making the process interactive and accessible.

How much work for you would that activity cause? Would the work be both manageable and worthwhile? Could the activity be scaled for larger numbers of students?
The group activity is manageable and worthwhile, as it encourages peer interaction and shared learning. My role as the facilitator will involve minimal preparation as I will simply provide guidance and structure to the conversation. This activity can easily be adjusted to suite larger groups as students could be organized into smaller discussion teams. In these teams, each student would focus on different anxiety triggers, which can then be shared with the whole class.

How could the video have been designed to generate more or better activity from viewers or students?
While the video effectively highlights the positive aspects and causes of anxiety, it could be improved by including a segment on coping strategies. Adding practical tips or examples could better equip students with tools to manage their anxiety, encouraging a more comprehensive understanding of the topic.

How will you address any potential barriers for your learners in the use of this video to ensure an inclusive design?
To create an inclusive learning environment, I will ensure that the video includes subtitles for students with hearing impairments. Additionally, providing a transcript will support students who benefit from reading along. Offering various formats of supplementary resources will benefit diverse learning needs and preferences.

By thoughtfully integrating the video into the learning experience, I aim to create a more engaging and supportive environment for teens to understand anxiety in adolescence.

References:

Anxiety Canada. (2019, March 25) Fight Flight Freeze – Anxiety Explained For Teens [Video]. Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpolpKTWrp4