Everyday, millions of pieces of content get created online. So, if you were looking to “learn” more about a particular subject, is going through all those millions of bits of information really the best way to do so? That’s exactly the challenge that eLearning course designers and developers face. And more often than not, content curation is the best answer to this challenge. Assimilating eLearning content So, in the context of eLearning, what does it take to offer great content to your learners, and why should eLearners not go straight to the source – content creators – instead of reaching out for your curated content? Before we highlight why content curation is an essential part of eLearning, consider these facts about content creation first: According to Smithsonian Mag (a site owned/operated in partnership with the renowned Smithsonian Institution), there are over 1.8 million articles and research papers produced every year The same source cites that most of that … [Read more...] about 5 Easy Ways to Curate Your ELearning Content: Understanding what content curation is, and why it’s needed
instructional design
Converting school curriculum into eLearning: Considerations for designing eLearning for kids
When school administrators and instructors first embark upon a project to embrace eLearning, the immediate temptation is to “scan everything and put it online!”. While “pure digitization” might be a quick way to introduce online learning to kids, it’s not always the best way to engage kids through eLearning. Key design and conversion considerations Unlocking the power of eLearning for kids is not just a matter of digitizing content from the existing curriculum. Kids today are extremely tech-savvy, and when they stare at an electronic version of their textbooks, it’s likely to spur immediate disengagement. ELearning designers must therefore go way beyond scanning and uploading paper content to pique kids' interest. Here are five design considerations that should help you decide whether you should design from scratch, or convert or port school curricula into eLearning courses: Enhance your content ELearning provides you an opportunity to go above and beyond what existing … [Read more...] about Converting school curriculum into eLearning: Considerations for designing eLearning for kids
Eye Appeal in eLearning Course Design: 3 Effective Ways to Use Color Theory, Typography, and Images
The look and feel of your eLearning materials has an impact on training effectiveness. The combination of colors, font types, and images affect the way your learners go through your content and eventually the lessons. Your goal is to make your content more exciting, easier to understand, and more interesting to read. A good combination of the elements mentioned above can help you achieve your training goals. Conversely, a bad combination could make your learners bored, disinterested, and perhaps even sleepy. Needless to say, this will result in bad performance and ineffective learning. Here are some important considerations when using color theory, typography, and images in your eLearning course design: 1. Keep it clean and simple. This does not mean that your design should be stark and boring. You can use bold colors like reds and oranges, and your design will still be clean and simple. Avoid the clutter and pay attention to readability and ease of … [Read more...] about Eye Appeal in eLearning Course Design: 3 Effective Ways to Use Color Theory, Typography, and Images
4 Ways To Apply Behaviorism Principles to Your ELearning Materials
As instructional designers apply behaviorism principles to create courses for virtual settings, it is important to keep in mind that the driving force behind progress is reinforcement. 1. Repetition Take audio visual presentations as instructional methods employed in virtual classrooms. People learn through observation, so audio or video presentations are an efficient way to enable learners to understand the subject, organize their own thoughts around that subject, and ultimately present their own analysis of the matter. In behaviorism, only the response to the information received can be measured, so it is a good idea to develop materials that promote drill tasks. This involves teaching concepts by presenting a series of steps that lead to expected outcomes. For example, in a database class, the lessons would entail presentation of various data types as well as the commands for specific functions. Step by step video tutorials would be provided, guiding the learner as to … [Read more...] about 4 Ways To Apply Behaviorism Principles to Your ELearning Materials
3 Cognitivism Principles for More Effective eLearning
The wise application of cognitivism principles in the design of training materials results in more effective learning for both children and adults. In any kind of learning environment, the needs of the learners need to be taken into consideration so that optimal absorption and understanding of new information can be ensured. In a nutshell, cognitivism principles have to do with optimizing the way adult learners are able to think about, understand, process, and integrate new information to put what they already know to good use. Cognitivism Principle #1: Learning Should Be More Focused and Purposeful Adults learn more effectively when they know why they are learning something in the first place. They need to understand how the concepts and ideas that they are going to learn can be applied to their own lives. At the onset, the why is often more important than the how. Therefore, clear and specific purpose of all training materials has to be stated at the beginning. … [Read more...] about 3 Cognitivism Principles for More Effective eLearning
How to Incorporate More Visual Content into ELearning
According to Psychology Today, our brains are wired to out-process visual data and video-based information, as opposed to text, by a factor of 60,000 to 1. The reason why visual content is so effectively processed has to do with the cognitive function of the brain.When we read something (text-based), the brain is also actively trying to create mental structures to help us understand what we read. Looking at graphical content however, is much more passive, thereby enabling the brain to focus more on grasping and understanding what we see. This fundamental architectural difference, on how the brain reacts to different types of content, is one of the main reasons why instructional designers should incorporate more visual content into eLearning. Here are 6 best practices on how you can enhance visual content in your courses: Shorten the use of text: Where possible, limit lengthy written narratives. Instead, substitute words for graphical … [Read more...] about How to Incorporate More Visual Content into ELearning