Supplemental Resources for Designing E-Learning: How to Prepare a Summary for an Online Learning Lesson

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How to Prepare a Summary for an Online Learning Lesson

In this Topic
More than Topics
Consider This
Just the Names
Here’s the Beef

One of the most important parts of a lesson (online or otherwise) is the summary, because this is your last opportunity to reinforce the key points of the learning program. This article explains how to write an effective summary.

Consider This

How do the suppose that you plan to speak about employment opportunities in instructional design.

Following is the purpose of your presentation:

After hearing this presentation, students in instructional technology programs should develop a focused strategy to search for their first jobs as instructional designers after graduation.

Following are the key points in this presentation:

Name "hot" and "cold" job opportunities
Name "hot" and "cold" markets for instructional designers
Match characteristics of different job opportunities and markets with personal needs to focus a job search

Just the Names

A topic summary of this presentation:

X This lesson presented hot and cold job opportunities, as well as hot and cold markets for instructional designers who are graduating in the coming year. Match the characteristics of the jobs and markets with your personal needs to focus your job search.

Notice how the topic summary only names the key points of the presentation; it does not tell participants what to remember. Participants who missed the earlier discussion must scroll back to find the main points. But because this is a summary, not the quiz, that seems like an awful lot of work to request of learners.

Here’s the Beef

A descriptive summary of this presentation would be:

Y Let's recap.

[Name hot and cold opportunities.] You'll find that the hottest opportunities for new instructional designers are for those who can design online learning programs in the pharmaceutical and financial industries. The coldest opportunities are for end-user training in general application software and technical training in telecommunications.

[Name hot and cold markets.] The hottest markets for technical communicators are in Atlanta and Washington DC; the coldest markets are those in the Dakotas, Montana, and Wyoming.

[Match characteristics.] But what's the right opportunity for you? You need to match your own career interests with what's "hot" and "cold" to develop an appropriate job search. If you're searching for a hot job, you'll likely have an easier time. If you're searching for a cold job or in a cold market, give yourself more time and allow more flexibility in seeking a position.

Notice how the descriptive summary provides key details that participants should remember. If participants happened to miss those points earlier, it gives them one last chance to note them. They do not need to scroll back or interact with an e-coach to recall the main points.