Instructional Design Ideas For Better
e-Learning Results
What Is eLearning?
eLearning is the digitization of course material to electronic format.
What Is Instructional Design?
Instructional Design is the process of gathering information then disperse this information in a specific order so that learners can learn.
Instructional Design Basic Components
Instructional is a systematic approach to deliver learning
...I is for Instructional
Design is setting order to any given process
...D is for Design
eLearning is the digitizing of traditional learning to electronic format
...e is for eLearning
Digitizedi is digitized instructional design and elearning
...d is for digitizedi
A Little Instructional Design History - Indeed there are numerous websites with a wide variety of amounts of information on the subject of instructional system design (ISD) and eLearning.
There are 1000's of experts providing their opinion and knowledge on the ISD eLearning topic. Instructional design is an industry that has flourished over the past several decades. However, Web Based eTraining Instruction have only recently been thrused to the forefront with the rise and expansion regarding the internet.
Purpose Of Digitizedi Instructional Design Website?
To assist build efficient plus better eLearning, keep trainees motivated and enjoy training. The information this particular website may supply will remain concise to the advantage of it's readership. It will present proper usage of business analysis, learner analysis, and needs analysis.
Every business and organization can profit from proper instructional design as it relates to eLearning. However, the maze associated with dis-information and misinformation that obscure the field of instructional design and eLearning has both confused & complicated an initially basic eTraining concept.
d ...is for digitizedi
From years of observation and lessons learned, this website definitely will help to offer a road map to guide through the maze of the online learning complexity.
Generally there is no substitute for front line practical experience or a sky-down view in order to help one both enter and exit the maze to achieve their instructional goals in a timely, orderly and predictable manner from the initial needs analysis to the eTraining implementation phase.
You can view some example eLearning projects prototypes here, just a few of hundreds...
_eLearning Instructional Design
Why A eLearning Instructional Design Resource Site?
There are several instructional methodologies, origins and schools of thought. There is additionally argument on whether or not all the design steps in the various development models the most popular instructional model being ADDIE, Analysis Design Develop Implement Evaluation (ADDIE) are necessary in all course development.
Right now there are issues surrounding the Learning Management Systems (LMS) on the true value such an expensive and elaborate tracking and recording system adds to the learner or trainee.
There is a plethora of new buzz words that constantly flood the eLearning community, yet these seemingly new terms are often old terms reworded with a new twist by new authors on any given day.
Even more confusing there are many definitions used to describe Web Based Teaching, Online Learning, Computer Based Training, eLearning? Are these eTraining definitions all one in the same? Or, are there practical differences that required necessary re-defining?
eLearning In Transition
But, you can easily, create excellent instructional sound and effective online training for your small company, and you will. My goal is to provide primary Instructional Design and eLearning related resources to help you reach your company, personal or home school eTraining needs and goals.
Ineffective Instructional Design
To the end user or trainee, the complex back end system or its expensive cost is irrelevant. The hundreds of hours spent in development, the team of high paid developer professionals, managers, programmers, vendors are worthless if the learner is not motivated to learn. By following traditional curriculum design framework for instructional design to the letter will produce a dead-end eTraining product. I have witnessed this development scenario played out by the hundreds. The end user must be motivated to take training and continue the training with interest.
i ...is for instructional
I have also observed the butchering of instructional design, no clear terminal course objective was set, several confusing objectives crammed into single excessively long paragraphs. This is always done "in the interest of saving time" as the old excusatory quote goes. ADDIE Instructional Design Map.
More emphasis should be placed on the proper delivery of course objectives to the end user and less attention on back end related components like SCORM, AICC, or over obsessiveness over corporate legal related issues.
New eLearning Development Methods
Large teams of eLearning developers boasting years of experience nor giant sized corporation status does not guarantee a sound eLearning program.
e ...is for eLearning
There is a systematic tried and true approach to creating effective e-Learning. An aesthetically pleasing interface, strong attention getting introduction are just some of the components that guarantee a solid and effective online learning experience for the end-user or trainee.
The biggest advantage in providing eLearning is the ability to incorporate multi-media. Multi, the use of animation, sound and movie videos. These elements are a must in every eTraining project.
For instance, strong attention should be given to the course introduction, the eTraining course introduction should capture the trainees attention and include relevant animation (not just frivolous images flying around) and some choice introduction music that will help relax, motivate and set the mood.
In addition, there must be considerations for site navigation, practice activities, proper feedback etc. From an instructional view, the training should include a Whole-Part-Whole anatomy of the course that include brief clearly stated terminal objectives.
Terminal Lesson Objectives
The terminal goal is the unifying thread of the entire course. This terminal goal must clearly state how the training will impact the company and individual. It must integrate the companies mission statement as part of the overall theme of the course from the introduction and again during the final summary of the eTraining project.
