The Goal & Structure of Textbook

1. The Goal & Structure of Textbook

3. Chapter 6 Topics (learning objects, Modules)

4. Example • http://kcvs.ca/map/meltp/edit_content/explainit/map_menu.html

5. What are they • A topic is the lowest-level leaning object in a course. • Each topic accomplishes one learning object and accomplishes it fully • Typically, a topic requires a combination Absorb, Do, and Connect activities.

6. Anatomy of a topic

7. A simple topic

8. A more complex example

9. Overview (intro)

10. Before (background info)

11. Show me (Demo)

12. Coach me (guided practice) This should be a number between 0-500

13. Let me (practice without assistance)

14. After (verify learning, summary & link to future)

15. Elements of a topic

16. 1- Title • Title is crucial (the name you choose for your topic is important) • Base the title on the objective (Create=build, Decide=Pick, Do=drag&drop, Believe=why) • Compose a meaningful title

17. Compose a meaningful title • Distinct (distinguished from other topics) • Context-free Avoid “Setting American flag as your Powerpoint background” Use “Setting up your Powerpoint background” • Understandable (avoid jargon or unfamiliar topics) • Scannable (Change “how you can make friends” to “making friends” -put the important keywords first) • Thematic (can predict the content and the objective) • Motivational (Change “filling the form 3407” to “reducing bank fraud”)

18. 2- Introduction • Not always needed (if the topic is introduced by a previous topic) • Base the introduction on the type of objective • Design a good introduction

19. Design a good introduction

20. 3- Test learning in the topic

21. 4- learning activities

24. 5- Summarize the topic • Include a real summary (don’t repeat the objectives) • You may combine overview and summary • Base the summary on the type of learning objective

25. 6- Link to related material • Make it easy for learners to read related topics and materials • Use links rather than including the information in your topic.

26. Link to what?

27. What other information may help the learners? Explain the step

28. Limit free-form hyperlinks • free-form hyperlinks are hierarchical. Also known as nested links would confuse learners • Instead of providing a search tool, suggest “search terms” to learners to find further info. • Use metadata- Meta data are descriptive labels that the designers use to facilitate searching topics by learners • Two metadata items are specially important ; Keywords and descriptions

29. Hyperlink examples • Bad example • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triangle • Good Example • http://www.socialresearchmethods.net/kb/ethics.php

31. Design components logically

32. Design reusable topics • Reusable objects are like recipe cards. • They are self contained and complete • They don’t mix too many information or stray from the subject • They follow a consistent format

33. Design consistent topics In developing your topics , standardize; • Visual appearance • Navigation schemes • Instructional strategies • Testing approaches

34. Integrate Foreign Modules • You may just make link • However, content developed by someone else following different standards will be confusing • The docking module helps the foreign module fit into your course in a smooth transition

35. Docking Module Example

36. Docking Module Example Youtube Zebrazapps Flash

37. What to include in a docking module

38. What to include in a docking module Players, Plugins, Add ins, Cookies, Browsers

39. Templates for topics • Page 319-322 provides templates for 6 types of learning objectives • Create • Decide • Do • Know • Believe • feell

40. In class activity • Use one of the templates at the end of chapter 6 to create a learning object (topic). 1- In order to do so you need to create a webpage. 2- Your topic should have the following features • Title • Introduction (goal) • Content (absorb activity) • Summary • Connect Activity • Do Activity • Guided activity (coach me) • Links to (background theory or basic rules, prerequisites, definitions, exceptions, details) • Foreign modules (Docking module) 3- Read and implement the criteria for each of the above elements from the textbook or my Powerpoint .