As an elearning designer you learn quickly that you must always be learning new software, programming and elearning techniques. And this is all going on while still working on current projects. Since Authorware is out and FLASH is in the learning process had to be quick and to the point. This type of learning requires excellent learning tools. Here are some I've found that have taken me right up to the advanced FLASH coding level within two weeks.
First, what would we ever do without the wonderful people at VTC? Within a day I received my CD's on FLASH training. Since I previously worked with FLASH I only needed the advanced FLASH training and sure enough they had them. This visual method of learning is excellent and worth checking out if you are looking for any type of quick method to learn a new piece of software.
Then, I can't forget my first resource book FLASH 5 Creative Web Animation by Derek Franklin and Brooks Patton which I dug out, read and viewed several of their quicktime instructional movies. This book is the only one that I have found that clearly explains the ActionScript process in an easy to understand method.
Now that these two resources have taught me all to know about FLASH I"m filling my hours with creating interactive elearning games and content.
Good luck!
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Friday, October 5, 2007
Authorware: Death of an App?
What's a designer to do? There once was this great software that did it all with such a great GUI, great programming and produced such a professional looking elearning application. Then, it was puchased by another company and now it will no longer be supported. So...there's all this great elearning material that will cease to function as soon as the new browers hit the general population.
So many instructional designers are reviewing software, asking others and trying to find a replacement. I recently read this article:
Kaskalis, T. H., Tzidamis, T. D., & Margaritis, K. (2007). Multimedia Authoring Tools: The Quest for an Educational Package.Educational Technology & Society, 10 (3), 135-162.
It provided a nice concise study of multimedia authoring tools which evaluated software in different categories and finally provide a great numerical listing of the software after the evaluation process was completed. Yet, the real truth will come when designers actually use the software within elearning situations.
What's happening at MBS Design? We're back to the old FLASH apps and ActionScript. Yes, it is an animation tool but it does have some elearning elements. Although these elements seem so primitive and labor intensive after working within the Authorware environment...there's not much else to choose from at this point.
What is everyone else using?
So many instructional designers are reviewing software, asking others and trying to find a replacement. I recently read this article:
Kaskalis, T. H., Tzidamis, T. D., & Margaritis, K. (2007). Multimedia Authoring Tools: The Quest for an Educational Package.Educational Technology & Society, 10 (3), 135-162.
It provided a nice concise study of multimedia authoring tools which evaluated software in different categories and finally provide a great numerical listing of the software after the evaluation process was completed. Yet, the real truth will come when designers actually use the software within elearning situations.
What's happening at MBS Design? We're back to the old FLASH apps and ActionScript. Yes, it is an animation tool but it does have some elearning elements. Although these elements seem so primitive and labor intensive after working within the Authorware environment...there's not much else to choose from at this point.
What is everyone else using?
Educators! Pause The Podcasting!
Podcasting has not only become a daily event it has now become a main element within the educational system, yet little attention is being given to the development or design principles needed for developing an effective podcast. What makes a podcast academically sound? What determines the success of an educational podcast? What researched design elements can be applied to such a medium as podcasting?
These questions and more were part of an educational action project titled, “Pause the Podcasting, Toggle Back to Cognitive Theories and Let's Develop Design Principles Before We Press Play Again”. This project not only examined the present podcasting design principles published, but developed seven podcasting design principles based upon research based principles and finally podcasting design software was developed. The software, “Educator’s Podcast Toolkit” takes the user or educator through a systematic evaluation of their present podcasting design principles, compares them to the research based design principles and finally allows the user to create new podcasting design principles based upon proven research based design principles. The user is presented with a heuristic checklist to use while designing and developing their future podcasts which aligns with the No Child Left Behind guidelines for college and K-12 schools.
This software has been tested by educators who are presently podcasting and those that have just started podcasting. Both found the software easy to use, quick to complete the cyclical evaluation process, and an asset for administrative evaluation of their podcasting academic effectiveness.
This software can be purchased from the graduate student who completed the research and designed the software for just $25.00. If you’d like a copy, just send an email for ordering information to mbs@mbsdesign.biz.
These questions and more were part of an educational action project titled, “Pause the Podcasting, Toggle Back to Cognitive Theories and Let's Develop Design Principles Before We Press Play Again”. This project not only examined the present podcasting design principles published, but developed seven podcasting design principles based upon research based principles and finally podcasting design software was developed. The software, “Educator’s Podcast Toolkit” takes the user or educator through a systematic evaluation of their present podcasting design principles, compares them to the research based design principles and finally allows the user to create new podcasting design principles based upon proven research based design principles. The user is presented with a heuristic checklist to use while designing and developing their future podcasts which aligns with the No Child Left Behind guidelines for college and K-12 schools.
This software has been tested by educators who are presently podcasting and those that have just started podcasting. Both found the software easy to use, quick to complete the cyclical evaluation process, and an asset for administrative evaluation of their podcasting academic effectiveness.
This software can be purchased from the graduate student who completed the research and designed the software for just $25.00. If you’d like a copy, just send an email for ordering information to mbs@mbsdesign.biz.
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