Hi All
Well finally I have met with the IT gurus and started our course orientation and e-tivities.
This orientation is designed to be a 2 week intro for new students to the cousre, adn will be required to be completed prior to commencing the subject content.
would love your comments, thoughts, ways to improve?
The document refers to "viewlets" which will be little video type footage of screen captures that demonstrate how to complete a particular function within the site.
The site will be developed as a html page with four sections, going from the top left and around the page clockwise, there will be "activity content" then a "video of me talking", "viewlet" and then "what to do"
any questions, comments etc welcome. It should be attached to this document, I hope, haven't tried this before.
regards
Wenda
I love the idea of the viewlets - Everyone take a look at the attached word document. Well done Wenda for figuring that out!
Capturing screen actions into little movies really makes learning the software easy - I guess it's the online version of the data projector.
It will be interesting to hear how the development process goes.
Cheers, Kirsty
It will be interesting to see how it works, that's for sure. When it has been uploaded onto the site, I will see if I can get a password for you all to view it in action. I really would love new ideas etc. I hope it may be of help/interest to you all as well in developing your own courses.
Wenda
Posted by: Wenda Donaldson at January 16, 2004 08:40 AMCongratulations! Wenda for the excellent work!
I like the first (home?) page as I think you have successfully captured all into one single page, with a very easy to follow clockwise flow. Also the idea of the viewlet is an excellent way of jazzing up online learning (by removing the monotony of reading endless wordy instructions)! Did you have to go through lots of hurdles in terms of financial considerations? ;-)
A question if I may. I enrolled in one online unit where the video segments were at least 20 minutes+ each. Personally, I find it too long as I tend to lose my concentration. In addition, I find shorter segments give more flexibility to the learner. Given that yours is a demo. I think you should not have the problem?
Had a quick glance of the document. I noticed on p15 (Journaling), section 3, you asked students to “Read and respond to at least 2 other students.”
I met my supervisor this morning. She commented on my orientation tasks of asking students to respond (similar to what you did). Although I did give some suggestions of how to respond to students’ postings, she wondered if one needs to be more prescriptive as well as being open-ended? The reason being that some students may simply not know how to respond meaningfully. I suppose the answer to this question lies in the maturity and capability of the students in question? Just sharing my supervisor’s feedback :-)
Hope all these make sense and I am not too late….
Best wishes
Jenny
Jenny
Many thanks for your feedback. Extremely valuable. I am also considering the value of just open ended request s for responses, it doesn't necessarily prompt ideas, thoughts which is needed to motivate people to engage in discussion. Will give this some thought. I have read an interesting discussion online (see the link below) that also talks about issues involved with engaging online learners, a lot of food for thought there as well.
http://ifets.ieee.org/discussions/discuss_january2004.html
With regards to the videos, I agree, only very short intros to the activity. The idea being to create and establish a relationship with myself that will also help to engage students online.
The viewlets are extremely cheap and easy to make.
http://www.qarbon.com/products/viewlet/
go this website you can see them in action. They are simply screen captures that you can edit and join together in a small movie. You can download the software from this website for free, if you are hapy to have advertising in the viewlet. Otherwise you can purchase the software for a minimal cost, something like $500 US.
Many thanks Jenny for taking the time to look through the document. when I get it on line I will provide you with passwords to have a look and see what its like
Regards
Wenda
Hi Wenda
Many thanks for the detailed reply and for the websites. Will certainly look at them soonish.
Best wishes
P/s: How was your Christmas?
Cheerio :-)
Jenny
Hi There Again
Well can you believe it is nearly the end of summer? We had a beautiful summer in Canberra but at the moment it feels like we skipped straight from summer to winter, miserable and cold at the moment.
Well we have finally posted our orientation stuff online, still tweaking it a little. the viewlets are still being developed and added as we go. But feel free to check out the site, it is a work in progress so will be silghtly different each time you get in, till its finalised. www.staff.vu.edu.au/cc4ep/online
I haven't had a chance to edit the text too much as yet, as trying to get all the development done first. so any ideas easily accommodated and appreciated
Regards
Wenda
Hi all. I seem to be in Kirsty's basket of those who have fallen off the email notification list.
Have had a flat out start to year and only just time now to think "What's happened to that lot?", only to find some really good stuff happening here!
How are you all?
Your site looks great, Wenda. Do you have a launch date?
(Isn't it scary to see how much upfront orientation has to be provided to newies! Wow! You certainly seem to have thought of everything.) Almost makes you wonder whether a mailed-out CD is the easier way out when slow dial-ups may impede the initial experience, doesn't it.
Hope to talk to you all more often (and I'll go and see about putting myself back on the email list right now!)
Cheers to all.
Kathi