November 24th, 2008 by Robin Green
In designing your online courseware, the devil is often in the details. An Eyetrack III study also showed how people tend to read actual online courseware headlines and blurbs. Partial viewing of headlines and blurbs was found to be a common occurrence.
Many people skip the blurb altogether if it’s displayed in smaller font under a headline. And when viewers do read it, they often only view the left one-third of the blurb. They scan the words in that left portion, and if their interest is piqued, they’ll read the whole blurb. For online courseware developers using headlines and blurbs in their course design, some basic information on how readers view web pages is extremely helpful.
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November 24th, 2008 by Robin Green
When designing your online courseware, consider your learners’ reading habits. Managing font based on how people read is important in web page and online courseware layout. Eyetrack III’s studies showed that larger font promotes lighter scanning of learning content. Therefore, keep your font on the smaller side (but not too small). This includes your online courseware headlines–larger headlines encourage scanning more than small ones.
Another interesting finding is how people tend to read headlines in relation to blurbs. The study showed that when headlines and blurbs were in similar size fonts and the headline preceded the blurb, participants viewed both. But when the headline was in a larger font than the blurb it preceded, they tended to view the headline and skip the blurb. Why? Viewers reason that since the headline is bigger, the information it contains must be sufficient.
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Coggno.com offers world-class online training courses.
November 24th, 2008 by Robin Green
If you’ve ever designed a website, you’ve probably done some research about how people read web content. Whether you’re designing your own web page or online courseware, it’s important to keep in mind that eyetracking studies have found most people read in an F-shaped pattern: two horizontal stripes followed by a vertical stripe.
Studies show that website and online courseware readers’ eyes most often fixate at the upper left of a page, then hover in that area before going left to right. Only after skimming through the top portion of the page do their eyes typically float further down.
People also tend to read quickly, so keep your sentences short. Online courseware content that corresponds to the movement of the average eye will prove more effective than a design that doesn’t.
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Coggno.com offers premier e-learning education.
November 24th, 2008 by Robin Green
Whether you’re an online courseware student or a company trainee, your social and professional life is largely dependent on your cell phone. Living without a cell phone has become anomalous in the western world. If you’ve simply chosen not to own one, the people around you are probably baffled or think you’re strange. They assume that you have no social life to speak of.
Some day very soon, I suspect, it will seem bafflingly odd to be without mobile internet access. The inability to read online courseware or check your email while sitting on the subway will be the new technological faux pas. But the lack of web access will probably hold bigger consequences. Our heavy dependence on the internet for everything from online courseware to VoIP communication to world news, will generate new needs when that dependence becomes a mobile one. Of course, conveniences quickly become necessities in a hi-tech world.
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November 21st, 2008 by Robin Green
An important game feature to include in your courseware system is the allowance for trial and error. If a student fails to successfully complete a level, he or she should be given another chance or multiple chances until it’s completed. If a student fails at the third level, allow him or her to start over at the third level. A student shouldn’t have to begin again at level one.
Additionally, sure to include rewards, feedback, and motivation for your courseware system students. Most computer and video games have a system of points, lives, and boosters to provide the player with a sense of how they’re doing, as well as make them feel good if they’re performing well. Making it easy to score points or secure boosters or bonuses will encourage your courseware system learner to keep going, as well as make his or her learning experience more rewarding and fun.
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November 21st, 2008 by Robin Green
Some games give instructions in written text, while others provide a guided tutorial where you play the first level of the game, or an introductory level, with assistance. Just remember–the student’s likeliness of becoming instantly engaged, as well as the danger of becoming immediately discouraged, depends largely on the first few moments with your courseware system.
Just as all video and computer games become gradually more challenging as they go, so should your courseware system. Begin the course with basic tasks, and work upward from there. This is another reason to keep the method with which your learners interact consistent throughout your courseware system–as levels become increasingly difficult, your learner won’t want to be hassled with learning new rules.
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Coggno.com offers high-quality online training courses.
November 21st, 2008 by Robin Green
Most video game begin with some kind of narrative to get the player invested in the game. Present your courseware system learners with a dialogue between two people, or as a series of images that relate a sequence of events.
Creating a narrative helps to reel the learner into your courseware system. Visuals and dialogue are a winning combination, but both aren’t absolutely necessary. Be creative and let your learner indulge in the story. He or she is about to interact with the courseware system, and you’re setting the tone for them to get started.
Following the game model, guide your learners, setting clear instructions about they are meant to interact with the course. Clarity is essential–there’s nothing more frustrating than clicking a mouse a dozen times when all you needed to do was press enter. Make the method of interaction simple and consistent.
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November 21st, 2008 by Robin Green
A recent Writers Gateway article describes how creators can develop their courseware systems like a video or computer game. Sound crazy? It may be more feasible and simpler than you imagine. Every game follows a similar pattern that can be emulated in your courseware system.
All games have a goal and steps to reach it. The player’s challenge is to solve a series of problems and complete the steps quickly and efficiently.
Students who are asked to conquer levels and solve problems in a game-like format will be more engaged and interested in the course. But how does one actually go about creating a courseware system based on a game model? Start by telling a story.
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Coggno.com offers premier online training courses.
