3 More Free Tools to Help Build Better E-Learning Courses

Who doesn’t like a free application that’s going to make work easier? Today, I’ll share three free applications that might come in handy as you work on your elearning courses.

Two of the applications come courtesy of a couple of screencast tutorials I saw the other day. And one comes from a need I recently had publishing a SCORM course. These three applications are a great complement to this post I previously shared on nine free tools to build better elearning.

Artweaver

Artweaver is designed as a “painting program,” but for basic graphics editing it’s more than capable and works great. It lets you control layers, create transparent backgrounds, add text, and apply filter effects. After making edits, you can save the images in all standard image formats.

So if you’re on a budget and looking for a free graphics editor, give Artweaver a try. Brian Batt has a couple of Artweaver tutorials: creating a transparent background andapplying a blur effect.

Karen’s Directory Printer

The other day I had to add a bunch of data files to a course that was already published to SCORM. Adding the files was easy because all I had to do was open up the data folder and drop them in. The challenge was adding the folder contents to the resource manifest which is a list of all of the files in the SCORM package.

Each file in the data folder has a line like the ones in the image above. Adding one line is no problem. But in my case I was adding almost ten multimedia elements which equated to about one hundred separate files. That would have been a lot of tedious work.

My challenge was to create a list of the all of the files I had in the separate data folders and then modify that list with the code.

That’s where Karen’s Directory Printer really came in handy. It let me create a list of the folder contents. I saved it as a .txt file and then did a quick Find & Replace to add the required code. It made a cumbersome task very easy and fast.

So if you ever have to create a list of the files in a folder, Karen’s Directory Printer is a great way to go. Here’s a quick screencast to show you how it worked for me.

Poladroid

Use the free Poladroid application to create a Polaroid™ image that you can use in your elearning courses. The application’s really easy to use. Basically, it opens a camera on your desktop. All you have to do is drag and drop pictures on the camera and then wait a few minutes as it develops. Click on this demo to see it in action.

Once you have the image you can easily use it in your elearning courses. It would work well with that folder template I shared a while back. If you do use the Poladroid application, be sure to look at these two tutorials to get ideas on dressing up the images:

• Create a page curl drop shadow by David Anderson
• Create a transparent tape effect by Stephanie Harnett

So those are three free applications for which you can probably find real-world practical uses when building your elearning courses.

What other free applications would you recommend to those who build rapid elearning courses on a budget? Feel free to share them in the comments section. Include a practical tip on how you’re using it.

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Tidbits:

I’m in Orlando this week at the Learning Solutions Conference & Expo, swing by the Articulate booth and say “Hi.”

Be sure to check out these sessions:

• Get Rid of the "Next" Button and Create Engaging e-Learning
• Visual Design Essentials: Practical Techniques for Designing Better Online Courses
• Master Session: Turning Click-&-Read Content into Interactive e-Learning

E-learning2

E-LEARNING?

What do you mean by e-learning? There are tons of e-learning definitions (e-Learning and eLearning) out there, but for the sake of it, this is what I mean in this blog:

"The utilization of ICT to facilitate and support LEARNING."
(ICT: Information and Communications Technology)

There is a lot of other jargons such as M(obile)-Learning that can often confuse people, but I reckon all these one letter jargons can be swept under the umbrella word e(lectronic)-Learning (which again can be swept under the word 'learning').


WHY THIS BLOG?

e-Learning or online learning (formally and informally!) is booming all over the world, and this is also the case in Malaysia. However, to find relevant information regarding e-learning here is often a nightmare (based on my experience!). Unless I am wrong (If so, please share with us a good starting point?), there is no one-stop up-to-date news and resource site about e-learning in Malaysia.

GOALS?

I hope this blog will eventually evolve into a good starting point to discover e-learning things going on in Malaysia (that is accessible to the public). This learning adventure will try to mash-up the juiciest e-learning stuff going on in Malaysia (past, present, future), including:
Higher Education (Universities & Colleges)
Schools (Primary & Secondary)

• Corporate Learning
• Communities
• Projects
• Solution Providers
• Research Papers & Articles
• People
• Conferences
• Blogs
• Etc.

In short, the main goal for setting up this blog, is to discover, learn, share, discuss, network, and reflect about e-learning in Malaysia.

