This module walked me through the principles of learning design and instruction, as well as gave me the opportunity to experiment with a tool that is used to create engaging learning activities in H5P. I followed a provided lesson template to outline the objectives and instructions of a course centred around the effects of nature on mental health. The H5P tool I created gives students a chance to test their knowledge by placing the words in their respective boxes to correctly complete sentences.

Reflective Question: Where do you see constructive alignment and backward design used in this course or another course you are taking/have taken?

I can see constructive alignment and backward design used in many of my computer science courses at UVic. For example, in a course similar to numerical analysis, where we use numerical approximations and methods to solve problems, this course is first constructed  with the end goal in mind; the course rubrics detail an exhaustive list of the methods and applications that one should understand and be ready to utilize having completed the course. Moving forward to assessment development, these courses usually consist of 1-3 midterm examinations in addition to a final exam to ensure that all of the course material and the corresponding course objectives are covered cumulatively up until a given point. Finally, the instruction takes form in the centuries-old structure, lectures. In these types of courses, this method of instruction proves well because success in the course is predicated upon learning the lecture content and using that knowledge to perform well on assignments and tests. Therefore, students can take whatever approach they desire to be able to do so; this can imply self-studying for some students.  In this way, the ability to learn the material is not necessarily contingent on being present in the classroom. As a result, students will not be penalized for not adapting to a certain way of teaching that is best for learning that course’s content. 

This flexibility in instruction is what leads me to believe that courses that are very number and theory-heavy leave instruction design the last of it’s priorities.

These same principles follow regardless of whether the course content consists of algorithm finding, coding, software development policies, theory, or a mix of the above. 

Course: The Benefits of Nature for your Mental Health

Overview

In this week’s lesson we are going to learn about how surrounding yourself with nature can improve your mental health. The state of your mental health directly influences your quality of life. Amidst the busy lifestyles that we all seemingly live, the significance of connecting with the environment around us is often overlooked. Research has shown that immersing yourself in nature can have tremendous effects on improving your mental health. Whether you are looking to reduce stress or foster a sense of calm or rejuvenation,  exposure to nature is definitely an outlet that you should consider to foster mental and emotional stability.

Here is a short 2 minute video outlining the importance of taking care of our mental health just as well as our physical: Why Mental Health is as Important as Physical Health – Dr. Imad Alsakaf

Lesson Objectives

By the end of this lesson, you will:

  1. Understand the effects of using nature to improve mental health
  2. Take away valuable tips to get in touch with nature amidst a busy lifestyle
  3. Be able to describe the importance of taking care of one’s mental well-being

Read/Watch 

Content

  • Students will be informed of the importance of taking care of one’s mental-well being through examples and bullet-points
  • Students will be shown an informative and labelled infographic illustrating the cognitive benefits of nature on mental health
  • Students will be told stories from the teachers’ or other individuals’ perspectives on how nature improved their mental well-being

Application

  • H5P Tool: Students can demonstrate their knowledge using the provided H5P tool to test what they have learned thus far.

Reflection

  • Explore and Discuss: Students are advised to set aside 15-30 minutes to spend mindlessly in nature. It is encouraged to find a nature path or sanctuary if possible, and walk around there; however, it can be any natural setting, such as a park, forest, beach, or a regular stroll outside. Be mindful of your emotions and mood while exploring this setting. Ask yourself: How does being in this setting affect my mood? What can I smell, see, hear, or even taste that enhances my experience? What emotions came to the surface? Write a paragraph on your observations and comment on another student’s response. 

To Do This Week

  1. Read/Watch the provided articles and video above
  2. Take note of the importance of mental health care and provided personal examples
  3. Study the provided infographic provided
  4. Complete the H5P tools; the wordsearch and the fill-in-the-blank
  5. Explore nature as outlined above.

References

  1. How nature benefits mental health. Mind. (2021, November). https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/tips-for-everyday-living/nature-and-mental-health/how-nature-benefits-mental-health/ 
  2. Weir, K. (2020, April 1). Nurtured by nature. Monitor on Psychology. https://www.apa.org/monitor/2020/04/nurtured-nature 
  3. YouTube. (2022). The mental health benefits of nature with Dr Julie Smith 🌲 The Green Planet 🌱 BBC. YouTube. Retrieved November 7, 2023, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CL-jYOndc-4&t=2s.