E-Learning

A Seminar

Presented By

Mr. Mohammed Aiyaz Hussain

Lecturer, Computer Science Department

Riyadh Community College

Contents

What is E-Learning?

Effective E-Learning Environment

Types of E-Learning

Benefits and Limitations of E-Learning

How to Plan an E-Learning course

Designing E-Learning Interface

What is E-learning?

Training conducted through the Internet

Training conducted through a local or corporate intranet

saved onto a CD or DVD and viewed by learners off-line through a web browser

combinations of the above

any form of training that uses

a computer network for course delivery, interaction, or facilitation and

a browser for learner interaction.

E-Learning is also called

Distance Learning,

Computer-Based Training (CBT),

Internet-Based Training (IBT),

Web-Based Training (WBT).

It can include text, video, audio, animation and

virtual environments.

It's self-paced, hands-on learning.

What is E-learning?

E-Learning Vs Classroom Learning

E-learning Vs classroom learning is similar to

cell phones Vs pay phones at the call cabins.

Cell phones allow you to communicate any time and

usually anywhere, by having a properly configured phone.

E-Learning allows you to learn anywhere and usually at

any time, by having a properly configured computer.

Effective Training

Quality of any training is in its content and its delivery.

Effective training grabs attention and holds it

Effective training is patterned to move from one set to another Listening to a fact

Relating a concept to that fact

Visualizing the two together

Interweaving different types of information and using different areas of brain – memory

Effective training should incorporate – interaction, imagery, and feedback

Effective E-Learning Environment

Keys to successful e-learning include Varying the types of content – images, sounds, text

Creating interaction that engages attention - quizzes

Providing immediate feedback

Encouraging interaction with other e-learners and e-instructor – chat rooms, e-mail, instant messaging

E-learning is motivating

It has ‘fun’ elements like video, audio, animation – creates interest & curiosity

– leads to better retention and faster learning

It offers convenience

E-learning beats classroom scene

Things that greatly affects memory and recall

Using colors and specific color combinations

Combining images with words

Combining sounds with images

Using multiple types of media

Using layouts that flow with natural movement of eye

Types of E-Learning

E-learning falls into four categories

Knowledge databases – most basic form of e-learning

indexed explanations and guidance, step-by-step instructions

moderately interactive – type in a key word or phrase to search the database, or make a selection from an alphabetical list

Online support – functions in a similar manner to knowledge databases

forums, chat rooms, online bulletin boards, e-mail, or live instant-messaging support

Slightly more interactive can ask more specific questions and answers, can get more immediate answers

Levels of E-Learning

Synchronous training – is real-time training.

resembles classroom training - all learners go through the course at the same time.

Through the Web, an instructor and students can be logged into the same place at the same time and interact more or less simultaneously.

Examples include video-, satellite-, or teleconferencing, Microsoft NetMeeting

Benefit – everyone is together in a classroom-type environment.

Drawback – everyone has to be together at the same time, which may be a problem across time zones, jobs shifts, and personal schedules.

Levels of E-Learning

Asynchronous training – independent of time or location

may be self-study or instructor-led.

self-study method – using links to reference materials in place of a live instructor

effective when teaching do not require a high degree of interaction between the learner and the instructor and/or other learners.

Instructor-led method – regular interaction with the instructor and possibly other students, using e-mail, bulletin boards, and similar tools.

The distinction is all learners interact with each other on their own time and schedule.

Examples include a typing skills course, an on-line C++ programming course

Benefits of E-Learning

It's less expensive to produce

It's self-paced

It’s self-directed and moves faster

It can work from any location and any time

It can be updated easily and quickly

It can lead to increased retention and a

stronger grasp on the subject

24/7 accessibility makes scheduling and

managing easy for large groups of students

Benefits of E-Learning

It provides a consistent message

Enhances computer and Internet skills

Travel time and associated costs are reduced or

eliminated

Inexpensive Worldwide Distribution

Cross-platform Support

Limitations of E-Learning

Computer literacy and access to equipment

Some topics are not appropriate for

e-Learning

Students themselves can be a limitation to

e-Learning

e-Learning requires a high level of student

responsibility

student must be well organized, self-motivated, and

have good time management skills

Planning an E-Learning Course

Know the audience skill levels

Prepare objectives of the course

Know the delivery method

Know limitations of the users' hardware

Organize – Break your content up into manageable

modules – not more than 20 min. = 1 hr. of class room-

based training

Easy navigation

Prepare an outline

How to incorporate text, audio, video,

animation, feedback (quizzes)

E-learning & User Interface Design

Single most neglected topic – Interaction between students and computers

Poorly designed interface – confusing menus, unclear buttons, illogical links – scare students

GUI makes computing easier but…

Items that dictate user-computer interactions – menus, languages, options, screen layout, commands, relationship between objects

Interface design flaws user frustrations What I am supposed to do now? – poor instructions

Did I finish everything there is? – too many hyper-links

How do I get out of this thing? – no clear, easy exit path

What’s it doing? Is it hung up? – no status messages

Designing E-learning User Interfaces

Status messages – display message when computer is busy for longer than 4 sec.

Reversible actions (Undo or Back) – protects user from making incorrect choices/errors Log-in screens – review log-in data for accuracy

during program registration

Exiting the program – provide confirmation message

Taking a test – confirm before starting test

Previous page (undo) – provide button to go back

Replay audio/video (redo) – provide button to replay

Mouse & keyboard – support both options

One-click access to Help, Menus, and Exit (most frequently used functions)

Designing E-learning User Interfaces

Consistency in interface appearance and behavior are paramount

Use clear and logical screen layouts Place screen objects together in logical order

Place buttons where users can find them easily

Give buttons clear symbols or labels

Group buttons based on their function and frequency of use

‘Z’ pattern of reading Top – critical instruction and location information

Middle – instructional material

Bottom – navigation bar

Designing E-learning User Interfaces

Maximize effectiveness of menu system no more than seven items else split into sub-levels

order or placement of items match task structure

most commonly used items at top

sub-menus titles should reflect option from previous menu

Using multiple access points Well organized and descriptive Main menu

Book mark and tracking history file

Index of key topics

Keyword search

Site map or content map – visual representation of topics order

Designing E-learning User Interfaces

Be consistent in visual cues

Use clear messages and be consistent in media

choices

Include page counters

Make help and instructions easily accessible

Make messages polite

Thank you for attending

Any Questions????