E-Learning Guide

The Evaluation Phase

2007-05-04T06:15:00.000-07:00

Evaluation after delivery is an important part of instructional designing process. It is important to evaluate the benefits of the course and accomplishment of learning objectives. The course should produce measurable results.

Kirkpatrick’s Model describes four aspects of course evaluation:

Reaction: Assess student’s reaction after the completing of training
Learning: Analyzes student’s actual learning via pre and post assessments
Behavior: Measures the change in student’s behavior at workplace
Results: Evaluate business aspect of the training, e.g., profitability, increase in sales volume

In simple words, the Evaluation phase helps to determine:

The immediate liking of the course.
The performance of the learners after the training.
The change in behavior of the learners at the workplace.
The effect of course on company’s business goal.

The Implementation Phase

2007-03-14T02:22:00.000-07:00

The Implementation phase is the phase of effective and efficient delivery of project. After all the hard work this phase relates to actual installation of the project. This phase ensures the learner’s and teacher’s readiness for knowledge transfer.

The Development Phase

2006-10-18T21:03:00.000-07:00

In the development stage, the authoring of the training program is made in accordance with the approved course outline and course design plan. Development phase mainly deals with writing storyboard, visualizing graphics, and creating assessments.

A storyboard is a series of illustrations showing everything that will be covered in a course. It helps to visualize the content, graphics, and audio of the course. It acts as a guide for graphic designers and developers while developing the e-learning course.

The advantages of storyboarding are:

Used as a visualization of the course.
Helps in estimating costs of the course development.
Shows the feasibility of the course.
Highlights the scope to improve the content to evoke stronger reaction.
Acts as a common point of reference for designers and developers.

The Design Phase

2006-10-17T04:19:00.000-07:00

Design phase is driven by the products of the analysis phase. It basically deals with collecting and organizing data. Design phase involves planning the instructional strategy, writing the course outline and the instructional design document.

An instructional strategy is a plan for systematically exposing learners to experiences that will help them to learn and understand the course based on their knowledge, skills, and aptitude. For example, using read only pop ups (ROPs), Nice to Know, animations, etc.

Course outline (CO) is a way to organize your thoughts and present information in a sequential way. You must now be wondering how to write a content outline? It involves the following steps:

Begin by brainstorming and analyzing the subject matter to be covered.
Now chunk the raw content into major divisions or modules.
Under each module, group the related item as lessons and topics.
When you have created the draft outline, consider if the sequence of units is logical.

Also check for correlation among topics and easy flow from one topic to the next.

For example, CO for Microsoft Word Course:

Module 1:

Introduction
What is MS Word?
Opening Documents
Saving and Editing MS Word
Templates
Check Your Understanding
Summary

Module 2:
Introduction
Page Views
Printing
Headers and Footers
Styles
Check Your Understanding
Summary

After creating the course outline design the course based on ARCS, Gagne or Walker’s model. I’ll discuss these models in detail in my later posts.

The Analysis Phase

2006-09-27T00:07:00.000-07:00

In instructional designing it is essential to know about the target audience and their requirements from the course.

It is required to have basic understanding on:

Audiences’ background: age, profession, family life, etc.
Education level of audience.
The behavior to be performed by the course.
Audience know-how of the topic.
The learning gap.
Strategies required achieving training goal.

The ADDIE Model

2006-09-26T01:23:00.000-07:00

The ADDIE model is the basic model used in instructional designing. ADDIE stands for:

Analysis
Design
Development
Implementation
Evaluation

Understanding each step will give you a basic insight into instructional designing. I'll explain each of the terms in detail in my future writings.

Instructional Theories

2006-09-19T22:54:00.000-07:00

Instructional theories highlight how to structure the raw content to facilitate learning. Basically, there are three instructional theories:

Behaviorism
Cognitivism
Constructivism

At first instance, these theories appear confusing as they tend to overlap and appear connected. However, they highlight change in learning mode and methodology.

Behaviorism is based on the concept that human behavior is predictable. It advocates structured learning and training goal. It is based on stimulus-response learning that involves training of individuals to respond to a certain work. However, a slight change in the work or environment can leave the learners confused. It can be related to introductory learning.

Cognitivism is based on learner's attitudes and experience. In this case the learner is trained to use his previous experience to solve real life problems. It can be related to advance knowledge acquisition.

Constructivism is based on divergent thinking and action and that learning is personal interpretation of the world. Thus, it trains the learner to behave in ambagious condition. It can be related to gaining expertise.

The Communication Triangle

2006-09-11T05:18:00.000-07:00

There are three types of communication:

The Referential Mode: Between "writer" and "topic"
The Interpersonal Mode: Between "writer" and "reader"
The Directive Mode: Between "topic" and "reader"

These modes comprise the communication traingle. An effective communication is the basic ingredient of success of an individual or a system as a whole. When you communicate you must understand what the recepient expects to see or hear. A good communication skill is essential in instructional designing and e-learning.

Training Methods

2006-09-05T00:49:00.000-07:00

Training involves designing of an effective system that learners and trainers can implement to meet learning goals. Training methods are classified as:

Instructor-led training
Learner-led training
Blended training

Instructor-led training (ILT) is classic classroom training that involves a scheduled event conducted by an instructor. Learner-led training (LLT) involves creation of web-based tutorials and computer-based tutorials. Blended training incorporates the right combination of ILT and LLT.

Instructional Designing: Basics

2006-09-04T05:10:00.000-07:00

Instructional designing is an upcoming field in India. There is a wide gap btween what is taught in classes and what is actually learnt. Instructional designing aims to fill the gap by designing user friendly training programs. Instructional designing designs training from learner’s point of view by effective presentation of content and by fostering interaction.

Instructional designing basically relates with the systematic development of learning objectives using instructional concepts and theories. In simple language, instructional designing is concerned with making learning as interesting as possible.

Instructional designers work with graphic designers and programmers to provide:

Self-paced learning
High level of interactivity
Vivid simulations and animations
Effective learning