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FDN
5420: Hypermedia in Education
Session 3: Developing
hypermedia learning environments
On the docket today ...
Issues of usability
In classroom-based teaching, many pay attention to the act of
teaching, and place value on the process as a predictor of how valuable what is
being taught might be. Presentation -- the successful teacher learns
quickly -- is an important element of good teaching. When each of us
learned to teach, we likely were taught some basic "rules" about the
act - or, presentation - of teaching. Don't write on the board and speak
at the same time (no one can hear you / see your lips); Avoid using a monotone
voice; etc. We likely were taught other "rules" as well.
Neatly dressed teachers command more respect; Gestures and expressions can help
contextualize and adapt messages as they are delivered; etc. Just as
likely, we teach successfully each day breaking or modifying some of these rules
- in essence, this is where much of our teaching "style" comes from.
Well, the same applies for designing
hypermedia learning environments. However, there are a few important
differences. For example, it is assumed that -- since the use of
non-verbal messaging (gestures, expressions, etc.) are absent computer-based
instruction, there are fewer ways to communicate. In essence,
"presentation" is limited to the learner's interaction with the
computer screen. So, instead of "presentation" skills for
classroom-based teaching, we hear mostly about "user interface design"
or "usability" or even "human-computer interaction (HCI)".
Essentially, the concerns are the same - that is, focusing at the point where
"teacher connects to student" - just with (seemingly) fewer places to
connect.
There are theories
and models for HCI bouncing around that are intended to help the would-be
designer understand basic "rules of presentation" when designing
non-linear, multimedia environments. There are even shrines to examples of
bad design -- this link here
being a pretty famous one. So, there are some general "rules" that
hypermedia designers consider an essential foundation for design. Read
through the links, below, and use as a starting point for your own thinking
about how is learning in non-linear learning environments different (and/or
similar) to learning in classrooms - and what design considerations are
important to remember, accordingly?
-
Yale Style Manual - Site
Design --
http://info.med.yale.edu/caim/manual/sites/site_design.html
The Yale web style site continues to be an excellent starting point for a
quick introduction to "do's," "don't's," and
"where-to-go's," and this case is no different. Check out
the Site Design section first, as a crash-course in usability and interface
design.
-
Usability of Websites for
Children --
http://www.useit.com/alertbox/20020414.html
Read this executive
summary from a report called "Usabilty of Websites for
Children" by the Nielson Norman Group. We discussed some of the
issues here briefly last time, but it is worth a quick read.
-
Style Guide for Online
Hypertext -- http://www.w3.org/Provider/Style/Overview.html
Here's a guide from the man, himself -- Tim Berners-Lee, the
"father" of the World Wide Web.
-
Usable Web --
http://www.usableweb.com
For those of you interested in designing web-based learning environments,
visit the Usable Web site - considered
by some to be the place to begin exploration of usability issues.
Spend some time on these sites and
let's talk about what they say. Which rules seem "good" and
which ones might we "break"? Will you re-think how you are
designing your own project? In what ways and for what reasons?
Project Development
Ok, gang, we only have a few more weeks left - and only one more meeting
after this one - so let us take some time today to work together in our teams on
our project development. So far, we have learned a few new tools and
talked a lot about hypermedia's role in instruction. This morning, we
discussed issues of usability. Let's spend time now making sure that the
hypermedia projects you develop in your groups reflect you understanding of each
of these elements.
Work together and use your time
wisely today.
SWiSH
Today, I would like to introduce you to a great little piece of software
called "SWiSH." SWiSH is a cheap ($50, less with the educational
discount) tool that helps you develop Flash animations - without having to learn
the Flash software, which is very difficult to just jump into. SWiSH isn't
as powerful as the Flash development tool (made by Macromedia) - for example, I
haven't discovered a way to make an animation in SWiSH that includes a form for
capturing information (which you can do with the Flash developer) - but I think
it's a great "Flash-on-training-wheels" kind of tool and you should
all play with it.
Download the trial version and
install it. Go directly to the tutorial and follow along. Within an
hour or so, you will have produced your first animation for the web! I
promise.
Let's spend some time learning this
tool (I encourage you to do so in groups, at first) and then, if you think it
will be useful, think about how you might develop something for your project or
for your classes.
Assignments:
-
Be prepared to share your
projects next week.
-
Post (to the course discussion
board) your final position statements on hypermedia. Consider doing so
in a hypermedia format (e.g., post a link to a webpage or attach a
powerpoint, etc.)
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© Copyright 2002. Stephen C. Bronack, Ph.D. All Rights Reserved.
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