Hi Frankie,

Loved this post—insomnia is such a universal struggle that your choice of video feels instantly relevant. Your idea of pairing the TED-Ed clip with a personal circadian-rhythm activity is brilliant; giving learners a chance to hypothesize about their own internal clocks before diving into sleep-hygiene strategies makes the lesson feel tailor-made.

A couple of thoughts that might layer onto your plan:

  1. Wearable or App-Based Sleep Diary
    If students already use a fitness tracker or even the built-in sleep log on their phones, you could invite them to export a week of sleep data and compare it with their “ideal bedtime routine” template. Seeing gaps between intention and reality often sparks richer group discussion than hypothetical schedules alone.
  2. H5P Interactive Video
    Since you’re considering embedded questions, an H5P layer (or EdPuzzle) lets you pause the video at key moments, ask a quick multiple-choice or reflective question, and then continue. It keeps interaction seamless and also generates analytics you can revisit in class.
  3. Scenario Cards for Barrier-Busting
    When groups troubleshoot routine-disruptors like late shifts or sports practice, give each team a scenario card (e.g., “Shift work ending at midnight,” “Shared bedroom with noisy sibling,” “Chronic pain flare-ups”). This adds structure and ensures every group tackles a diverse challenge.
  4. Accessibility Touchpoints
    Love that you flagged the visual limitations of the animation. Alongside described video, you might offer an audio-first version: a podcast-style MP3 of the narration plus a guided visualization. Some students find that less cognitively taxing than juggling visuals and captions.
  5. Gameification Idea
    The “optimize the bedroom” game sounds fun! If full game dev isn’t feasible, a quick drag-and-drop web activity (think Google Slides in edit mode) can let students position items—phone, blackout curtains, white-noise machine—into a “sleep-friendly” or “sleep-foe” zone.

Your blueprint already strikes a great balance between knowledge acquisition (why insomnia happens) and skill-building (designing routines, problem-solving barriers). Can’t wait to see how students respond—sleep is one learning outcome everyone appreciates in real life!

Thanks for sharing these thoughtful ideas.

Link: https://onlineacademiccommunity.uvic.ca/frankiekerr/2025/06/12/edci335-blog-post-4/