The Edovo Edge: Research-backed methods for real results
You lost me at “In this course,”
Why chunking matters—and how to do it well on Edovo The pain is real Imagine this: you open a lesson screen and find a full 25-page PDF pasted into a textbox. No breaks. No questions. No clear goal. Somewhere in there is probably a helpful sentence ...
Keep it moving: designing lessons that follow how people think
How cognitive event flow helps incarcerated learners stay engaged, build understanding, and move forward—one screen at a time. “Wait... what just happened?” You’ve seen it (or maybe you’ve done it). You click through a course and feel like it’s ...
You are not the narrator of someone else’s life
What Paulo Freire’s Pedagogy of the Oppressed can teach us about designing for incarcerated learners The problem with “pouring knowledge” Imagine walking into a classroom. The teacher begins reading slides word-for-word. Every activity is ...
If it floats, it fades: Why anchoring matters
How to help learners connect new content to what they already know (and why it matters) Have you ever rushed into a meeting 10 minutes late and instantly regret it? You sit down, slightly out of breath, coffee in hand, pretending to catch up. But ...
Netflix Paces Itself. So Should You.
Research-backed strategies for designing flexible, differentiated lessons that reach every learner—without lowering the bar. Not everyone’s at the same starting line Imagine three people walking into your course. One is fired up and flying through ...
Words that build trust: a guide to using inclusive language on Edovo
Practice tips for writing content that empowers, not labels, incarcerated learners “It’s just a word”—until it shuts someone down A course starts strong: useful topic, solid structure. But then the opening line hits: “People like you need to turn ...
Make it measurable: using Bloom’s Taxonomy to write better objectives
How to match what you teach with what your learners can actually show on Edovo “How do I know if they got it?” You wrote clear content. You asked good questions. You even added reflection prompts. But when it comes time to assess learning, it’s ...
When brains short-circuit: decoding cognitive load spikes on Edovo
Why learners might be zoning out—and what to do about it “Why did they stop after page 3?” You built a thoughtful, trauma-informed course. The content is solid. The visuals are tight. The prompts are clear. But engagement drops like a lead weight. ...
The art of doubling down: how visuals help incarcerated adults remember, reflect, and repeat
Dual-coding theory for the win (even without Wi-Fi) “Why does this look like a DMV manual?” Imagine trying to learn anger management from a wall of text that reads like a tax form. No visuals. No icons. No relief. Now imagine the same lesson paired ...
Scroll fatigue is real when it comes to learning (even if it's not on TikTok)
Why content density kills retention—and how to space your screens for learning, not overload Ever crammed three days’ worth of groceries into one small tote bag? It feels efficient—until the bag breaks. Eggs crack. Chips crush. And somewhere between ...
Step one: don’t assume they’re ready for step five
How to design lessons that feel possible—then powerful—for incarcerated adult learners Start with sneakers, not stilettos Imagine asking someone to sprint up ten flights of stairs with no handrail, no warning, no rest stops. They slip, stumble, or ...
Designing learner-centered content that listens as much as it teaches
The importance of designing learner-centered content that listens as much as it teaches Ever been on a tour where you didn’t get to ask questions? You show up. The guide launches into a rehearsed speech. It’s packed with facts, but none of your ...
Ask better questions (and get better learning)
Learn how to design questions that do more than fill space. On Edovo, your questions are the interaction. This guide breaks down the do’s and don’ts of crafting questions that build confidence, spark reflection, and deepen learning. What makes a ...
Why we circle back (on purpose)
The power of looping for incarcerated learners—and how to do it without sounding like a broken record. When I say looping, you say… Wait, didn’t we already talk about this? Exactly. And that’s the point. Looping is the instructional magic trick that ...
Scaffolding isn’t hand-holding. It’s building the dang ladder.
How to support incarcerated learners without lowering the bar When I say scaffolding, you say… Crutches? Kid gloves? A polite way of saying, “let’s dumb it down”? Let’s stop right there. Scaffolding isn’t about making things easier. It’s about making ...
What do you really mean by that?
How the Socratic Method builds better brains (and bolder courses) on Edovo Have you ever had a friend ask, “But what do you really mean by that?” And in that exact moment, you wanted to either (a) hug them or (b) throw your coffee across the room? ...
Bill Murray was onto something
What is spaced learning—and how do you use it without making your content feel like Groundhog Day? Ever “learn” something and forget it 24 hours later? You studied. You underlined. You told yourself this time you had it. Then someone asked you about ...
Is your video too long? Maybe. But maybe not.
How to pull off longer-form videos without losing learners—or your point. The eye-roll is real You’ve got a great video. It’s honest. It’s powerful. It’s 12 minutes long. And suddenly, you're hearing the ghost of every instructional designer whisper: ...
Short and sweet or long and loaded? The Goldilocks guide to video length
How video earns its place in adult learning (and when it doesn’t) You hit play. A person starts reading a paragraph—word for word—from the screen you just read yourself. The background? A beige wall. The vibe? Fifth take of a hostage video. You last ...
Stop winging it: How Gagné’s 9 events can level up your learning design
The most useful instructional strategy you’ve probably been doing half-right “Why isn’t this clicking for them?” You built a great course. It has clear objectives. Strong content. Even a reflection prompt or two… or ten. And still—drop-off. ...