Prototype

“The Science of Sleep”

Sai Nihal Diddi

Sept 17

Understand

Learning Challenge

Many students struggle to understand why sleep is so important for learning, focus, and overall health. This comic will break down the science behind sleep in a fun and approachable way.

Context and Audience

The comic is designed for high school and early university students who often sacrifice sleep due to busy schedules, late-night studying, or screen time. They are generally tech-savvy, enjoy visually engaging content, and respond well to humour or relatable storytelling.
They need a clear, simple explanation of why sleep matters and how small changes—like creating a bedtime routine—can improve their energy and performance.

Point of View (POV) Statement

Busy students need to understand the science behind sleep so that they can make better daily choices to support their health and learning.

Learning Objectives

By the end of the comic, readers will be able to:

• Identify what happens during the different stages of sleep
• Explain how sleep affects memory, focus, and mood
• Recognize the impact of poor sleep habits
• Apply simple strategies to improve their own sleep routines
• Reflect on how their personal habits affect their energy and productivity

Plan

Ideation Process

I started by brainstorming common challenges students face when it comes to sleep, like staying up late to study, using their phones in bed, or relying on caffeine to stay awake.
Then, I listed the key science concepts I wanted to explain in simple terms—such as sleep cycles, the role of REM sleep, and how sleep affects memory and mood.

I decided the best way to make this relatable was to follow a fictional student character through their daily routine, showing the contrast between sleep-deprived days and well-rested days.
This approach makes the comic more engaging and easier for students to connect with emotionally.

Scenario Description

Title: The Science of Sleep
Structure: ~14 panels

Panel 1
(Visual: Nighttime. Alex at desk, surrounded by books and laptop.)
Narration: It’s midnight, and Alex is still cramming for tomorrow’s test.
Alex (thought): “Just one more chapter… I can sleep later.”

Panel 2
(Visual: Phone screen glowing in the dark.)
Narration: After studying, Alex scrolls through social media.
Alex (thought): “This will help me relax… right?”

Panel 3
(Visual: Alarm clock showing 7:00 AM, Alex groggy in bed.)
Narration: With only five hours of sleep, the morning hits hard.
Alex (thought): “Ugh… I feel like I didn’t even sleep.”

Panel 4
(Visual: Classroom, Alex yawning at desk.)
Narration: Lack of sleep affects alertness, memory, and mood.
Alex (thought): “Why can’t I focus? I studied this stuff.”

Panel 5
(Visual: Brain illustration showing sleep stages.)
Narration: During sleep, your brain cycles through deep and REM stages to restore energy and consolidate memories.
Label: REM = memory & learning, Deep Sleep = repair

Panel 6
(Visual: Alex’s brain with scattered notes flying away.)
Narration: Without enough sleep, your brain can’t store what you learned.
Alex (thought): “It’s like my brain just… deleted everything.”

Panel 7
(Visual: Alex at desk late again, looking stressed.)
Narration: Repeating this cycle builds up sleep debt, hurting focus, mood, and health.
Alex (thought): “I can’t keep doing this.”

Panel 8
(Visual: Alex sets phone aside and turns off desk lamp at 10 PM.)
Narration: The next night, Alex decides to try something new.
Alex (thought): “Bed by 10. No screens. Let’s see if this helps.”

Panel 9
(Visual: Morning sunlight, Alex stretching, smiling.)
Narration: A full night’s sleep resets the body and mind.
Alex (thought): “Wow… I actually feel awake!”

Panel 10
(Visual: Brain illustration, connections glowing brightly.)
Narration: Quality sleep strengthens neural connections and improves focus.
Label: Sleep = Brain’s “save” button

Panel 11
(Visual: Alex answering quiz questions confidently.)
Narration: With enough rest, learning becomes easier.
Alex (thought): “This actually makes sense now.”

Panel 12
(Visual: Alex laughing with friends at lunch.)
Narration: Sleep improves not just performance—but also mood and relationships.
Alex (thought): “I feel like myself again.”

Panel 13
(Visual: Alex holding up a sticky note with tips.)
Narration: Alex shares what worked.
Sticky note text:

• No screens 30 min before bed
• Regular bedtime
• Cool and dark room

Panel 14
(Visual: Title panel — Alex walking confidently into class.)
Narration: Good sleep is the simplest way to power your mind and body.
Alex (thought): “Sleep isn’t lost time. It’s my superpower.”

Principle

While planning this comic, I focused on reducing cognitive load and making the content easy to follow for busy students. I applied the Coherence principle by including only essential visuals and short dialogue, avoiding any decorative or unrelated elements that might distract from the main message.The Signaling principle will guide learners’ attention to key terms and stages (like “REM sleep” or “deep sleep”) through labels and visual cues. I also followed the Spatial Contiguity principle by placing text and visuals close together in each panel so students don’t need to search across the page to connect ideas. Finally, I used the Segmenting principle by breaking the story into clear, bite-sized panels so readers can process one idea at a time without feeling overwhelmed.