Instructional Design Lessons from YouTube and Recipe Blogs By Christina Goldsmith (reposted with permission) Image by Oldmermaid from Pixabay It's no secret that many students often skip assigned readings or lectures, opting instea…

By Christina Goldsmith (reposted with permission)

Image by Oldmermaid from Pixabay

It's no secret that many students often skip assigned readings or lectures, opting instead for summaries, videos, or quick search results to get the information they need. I believe this behavior isn't necessarily a sign of laziness — it's a reflection of how people consume information in the digital age.

Since the invention of the internet, the way we seek out and consume information has rapidly evolved. When we want to learn something new — whether it's how to fix a leaky faucet or master a new software tool — we often head straight to YouTube. Similarly, when searching for recipes online, how many of us scroll past the life stories and culinary anecdotes or click the "Jump to Recipe" button? These common behaviors can offer valuable insights for educators looking to create engaging, effective course content.

Chunk Information with Short Videos

YouTube's popularity as a learning platform is no accident. One of its greatest strengths is the way information is chunked into bite-sized, easily digestible videos. For example, check out this video on creating an essay outline from Scribbr:

Educators can apply this principle by breaking down video lectures into smaller, standalone video modules. Short videos (ideally 5-10 minutes) allow students to process one key idea at a time without becoming overwhelmed.

• Start by identifying the main topics or concepts in the lesson.
• Divide content into smaller, stand-alone topics or key ideas.
• Focus each video on one or two key ideas to avoid information overload.

When possible, identify high-quality YouTube videos that already explain key concepts, so that you can curate rather than create all video content.

Curating existing YouTube videos can sometimes be more effective than creating original content because many YouTube creators specialize in making visually engaging, highly polished educational videos. These videos often feature professional editing, dynamic animations, and diverse perspectives that can captivate students in ways that homemade videos might not.

Use Visual Cues to Make Written Content Digestible

Much like recipe blogs that provide step-by-step instructions, course content benefits from clear, concise presentation. headings, lists, and visual elements help learners quickly grasp what they need to know and what is expected of them.

To improve the readability of a page:

• Use headings and subheadings to visually separate chunks of content.
• Break text into short paragraphs to improve readability. Paragraphs should not be more than 3-4 sentences.
• Incorporate bullet points and numbered lists to highlight key information.
• Add images, charts, or diagrams to visually reinforce concepts.
• Leave white space between sections to prevent visual clutter and make the content more approachable.

Here is an example from my College Composition II course regarding how to create an Annotated Bibliography:

In addition, providing a checklist or rubric helps students identify required elements in an assignment and self-assess their work to ensure they meet the learning objectives.

Keeping it Balanced

Of course we don't want to neglect critical thinking and deeper analysis by only focusing on bite-sized content. While students may prefer to skim content or watch short videos, deeper learning often requires more sustained engagement.

• Strategies like annotation assignments using tools such as Kami, Perusall or Harmonize encourage students to slow down and critically engage with texts.
• Discussion posts on an academic article can prompt students to reflect on what they've read.
• Tools such as Panopto, EdPuzzle, and Playposit allow you to incorporate interactive elements such as quiz questions and comment features into videos. This can help keep students engaged while watching longer instructional videos or lectures.
• Open pedagogy approaches — where students locate their own resources, summarize key points, and reflect on their findings — foster active learning and information literacy.

Each of these strategies can be utilized to ensure students actively engage with more complex course content.

By blending strategies from YouTube and recipe bloggers with strategies for deeper engagement, educators can create courses that deliver content in ways that students are used to, leading to better learning outcomes.

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