Aleksandra Khmelnik

Instructional Goal

Graduate students read and meaningfully engage with an English translation of Uncle Vanya (when reading it for the first time), able to connect to its content personally and professionally as writers, integrating into their reading the play's context when it was written and its context in the present day.

Actual Learner Behavior

Graduate students have read some but not a lot of Chekhov and are hesitant when approaching Uncle Vanya, disoriented by the setting, foreign names, and cultural references. They fear judgement and do not admit their ignorance among peers. Many do not finish reading the play before class.

Identified Need

An engaging, interactive introduction to Chekhov and to Uncle Vanya that students can work through on their own time, taking as much or as little time as they need to (without risking the judgement of their peers) to fill in gaps in their understanding.

Design theory: Knowles's principles of adult learning

Adult learners want to control their learning experience, are motivated by their own goals, want their learning to be immediately relevant and applicable, and use their existing wealth of experience as a starting point.

Recognize and adapt to learner's existing knowledge

Engage metacognition to increase motivation and investment as well as improve retention

Follow this up with adaptive content, customizing learning objectives and navigation to the user's choice.

Let learners choose their path

Adult learners are more engaged when they are able to control their learning process. Knowles, M. S. (1980)

Bespoke, integrated media to emphasize relevance

Adult learners are determined to use their time well. Creating media specifically tailored to the learning goals helps keep their attention and encourages engagement.

Timely feedback and gamification to encourage progress

Assessment is an effective prompt for critical thinking ( Irons, A., & Elkington, S. (2022). Enhancing learning through formative assessment and feedback / Alastair Irons and Sam Elkington. (Second edition..). Routledge. )