Of course the training will include all the individual performance goals that lead up to the terminal goal and mastery eLearning Instructional Design.
The online learning project therefore must be constructed to offer the user a low learning curve and high retention potential.
These are just a few of the components and features that should comprise any e-Learning or training program. We'll cover all these elements in detail throughout this website and related it's eTraining articles.
Let's Get Started Developing the Best eLearning
How? By placing focus on the trainee not the back end system.
With all the tools available to create web based training which one(s) do you use? Which one is best for the job?
eLearning Tools, The Wrong Majority
Seventy to Ninety percent of corporate industry at large use MS Word and Power Point as the eTraining development tool of choice. These tools first digitize existing content and then auto create what's referred to as simple electronic page turners. There is nothing wrong with this simple method other than it should not require a full team of professionals and hours of meetings just to reproduce an electronic or PDF course from a printed version of existing course materials.
There are many tools that can build web based training programs. But you want a tool that offer creativity and flexibility. Why? because you need the creativity that can help express learning content in a aesthetic and systematic manner. You need the flexibility to easily integrate your learning lessons into existing learning systems that can address both front end and back end advantages.
Which eLearning Tools To Use?
I strongly recommend using Flash. Why use Flash? You can create impressive and very detailed learning screens. You can achieve this without any programming skills. But, with those who can learn ActionScript can create awesome and effective learning content. Using just this one eLearning development tool you can build simple cartoon animations on up to database integrated projects. It's flexible, it can be used for the student desktop or if the learning modules are created properly in the beginning, Flash desktop eLearning efforts can be utilized in future LMS systems.
eLearning Software, Is Flash The Best Tool For Development?
Flash is seamless and streamlined. It can pass information straight from the Flash interface directly to your database or the most advanced SCORM learning management system. MS Word and Power Point actually have no capability to pass information back to an LMS or SCORM values at this time, yet upwards of seventy percent of all corporations use these limited and static eLearning software for eTraining development. Most other e-training development efforts rely on several different tools to achieve the same results Flash can do all by itself.
eTraining Development and Lessons Learned
I've witness large corporations simultaneously employ DreamWeaver, Lectora, and or Captivate to create a simple online electronic page turner, what a travesty. This simply reflects the corporation's lack of imagination and creativity skills. It further strengthens the notions that the more money thrown at it the better. No wonder so many e-Training projects are considered a bore and are a flop a few days after the launch. eTraining development can be both effective and not take a long time to create.
Your online training or teaching efforts don't need to fail. You can create effective academic lessons using Flash. You can succeed where corporate America has failed.
HomeSchoolers, Teachers, Parents
Flash is not just for corporations anymore.
Calling all homeschoolers and teachers of all disciplines! You can benefit your students by employing Flash to create eLearning course content. Enhance the learning experience for your child or student using game based scenarios. Properly done, you can ignite and motivate your pupil to spend more time learning and enjoying it.
Benefits of eLearning
The main benefits of eLearning are listed as follows:
Author once publish everywhere - Author once, then publish the eLearning. With eLearning you don't need to schedule multiple classes or hire multiple instructors. Once published the eLearning can be accessed from anywhere in the world.
Clone the best teacher and best practices- The best instructors and their teaching techniques can be cloned with eLearning. Students and employees can be exposed to the most efficient methods of learning.
Activity can engage the trainee- We learn by doing. eLearning can be embedded with various activities and practice screens that will help to reenforce the learning material, accelerate and solidify the mastery of course goals.
A Failing Education School System?
America boasts about having the most computers in the world, the most internet connections in the world and the best educations system in the whole world, they boast to spend more money per student than anyone else in the world.
Why does American students rank at the bottom 23 of the 25 of all developing industrialized nations in math and science? You would not know our educations systems is failing 50% of it's students if you listen to the boasting.
The Instructional Design Solution
Introduction To Lessons Learned eLearning
Proper eLearning is a combined synergy of many disciplines to be designed as a student centered project.
In it's most complex form eLearning can include Scenarios, Activities, Practice Exercises, eLearning Development Tools, Supporting Software, ISD Models, Project Management, Memory Techniques, Case Studies, Complex Back-end systems like SCORM and or databases, Simulations, Programmes, Project Management to prevent scope creep, Instructional Designers, Stories, Custom Graphics, Course Outlines, Storyboards, ISD Maps, Media Maps, Design Documents, the psychology of learning, research, complex learning methodologies, the list goes on and on.
In the more complicated instance, defining the right approach to training is first determined by which of the three domains your training is categorized, is it behavioral, cognitive or affective domain?
It's most simplistic form eTraining can involve identifying a problem and then posting a how-to learning aide.
The goal of this site is to provide the eLearning Instructional Design Solution.
Design, Develop, Implement
...whether you are creating an eLearning course for a small business, home school, or a large corporation, you can build the perfect eLearning project. eLearning Instructional Design