1. According to the Five
eLearning Components, “there are
five eLearning components that are essential for all successful online courses. Understanding these components will help you design and develop a
course that meets computer-based training objectives. Each eLearning component
plays an important role in designing an online course” (par.1).
The five components are
course structure, page design, usability, content engagement, and most
importantly, audience. These components are essential in the design and
development of any course.
Course Structure: The
success of any online course comes from a straightforward, explicit course
plan. A student taking an online course relies on instructor information to
enhance critical thinking and reach instructor expectations. The development of
this course plan should be discussed with an Instructional Design team in order
to ensure a positive academic experience. The structure should “group content
into logical modules, incorporate interactive concepts, and use
pictures/graphics to help explain ideas, concepts, or statements” (par.10).
Page design is essential
in gaining a student’s attention. If a page is bland or with too little or too
much information, the learning experience will be lowered. In addition,
“navigation must be intuitive, appearance must not hinder the learning process,
the balance between text and graphics is critical, white space in good, and
consistency is golden, ease of scanning is imperative, and chunking information
is crucial” (par. 11).
Content Engagement is
where a student more or less forms an independent relationship with the content
presented to them. The more structured and relatable the content is, the higher
the chance the student will exercise-free thinking and exude an expertise over
the material presented to them. To keep learner’s involved, “use hyperlinks for
additional concepts, explanations, and definitions, incorporate interactive
graphics such as animations or simulations,
provide additional options/choices for the learner, incorporate quizzes,
tests, skill assessments, keep activities focused on the course objective, and
avoid letting the technology overshadow the course objectives” (par. 13).
Usability refers “the
testing of eLearning content and application...Verify that all links work
properly, ensure that activities function as designed, inspect content to
ensure that grammar and spelling are correct, ensure that graphics are visible,
verify that the course works appropriately in all applicable server
environments, verify that screen resolution works for the intended audience, and
verify that course objectives and expectations are met” (par. 14).
Audience refers to the end user. If not for an
adequate audience (the students), the course may not even exist. It is
important to remember that at the end of the day a university is still running
a business, so creating and promoting a cost-effective class structure is
essential. This is why it is so important to advertise the content of the
course, create an engaging learning atmosphere, and help to shape lifelong
learners.
2. I believe the future of eLearning is bright. As a student who has participated in online
courses in both my undergraduate days and now in my current graduate courses,
there is definitely a new sense of academic perspective. Learning is different
structurally, but expectations, assignments, concepts, and even interaction is
just as if the class were face-to-face. There are deadlines and means of communication
that are essential. The general atmosphere of the course may be different,
however, expectations are always attainable. In addition, I believe that
eLearning will continue to thrive due to many industries asking for higher
education or the unemployed having no choice but to go back to school. The art
of eLearning may actually save person money, since they do not have to drive to
their university. Also, online learning helps learners create a stronger
self-reliance on themselves and improve their technology skills. According to
John Engler’s, STEM Education Is the Key
to the U.S.’s Economic Future, Engler is quite secure that our economic
downtown will change with more people employed in the science, technology,
engineering, and mathematics fields. He adds, “according to the recently
released study from Change the Equation,
an organization that supports STEM education, there are 3.6 unemployed workers
for every job in the United States. That compares with only one unemployed STEM
worker for two unfilled STEM jobs throughout the country” (par. 4).
3. The Instructional Design and Development crew has been addressed a great deal throughout the quarter and would include a
graphic designer, a video editor, and a web programmer.
A) The web developer, according to The development of
online courses (2004), creates an atmosphere of confidence and
illustrates content and interactive options available. In addition, an
organizational template is used that emphasizes evident “learning objectives”
[provided by the instructor] (par. 37). A course template will inevitably be
enhanced with the web developer who will, “help the instructor to use tools to
make the course interactive, such as e-mail and chat utilities; working with
the graphic designer to conceptualize the screens, backgrounds, buttons, window
frames, and text elements in the program. This creates interactivity, and
creates story boards” (par.37).
The role of the graphic designer would include any technical
drawings related to the PowerPoint, the development of templates, icons, and
graphics to enhance the content presented. Great tools that could be used are
Adobe Photoshop, a tool to format images, and Macromedia Freehand, used for
creative design. The programmer would use specialized tools to increase the
interactivity in the PowerPoint presentation. There are two tool classes:
code-based programming language and graphical user interface (par.43).
Open-source code-based programming language includes:
- Hypertext markup language-page
requests are sent to server and World Wide Web if needed in PowerPoint
presentation
- Java-enables chat, games, and
computing
- JavaScript-creates user interface
and websites
- Perl-programming language
- MySQL-database language
- Proprietary GUI web-development software packages include:
- Macromedia-macromedia tools for
software CDs
- Microsoft .NET and Visual
Basic-enables programs like PowerPoint to run
- Adobe GoLive, Photoshop-manages web
sites; enhances imagery
The Digital Video Editor would help in the development process
by helping in the creation of any videos needed to be used for the online
course. There are universal components in any editing software such as
“dragging and dropping”, transitions, sound tracking, and storyboard
techniques. The editor has knowledge of audio, visual, and S-video inputs and
outputs (Brown, 2006). A culmination of this Instructional Design team will
create a successful, professional, and aesthetically pleasing video.
B) I greatly enjoy web development.
Page design comes from the feedback of an instructor; however, there is much
independence in creating a layout to any online course. I would make sure to
add an artistic touch to the web page to keep the students engaged and ready to
learn more. I want to illustrate content
and create an academically pleasing atmosphere for the students.
C, D, E, F) The type of course
template I would like to create would be for a business- centered Instructional
Technology course. This course would focus on business administration and
management in developing online courses. In addition, cyber security foundation
will be discussed along with how emerging technologies may affect the status of
online learning. This course will also examine eLearning planning and practice
applications in a business setting.
According to Theory
and Practice of Online Learning, presented are a few business
elements required of any online course:
·
The
World Wide Web: The transition from predominately print-based curricula
presented in electronic format. This would also enforce the needed use of
open-source software required of online development.
-How do we keep development
cost-effective?
-How do we ensure the safety of or
course? Copyright and intellectual property?
·
Communication:
The dramatic expansion of computer-mediated communication system to facilitate
electronic distribution
-Email correspondence between students
and staff
-Computer conferencing between
students and academic staff
·
Command
line: The provision of library, registry, and other student support services
-Access to electronic databases
-Electronic formative and summative
information
-The provision of assistance to students
learning to use systems (x)
Resources
Brown, Z. (2006).
Digital video editing. Educational Technology. 23 November 2012.
Retrieved from
http://edtech.wetpaint.com/page/Digital+Video+Editing
Caplan,D. (2004).
The development of online courses. Design and Development of Online
Courses.
23 November 2012. Retrieved from
http://cde.athabascau.ca/online_book/ch7.html
Engler, J. (2012). STEM education is the key to
the U.S.’s economic future. US News.
Retrieved from http://www.usnews.com/opinion/articles/2012/06/15/stem-
education-is-the-key-to-the-uss-economic-future
The Five eLearning Components. Instructional
Design Expert. Retrieved from
http://www.instructionaldesignexpert.com/eLearning_Components.html
Theory and Practice of Online Learning. Toward a Theory of Learning Online.
Retrieved
from http://cde.athabascau.ca/online_book/pdf/TPOL_book.pdf
