By Alexandra Maseda

The ability to listen is the most important factor in any social interaction. Whether it be between, family, friends, coworkers, students. This week I found a great hyperdoc that dives into the importance of listening called The Art of Listening. The presentation is aimed at students in high school but of course can benefit everyone. The author teaches it among his speech students and points out that listening is just as important as knowing how to speak properly.

Right off the bat the author included an animated video from Youtube that would briefly go over the fact we are not necessarily ever taught how to listen. It explains that key words like ‘go on” or “why” are great for discussions to imply you are listening to the speaker. It moves the conversation along and allows the speaker to freely express themselves.

The content of this hyperdoc is great, and the activities the creator has included make it a great example of what exactly a hyperdoc is. Aside from the video, there is also a link to an activity students interact with together to get the gist of what it means to listen. Then another link is provided for students to upload photos of themselves or one found online of someone whos body posture implies they are listening. This specific hyperdoc includes many links for students to interact with, and ends with one final video.

Hyperdocs are important because they allow students to interact with one another more than they would in the typical school setting. The Art of Listening really opened my eyes to the various creative ways you can get students to participate in the lesson and learn. Since the document is in presentation slide form it also felt easier to get through. The lesson did not feel too overwhelming because each activity was split up. The creator got his point of the lesson across using bright colors, quotes, activities, and making it feel more relaxed. Learning should be fun and students should be excited, that is exactly what this specific hyperdoc does.