Research shows that active engagement with concepts yields a higher impact on learning than passive engagement alone. When students simply read about a subject, their ability to comprehend and remember the key takeaways is limited. When students can read a little, then do a little, they are better equipped to both understand and remember what they're learning.

The active learning tools in Revel help students engage in real time with the key concepts they’re learning about.

The role of feedback in promoting successful learning outcomes is well documented. Research indicates that the most effective feedback is specific to the particular task at hand and provides concrete and actionable information on how the student is performing. Research generally indicates that feedback is most effective when it is provided immediately.

Quizzing, integrated throughout as well as at the end of each Revel module, affords students opportunities to check their understanding and receive immediate feedback.

• Upon completing a quiz, Revel offers students feedback that is specific, clear, and timely.
• Feedback provided in association with Revel quizzing is actionable, so students can learn from their mistakes and keep moving forward.

Revel helps instructors provide feedback to their students too. Revel gives educators access to basic student performance information, which enables instructors to intervene and provide feedback to students when necessary to keep each individual student on track.

In cognitive psychology, cognitive load refers to the mental effort used in working memory. Extraneous cognitive load is mental effort spent on distracting or irrelevant elements, taking away from learning.

The presentation of content in Revel reduces extraneous cognitive load to keep students focused on what's important.

• All content is segmented into manageable pieces and presented via a consistent structure.
• Revel makes effective use of signaling, providing cues that highlight key material.
• The performance of Revel in terms of spatial contiguity is very strong, placing all relevant content on-screen simultaneously.

Research shows that reducing extraneous cognitive load makes it easier for students to process important information, moving it from working memory to long-term memory.

Taken together, the design elements of Revel help reduce extraneous cognitive load, removing distractions to facilitate efficient learning.

Research shows that well-designed multimedia content can help learners construct deeper conceptual understanding, as learners use different types of media for different learning goals. For example, audio helps learners get the gist of a concept, while text is better for focusing on fine details. Visual aids help us understand things that aren’t adequately conveyed in words.

Revel titles can include a wide variety of content, depending on the product. These multimedia content types include:

• An audiobook version of the written text
• Visual aids and interactives illustrating complex concepts
• Videos adding engaging, real-life examples

Audio learning is a particularly powerful option within Revel. When students have the option to learn through listening, they have more flexibility to learn in ways that work for them. For learners who are less comfortable with reading, audio can require less mental effort, making it easier for them to understand and integrate the content and concepts they are learning. Especially when audio learning is paired with re-reading the text or practicing with active learning tools, students’ understanding is reinforced and strengthened.