When preparing to develop an eLearning course, or poised to deliver eLearning content, it’s always wise to conduct a thorough content analysis. While Needs Analysis will steer you on the right path to understanding the challenges faced by learners, it is Content Analysis that’ll offer the building blocks to successfully address those needs. Content Analysis 101 Academics define content analysis this way: “Content analysis is a research technique used to make replicable and valid inferences by interpreting and coding textual material” So, for the purposes of eLearning, what exactly is Content Analysis, and why should it matter when developing eLearning courses? Well, as humans, we are prone to “assuming” that what worked for us will also work for others. If we learned how to operate a piece of equipment (or perform a job function or use a software tool) using certain learning tools and content, or using a certain approach, we think others will learn using that same exact … [Read more...] about 8 Little Known Ways to Conduct Content Analysis for Your ELearning Course
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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