writing content for elearning

Writing content for e-Learning Writing content for e-Learning

Michael GwytherMichael Gwyther

Michael Gwyther – yum studio

@mickgwyther

mick@yumstudio.com.au

ResourcesResources

Burning QuestionBurning Question

My writing role…My writing role…

• Understanding Blended Learning

• Why writing for eLearning is not about writing a course manual

• Types of content and common templates available to developers

• Translating content ideas for Subject Matter experts

• Writing for engagement, interaction, discovery and problem based learning through case studies, scenario and narrative.

• Understanding Discussion forums

• Writing and managing effective and interactive forum activities for formative and summative assessment

TodayTodayss agenda agenda

• Screens• Characters • Context• Small chunks• Sentences not paragraphs• Humour• Visual parallel

TodayToday’’s takeawayss takeaways

Understanding Blended Learning

Face to Face

Face to Face

Self Paced

Self Paced

Online Facilitated

Online Facilitated

Modes of DeliveryModes of Delivery

Face to Face Self PacedOnline

Facilitated

Content

Activities

Assessment

Skills, Knowledge, Skills, Knowledge, Employability SkillsEmployability Skills

Face to Face Self PacedOnline

Facilitated

Content

Skills KnowledgeActivities

Assessment

Applying a blendApplying a blend

Face to Face Self PacedOnline

Facilitated

Content-Assessment tasks-Checklists-PowerPoint's-Video

-Quiz-Scenario-Decision Making Tree-Video scripts-Audio-Content-Images

-Discussion forums-Webinar scripts

Activities

Assessment

WritingWriting

Face to Face Self PacedOnline

Facilitated

ContentIndustry stories

Learner’s stories

Industry stories

Learner’s storiesActivities

Assessment

Skills, Knowledge, Skills, Knowledge, Employability SkillsEmployability Skills

Writing & blended learningWriting & blended learning

Includes a variety of literacies:

•For the page•For the screen•For video & audio•For instruction•For assessment

• Evidence Capture

• Voice – Text – Video – Images

Content Trends – Mobile Content Trends – Mobile EvidenceEvidence

•Instructions to learners•Framework for evidence capture

•Instructions to learners•Framework for evidence capture

• Knowledge retrieval

Content Trends - QuizContent Trends - Quiz

•Questions that map to required knowledge•Good distracters•Feedback•Contextual

•Questions that map to required knowledge•Good distracters•Feedback•Contextual

• Knowledge retrieval and application

• Problem Solving/Scenario/Case study

Content Trends – Content Trends – Decision Making TreesDecision Making Trees

•Characters•Narrative & Context•Choices & consequences

•Characters•Narrative & Context•Choices & consequences

• Knowledge and Skills• Self Paced or Webinar

Content Trends - Content Trends - SimulationSimulation

•Games•Workplace contexts•Communication & processes

•Games•Workplace contexts•Communication & processes

• Knowledge and Skills• Survey

Content Trends - Content Trends - QuestioningQuestioning

•Checklists•Learner instructions•Feedback sentences

•Checklists•Learner instructions•Feedback sentences

• Knowledge and Skills• Application to workplace• Learner’s stories

Content Trends – Discussion Content Trends – Discussion & Social Learning& Social Learning

•Framing questions•Managing interactions•Weaving •Voice

•Framing questions•Managing interactions•Weaving •Voice

• Develop a rubric with learners• Peer assess against rubric

Content Trends – Peer Content Trends – Peer Review Review

•Capture brainstorm•Map to competency•Peer marking guide

•Capture brainstorm•Map to competency•Peer marking guide

• Film learners/third party/supervisor demonstrations

Content Trends – Content Trends – Demonstration becomes Demonstration becomes

contentcontent

•Visual framing•Audio•Editing video and audio

•Visual framing•Audio•Editing video and audio

Why writing for eLearning is not about writing a course manual

Manuals structureManuals structure

Multimedia structureMultimedia structure

Types of content and common templates available to developers

• Textbook or “Reference” style(job aids, online support or help)Static – Just in Time

• Courseware(Content & simple assessment)

• Workplace /Interactive(case study/scenario/decision making tree)Interactive

Types of content “context”Types of content “context”

Information

Demonstration

Case Study

Scenario

Decision Making Tree

Knowledge checking

Problem based Learning

Activity typesActivity types

Compliance testing

Communication scenarios

Application of policy & procedure decision making trees

Course Content

Assessment tasks and associated guided readings/resources/multimedia

Self paced content examplesSelf paced content examples

Content Creation methodsContent Creation methods

Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/42314813@N02/5527368292/http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0/

Translating content ideas for Subject Matter experts

Immerse the team in your modelImmerse the team in your model

Not bloody elearning again!

Not bloody elearning again!

• What information is best presented as on-screen text?

• How much is too much? Remember, learners typically only scan the on-screen text.

Onscreen TextOnscreen Text

A course outline or storyboard will help you to organize both the course content and your thoughts on interactivity.

• Onscreen Text• Audio Scripting• Interactions/Quizzes• Graphics/Images• Video• References & Weblinks• Development Notes

StoryboardingStoryboarding

Storyboarding exampleStoryboarding example

Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/7149027@N07/6066027411CC: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/2.0/

Understanding MultimediaUnderstanding Multimedia

Developing visual literacyDeveloping visual literacy

Writing for engagement, interaction, discovery and problem based learning through case studies, scenario and narrative

Self paced content – Cathy Moore

• Character• Show• Justify• Feedback

Self Paced ContentSelf Paced Content

Character

Setting

Disruption

Solving the disruption

Resolution

Worker

Workplace

Problem/Skill

Asking/Reading/PolicyCommunicationLearnt the skill

Stories – a narrative processStories – a narrative process

Pull not Push Self Paced ContentSelf Paced Content

Pull not Push Self Paced ContentSelf Paced Content

Decision making treesSelf Paced ContentSelf Paced Content

Draft a scenarioDraft a scenario

• Character and narrative driven• Workplace context• Write in short sentences• Short collection of sentences better than

a paragraph

Tips for writing Self Paced ContentTips for writing Self Paced Content

Quizzes

Discussions Activities

• Tend to be knowledge retrieval• Align to required knowledge in work context• Make a sub set of questions reflecting workplace process• Mix up types

(MC, TorF, Matching, Short answer, cloze)• Ask less questions & focus on good distracters• Use images in your quizzes

Tips for writing QuizzesTips for writing Quizzes

Understanding Discussion forums

Discussions Activities DiscussionsDiscussions

Discussion activities can be undertaken using a variety of methods: •Discussion forums•Social networks •Voice boards •Instant Messaging •Comments posted to wikis or blogs or LMS

Need to be mapped to Assessment if content driven!

DiscussionsDiscussions

DiscussionsDiscussions

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