Supplemental Resources for Designing E-Learning: E-Learning in Action for Chapter 7

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carliner
content development
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designing e-learning

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You are here: Ideas and Issues in E-Learning --> Supplemental Resources for the Book Designing E-Learning --> Chapter 7 --> E-Learning in Action

E-Learning in Action

In this Example
The Problem
Suggested Solution

Although Brian has devised an overall strategy for presenting the content to learners, he still has to determine the details of that strategy. For example, Brian has decided to present content as a discovery exercise. But what type of customer or customers will sales representatives actually encounter in this discovery exercise? Will Brian merely describe these customers or show them? If Brian shows them, will customers appear as animated characters, people in photographs, or people in video sequences?

Once Brian answers these questions, he must next determine this material visually appear on the screen. Then he has to develop a sample section, and test it with learners to make sure the strategy is a sound one. Once Brian responds to the issues that arise in the test of the sample section, he needs to develop storyboards recording the detailed plans for each of the other screens in the online learning program, and complete the design project.

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Suggested Solution

As Brian prepares the course, he first prepares a prototype section. He chooses to prepare the prototype section on cabinets. Some details of the screens:

The initial screen shows a kitchen cabinet; learners “open” the cabinet to begin the lesson.
The next screen lists the objectives, prerequisite unit (the one on customer needs) and estimated time for the lesson.
After a brief review of the customer’s needs identified in an exercise in the earlier lesson, participants are told to choose among a large variety of cabinets to suggest to the customer. Before making a selection, learners can find out some of the technical specifications of the cabinets (such as the materials from which they are constructed), pricing information, style information, and descriptions of special features (such as built in silverware racks inside drawers).
After making the recommendation, they learn the appropriateness of their choices through “feedback” from customers. This feedback comes in the form of spoken comments. Customers state whether the cabinets meet their needs, and why.
A series of screens afterwards describes the issues in choosing cabinets and shortcuts for making effective choices.
Last, a summary appears.
If learners want to try again, they can choose among 3 additional cases. Instructions are similar to the first one, but the details of the case differ.

Brian prepares a screen design in which the browser’s buttons and menus are removed, and all of the navigation is presented on navigation bars that have a deep blue background and white letters. Otherwise, text appears in black type on a white background.

During the usability test of the prototype (which is a partly working prototype- some of the audio tracks are not recorded), learners expressed concern that the audio track would disturb other learners in the store. In addition, most of the learners did not realize that they could see details about the cabinets in the exercises. Brian changes the audio track to a text to address the first problem, and clarified the directions to address the second problem.

Next, Brian develops storyboards for every other screen in the course. While doing so, he realizes that there is no consistent location for graphics on screens, and decides to re-work all screens so that graphics appear in the same place. He also realizes that he uses different terminology to refer to customers in different parts of the course. In some places, he refers to customers as customers, and in other places he refers to them as guests.

After completing the storyboards, Brian prepares guidelines, then submits the entire package to his internal sponsor-the Director of Marketing-and subject matter experts-members of the Kitchen Products Department-for review and approval.