Hello!

This is a peer review for the interactive learning resource topic on stress.

Starting off, I really appreciate your ‘Welcome’ section. It’s great that you presented exactly what this resource would include and provide to its audience. This initial clarity tells the reader who exactly this resource is targeting, and what will ultimately be achieved by the end of it.

I definitely agree with your choice with using the constructivist learning theory in association to stress. Like you mentioned, the personal experiences brought up by students will create more meaningful interactions of learning. Especially important to the topic of stress, it is crucial that learning is promoted and acquired through a space in which learners are able to draw on and share their own personal experiences – which you have already demonstrated in your document.

To take it one step further, perhaps you might consider elaborating even further on how you will achieve this – or what you might consider if students do not feel comfortable using this model to learn or express. Considering cooperative learning and its overall encouragement of students talking to each other about their personal experiences and strategies, how will you navigate students who just simply don’t want to share? I think your chosen age group is perfect; the alarming rate amongst them is quite concerning. However, it is undeniably an awkward stage during life where you don’t quite understand yourself, others, and your own emotions. Therefore, how will you address some of these setbacks?

Although it might be slightly off-topic, I found a helpful YouTube video that you might use as a reminder on how to approach this topic more subjectively. Some helpful tips that Children’s Wisconsin (2020) include:

  1. Asking open-ended questions that elicit conversations, not just ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answers
  2. Validating and acknowledging their feelings as they express their thoughts
  3. Working with them through their thoughts, not offering solutions
  4. Remembering the demographic you’re teaching, and therefore altering the way you convey or interpret information

Great technology choices! I’m glad that you also included just simply using paper and a pencil. Kahoot is also a great way to keep your audience intrigued and interested – especially considering your chosen demographic.

As for your modules, I appreciate that you start off juvenile, and begin with definitions and fun activities like ‘true or false’. This will keep them engaged, but also slowly ease them into the upcoming topics. Educating them on potential signs of stress is also great! They might not be comfortable with or fully understand the extent of stress, so clearly identifying these markers is a very helpful way to eliminate confusion. Following up, including an exit slip that requires them to use their active recall is a phenomenal way in ensuring they won’t forget (or remember) the signs of stress. Personally, this has always worked for me too!

Introducing concepts of eustress and distress could be confusing, however, your additional explanation of it being ‘good’ or ‘bad’ stress is very helpful! I appreciate that you’ve included examples of everyday activities these learners could relate to, like: “doing physical activity, playing sports, [or] watching a suspenseful or scary movie”. Like you mentioned previously, this coincides with your inclusion of constructivist learning theory very well! Students are able to recall on their own experiences, and relate what they’re learning directly to it. Overall, your other learning outcomes and activities look great, and I fully agree with them being good activities in keeping the students not only engaged, but also learning.

Personally, my favourite activity is in learning outcome 5 with the ‘Think Pair Share’. However, like I mentioned above, I think it would slightly elevate your description if you included how you might react to and accommodate students who might not want to share. If majority of the students feel this way, will this become an obstacle in carrying out this and other activities?

Overall this is an amazing interactive learning resource! I really appreciate your topic itself, I think this is such an important conversation – especially for this demographic. I believe that these conversations should happen more often in classroom settings, and this resource is definitely one significant way to start the conversation. Thank you Pod 4 for your contributions!

References

Children’s Wisconsin. (2020, October 15). How to talk to your kids about mental & behavioral health [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQbVoaD3hl8