screen caprture of content delivery

Web-based content

Using the web to present new content in either text, audio or multimedia format

Samples

Explore a wide variety of web based content at:

Flexible Learning Toolbox Site - http://www.flexiblelearning.net.au/toolbox/

Learning Object Repositry Network (LORN) – http://lorn.flexiblelearning.net.au

Identify Pests

This Flexible Learning Toolbox resource presents information on common pests in textual, graphic and animation format.

Source Amenity Horticulture Toolbox , lead agent Challenger TAFE
URL http://www.flexiblelearning.net.au/toolbox/series6/605.htm
Use RTF30103 Certificate III in Horticulture
RTF40103 Certificate IV in Horticulture
RTF50103 Diploma in Horticulture
RTE20203 Certificate II in Irrigation
RTE31303 Certificate III in Irrigation
RTE40203 Certificate IV in Irrigation
Delivery Can be delivered via a CD or the web. Can be incorporated into a Learning Management System such as WebCT, Janison or Blackboard.
Customisation This resource has been designed to allow for customisation of tasks, content, images and interactions.
Availability Details of how to purchase this Toolbox are available on the 2005 Australian Flexible Learning Framework site listed above.

Nail Care Presentation

This simple visual presentation presents a learners with the key steps in safely and correctly performing nail care on aged care residents.

Source Grange Care Services Toolbox , lead agent E.learn WA
URL http://flexiblelearning.net.au/toolbox/series6/602.htm
Use CHC30102 Certificate III in Aged Care Work
CHC30202 Certificate III in Home and Community Care
Delivery Can be delivered via CD or the web. Can be incorporated into a Learning Management System such as WebCT, Janison or Blackboard.
Customisation This resource has been designed to allow for customisation of tasks, content, images and interactions.
Availability Details of how to purchase this Toolbox are available on the 2005 Australian Flexible Learning Framework site listed above.
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Why include web-based content?

The web offers many opportunities for presenting content in new and innovative ways. Although the use of text is still widespread, you also have opportunities for using audio, graphics, simple rollovers and multimedia.

Features

  • integration of text and visual elements
  • ability to show different views of the subject matter
  • ability to appeal to a range of learning styles using different mediums.

There are a variety of options for delivering web-based content:

  • Deploying learning objects that you download from a repository such as LORN or the Toolbox repository. These can usually be edited and customised for your delivery.
  • Build your own web based materials using html editors such as Dreamweaver
  • Develop web based materials using web building tools in a Learning Management System such as Moodle, Blackboard or Janisons.
  • Presenting information using a blog or wiki
  • Using multimedia (images, audio, video, graphics) that you develop or acquire from podcasting or social bookmarking sites. Along with quizzes, concept maps, puzzles, social bookmarks and slide shows multimedia can be embedded in your webpages, blogs or wikis for your learners.
  • Content and activities can be delivered via the web, CD-ROM or via mobile handheld device or PDA.
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Integrating web-based content

Design steps

  • Select the content to be presented and break it into appropriate chunks.
  • Determine the best medium(s) for presenting this information. Are there opportunities for presenting this content which could use visuals or audio?
  • Storyboard the structure of the content presentation. How will it appear online? Will the learner be required to do anything with it? What sort of feedback will they get? Will there be a blended approach to the content delivery? You may want to provide some content in a traditional text based format, supplemented with some online enhancements.
  • Decide on the most appropriate software package to develop the content. Will you be able to develop the content yourself or will you need to commission multimedia developers to build the interaction?
  • Build the content activity.
  • Test and evaluate the content to ensure that it performs correctly in all situations.
  • Publish the content to the web (website or to a Learning Management System).
  • Prepare learning activities to support and introduce the content delivery. Often learners are given activities or instructions in the teacher's voice prior to the content presentation to prepare them and alert them to the key aspects of the presentation.
  • Prepare activities to ensure recall and comprehension of the content that has been presented. This may include online activities such as matching and sequencing, crosswords, clozes, quizzes).

Assessment

Often the information presented in online multimedia presentations is underpinning knowledge in an assessment task.

Generic skills

The presentation of content should involve the learner in analysing and synthesising new knowledge. It is important to have additional activities supporting the content delivery which encourage the learner to engage with and use the content in a meaningful way.

Technical notes

Often the use of interactive and multmedia content will require the end user to have plug-ins (Flash, Shockwave, audio and video) installed on their computers. Increasingly these plug-ins are standard on computer systems but you need to make sure that your learners can download any software that is required to make the content presentation work properly.

Skills

The development of multimedia content generally requires higher level development skills although some technologies such as CaptureCAM-PRO can be effectively used by a teacher/developer with lower levels of development skill. Sometimes it is preferable to access existing multimedia presentations and incorporate these into your teaching and learning design.

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See also

From the Framework

More resources from the Australian Flexible Learning Framework

Tools and resources

  • CaptureCAM- Pro
    CaptureCAM-PRO is an exceptionally easy to use full motion, PC Screen and Sound Recording program
    http://www.capturecampro.com/
  • Flash
    Adobe Flash is a popular application for creating multimedia activities integrating video, text, audio, and graphics into interactive demonstrations. It creates small files that are readily downloaded. The majority of current web users, (greater than 97%), have the ability to view Flash via the free Flash player.
    The Flash authoring tool requires very specific skills and often requires a dedicated multimedia developer to create effective interactive exercises. For this reason, creating and customising Flash activities may be outside the scope of many teaching practitioners who will need to storyboard their ideas and then commission the development.
  • Director
    Multimedia tool for building rich, interactive content and applications for CDs, DVDs, kiosks, and the internet.
    http://www.macromedia.com/software/director/productinfo/overview/
  • Hot Potatoes
    Hot Potatoes is a software tool that creates online interactive exercises which often involve practising and developing vocabulary:
    • quizzes (true/false, multiple choice)
    • drag and drop activities
    • crosswords
    • cloze activities.
    The final product is a web page that can then be incorporated into any online product or emailed to recipients. HotPotatoes is free for educational use. Some restrictions apply
    http://www.halfbakedsoftware.com/index.php

Social bookmark for this strategy

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Last modified: 11/6/08