12.03.2010

Designing eLearning

A learning methodology is a set of procedures composed of methods, principles, and rules for enhancing individual capacity and performance. Yet, some elearning designers only think of the technology and content, which normally leads to a “page-turning” design — the learner reads what is on the screen and then clicks the next button. While this can bring about knowledge, which is important, the design often fails to follow-up with the next step — performance — having the learners practice the skills in order to master them. While there are a number of means of achieving this, one option is using a design architecture composed of the “Five Types of Content in eLearning” (Clark, Mayer, 2007) and the six categories of Bloom's Revised Taxonomy:

Five Types of Content in eLearning

  • Fact - unique data (e. g., symbols for Excel formula)
  • Concept - a category that includes multiple examples (e. g., Excel formulas)
  • Process - a flow of events or activities (e. g., how a spreadsheet works)
  • Procedure - step-by-step task (e. g., entering a formula into a spreadsheet)
  • Strategic Principle - task performed by adapting guidelines (e. g., doing a financial projection in a spreadsheet)

Bloom's Revised Taxonomy

Bloom's Revised Taxonom

Design Architecture Matrix

Putting the above two concepts into a matrix gives us an idea of what type of activities the learners need in order for them to learn the required performance skills. The chart below lists various activities and aids that can help increase the possibility of turning learning into performance. Since the chart will be cut off in the blog, this link will bring up the chart in a new window: eLearning Design Chart.

  Fact Concept Process Procedure Strategic Principle
Remembering
(or being able to locate data by searching)

EPSS or mLearning for finding facts

Multiple choice, puzzles, or Drag and Drop for learning facts

EPSS or mLearning for finding examples

Demonstration

Reading or podcast

Social Learning Media - learning from others

EPSS or mLearning for finding the activities

Social Learning Media - learning from others

Demonstration (rich media)

Reading or podcast

Multiple choice, puzzles,or Drag and Drop for learning the events

EPSS or mLearning for finding the steps

Social Learning Media - learning from others

Demonstration (rich media)

Reading or podcast

Multiple choice, puzzles, or Drag and Drop for learning the steps

EPSS or mLearning for discovering the basic principles

Social Learning Media for discussing principles

Demonstration (rich media)

Reading or podcast

Multiple choice, puzzles, or Drag and Drop for learning the principles

Understanding  

Matched example/non-example pairs

Demonstration

Reading with simple graphics

elearning, EPSS, or mLearning for demonstration (rich media)

Social Learning Media - discussing and sharing

Demonstration

Reading with graphics

Podcasts

elearning, EPSS, or mLearning for demonstration (rich media)

Social Learning Media - discussing and sharing

Demonstration

Reading with graphics

Podcasts

Social Learning Media - discussing and sharing

eLearning - Interactive Scenario

Case study followed by questions

Applying  

Case study followed by questions

Drag and Drop or puzzles

Social Learning Media - sharing experiences

Creating wiki entry or blog post

EPSS - list activities

eLearning - Interactive Scenario

Social Learning Media - sharing and receiving guidance

Creating wiki entry or blog post

EPSS - list steps

eLearning - Interactive Scenario

Social Learning Media - sharing and receiving guidance

Creating wiki entry or blog post

EPSS - list activities

Social Learning Media - sharing and receiving guidance

Creating wiki entry or blog post

eLearning - Interactive Scenario

Analyzing  

eLearning - Interactive Scenario

Social Learning Media - reflecting and sharing

Matched example/non-example pairs

Social Learning Media - reflecting and sharing

Matched example/non-example pairs

Social Learning Media - reflecting and sharing

Case study followed by questions

Social Learning Media - reflecting and sharing

Evaluating  

Social Learning Media - sharing experiences and creating blog posts

Case study followed by questions

Social Learning Media - sharing experiences and creating blog posts

eLearning - Interactive Scenario

Case study followed by questions

Social Learning Media - sharing experiences and creating blog posts

eLearning - Interactive Scenario

Social Learning Media - sharing experiences

Case study followed by questions and blog post or wiki entry

Creating  

Social Learning Media - project interaction (chat, wiki, blog)

Blended Learning - elearning and face-to-face - Action Learning

Social Learning Media - project interaction (chat, wiki, blog)

Blended Learning - elearning and face-to-face - Action Learning

Social Learning Media - project interaction (chat, wiki, blog)

Blended Learning - elearning and face-to-face - Action Learning

Social Learning Media - project interaction (chat, wiki, blog)

What tools are you using to to help ensure your learning platform goes beyond a page-turner?

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