Interactive eLearning

This week I explored a couple of technologies to develop an e-learning module, applying digital media design strategies, instructional design best practices, and accessibility principles. To get familiar with the popular authoring tools, I created a module with Articulate Rise 360, Storyline 360, and Adobe Captivate.

How this module supports the objectives: Each unit supports one enabling objective. Over the course, all learning objectives adapt to Bloom's taxonomy. The enabling objectives in each module gradually advance to the next level of the cognitive process dimension, reaching the highest level, categorized under "6 Create" in module #3.

Course goal: Taking the course leads to increased work performance and employee satisfaction in the organization.

The terminal learning objective of module #3: Assemble visual documents of long-term vision and mid-term SMART goals to share with the people involved. 

Enabling objectives: 

 ✔️ Classify the difference between a goal and a system.

✔️ Prioritize the gap analysis item for your mid-term planning.

✔️ Formulate your SMART goals.

Learner interaction:  Learners are guided to use interaction blocks (Accordion, Process, Flashcard, Button, playing video and audio, downloading worksheets and transcripts).

Authoring tool & why: Rise 360, Storyline 360, Captivate, iSpring

• Version 1 Articulate Rise 360 - attractive interface and templates, support rapid development, updated accessibility

• Version 2 Adobe Captivate - robust functions, detailed controls

• (in progress) Version 3 Articulate Rise 360 with Storyline 360 blocks - more options for engagement, decrease the amount of explanation in texts

Challenge 2: What is a descriptive transcript? How to prepare?

The process for providing transcripts is basically:

1. Get a text version of the audio, called “transcribing” to create captions.

2. From the caption file (.sbv/.txt/.srt), format the transcript with visual information on the video in texts. Also, include speakers identified and add navigations in logical paragraphs as needed.

3. Put the transcript online, and make it easy for users to find the transcript from the audio or video file.

Designing accessible e-learning resources:

• 6 Best Practices for Designing Accessible E-learning from E-Learning Heros

• Storyline 360: How to Design an Accessible Course

• Rise 360 Accessibility Conformance Report

• Rise 360: Keyboard-Accessible Navigation

• Storyline 360 Accessibility Conformance Report

Process

1. Select an authoring tool

2. Determine which module of the course to develop by the selected authoring tool

3. Find appropriate lesson templates

4. Adjust themes such as colors and fonts  

5. Outline a structure according to the IDD

6. Determine which blocks to use and ask why

7. Collect digital media elements (images, videos, downloadable PDFs)

8. Edit the template and write scripts

9. Run Grammarly

10. Draw a rough storyboard

11. Assemble elements on the authoring tool

12. Check accessibility while assembling

13. Repeat 6-11

14. Run the Digital Media Checklist and adjust or fix issues

15. Run the WCAG Checklist to ensure all contents cover at least A-level

16. Best to have peer feedback here

17. Export web/SCORM/xAPI files

18. Upload the web file on Amazon/Netrify

19. Run WebAim WAVE to catch errors

20. Update the storyboard

21. Upload the module on the portfolio

In the end

Initially, I planned to produce a different version of the module, but learning Captivate took longer than I expected. To submit an interactive module by the due, I simplified it to deliver with Rise 360, which has a milder learning curb. Moving on, I want to ensure that I have tools under my belt, especially when the development time is limited.