Use of Xerte Toolkits to repurpose CAL materials

Andy Meal & Heather Wharrad

BackgroundSet of CAL packages written 10 - 15 years ago using

Authorware.

14 CAL packages – cell biology for nursing degree students

Originally only delivered via University intranet Authorware plug in has allowed some availability on internet

up to 2 hours student learning each

Still used on undergraduate Masters nursing course

Wharrad, Kent, Allcock & Wood, (2000)

WorkshopCAL

Early lessons (students)………

‘Can do it at own pace and in your own time- can go back if unclear about anything, good for revision.’(cohort 1997)

‘CAL good presentation as lectures took a long time and concentration is lost.’(cohort 1995)

‘It’s hard staring at a screen for so long’(cohort 1997) ‘CAL packages in moderation are good because you

have to find the answers yourself.’(cohort 1997)

Flexibility, in moderation, short, interactive, self-directed, not totally replacing FTF

Early lessons (lecturers)Developing large packages – time, cost, updating

Wanted to use some elements of CAL (diversity - range of courses; types of students; specialisms)

Based on educational need not technology led (areas of difficulty - maths; science; statistics)

Added value (visualisation of scientific processes; linking theory to clinical practice)

Repurposing projectNeeded updating, and re-packaging due to

impending obsolescence of Authorware locally

make the material more widely available/reusable

Students prefer small chunks; more portable/flexible

University learning team repurposing other university CAL materials

Xerte ToolkitsPart of Xerte Project - University learning team

Open source

set of templates that are accessible via a web browser

Lecturer works with learning team developer to design and produce a template

Template from this project available for others

Allows for integration of text, graphics and sound. Various interactivity templates e.g quizzes

Once template produced requires little technical or programming knowledge.

ProcessUses a simple form to populate and

customise the templateCopy and paste material into the form –

always available for editing (fits in with lecturers busy schedule )

Results are rapid: previews can be seen immediately after changes are made.

simple graphics can be produced in the toolkits, but best results are from imported graphics then add labels

Animations, sound and video are supported.

Demo of toolkit templates

Advantages

Rapid

Easy to use

Use existing materials

Accessible via a web browser. Simple interface.

Rigid nature of the templates ensures some consistency in design?

Minimal technologist input required?

Disadvantages

Early teething problems, due to the rigidity of the templates

More complex animations require developer

unusual or bespoke presentations or interactivity require specialist help.

Currently some incompatibility with Flash versions

Inflexible in some areas eg italics, bulleted lists, have to be generated by adding html commands.

In short...

If you work within its parameters Xerte template offers a quick and easy authoring environment for non-technicians.

Student feedback required to determine satisfaction with design and effectiveness overall

Xerte toolkit potentially very useful – needs more templates

Download from http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/xerte/

Acknowledgements: University of Nottingham Learning Team