E-learning

1. Visual Learning Education
In 1970’s and 1980’s J.A. They have to learn through visual by using graphics, objects models and other to provide Education Learning. They have to learn through visual.
In theory, they use many different material to teach Visual Learning Education. They transform abstract to concrete, so that the student will easily understand what are the courses about.
In 1937, C.F.Hoban <> provided a Visual Learning Education. The diagram below are C.F.Hoban classification and theory.

Language

Picture
Map
2D Graphic
Projector
3D Graphic
Movie
Model
Hardware
Real Material


The diagram above show that, start from “Perspective View”, the concrete are the strongest and it increase constantly. The abstract are just effective in the first stage.

2. Audio-Visual Education
In the beginning of 1930, many Audio-Visual equipment like: wireless, movie or radio recorder have been popular. Education Academic have realize: This sound equipment have the potential to increase education effectiveness, as the result they start to have “Audio-Visual Education”, the education skill of listen and visualize.



In 1946, <> have been propose by E.Dale, and eventually it has become the main theory in Audio-Visual Education.


The Theory Point of E.Dale:
1. Lower levels of the cone involve as a participant and encourage active learning, higher levels compress information and provide more data.
2. Active learning should be start from the beginning of the education, so that the abstract of theory can be done.
3. Using various kinds of multimedia in the class can have the advantages of active learning.
4. In mid levels: View Image, watch video, attend exhibit/sites, watch a demonstration, the best education way of breakthrough in spaces and time.

3. Audio-Visual Communication
Back in 1950’s, the development of Audio-Visual information and facilities are expanding very fast. The research and development. In February 1963, The committee suggest to change “Audio-Visual Education” to “Audio-Visual Communication”. The purpose is to catch the fast pace of Audio-Visual Facilities.
From now on the education worker start focusing on this trend of education. All the education process has been pay close attention to “transmitter”(teacher). The transmitter will be using various kind of media to convey to the “receiver”(student).



4. Education Skill
In 1950, 25 June, America Audio-Visual Education have alter their name to “Association for Educational Communication and Technology, AECT”.
In 1994, AECT Education Skill:
“Education Skill I related is studying resources and learning process in proposed, development, make use of advantages, management, evaluation theory and practicing. It means that the Educational Skill have been change from hardware to software technic, and it match all kind of technology in today education.



From the perspective of “Education process” transform to “Resource Leaning” or “Learning Process” and it have change the generation of education “Teacher as head” alter to “student as head”. If the lack of resources, the learning and studying will be affected.

 We believe that if we provide enough resources to the student, our quality and standard of studying will be increase.

Media and Education

The founder of Multimedia is translate from the language of Latin “medium”. In the modern era, multimedia is related to an application that can combine text, graphics, full-motion video video, and sound into an integrated package.

In 1964, Marshall Mecluhan had written a book call <>. The main point of this book is:
Printing is eye
Media is ear
Television is eye and ear
Voice recorder is mouth
Face to Face communication is

The learning computer class will become short and the information can convey effectively to the student.


In the learning process, the ability to learn fast are not equally the same. When studying via e-learning, students will have the same speed to learn and study. Teachers don’t have to worry about the student learning ability, and thus the student can be more understandable the subject they study.

1. Representation
The power of representation is enhanced by integrating the following important elements:
Space Representation Elements: Objects are presented with shape, size, distance and direction.

Time Representation Elements: Objects are presented with constraint of time in which objects can be represented according to pre-determined order, duration, repetition and speed.

Animated/Motion Representation Elements: Moving/Motion objects can be easily visualized with animated sequences such as moving parts, moving from one direction to another, changing in size and shape, to name a few.

Colour Representation Elements: Objects are presented with colours and shadings.

Sound Representation Elements: Representation can be synchronized with sound and music to imitate real-life operations.

With integration of the above elements into classroom with the use of computer, brings a new level of learning experience.



2. Repetition / Revision Power
Multimedia computer has the ability to repeat teaching material whenever it is needed, not once but multiple times. It poses more advantage compare to ordinary lessons conducted using chalkboard or whiteboard in which erased notes or illustrations MUST BE rewritten or redrawn.

A present computer memory storage technology and multimedia system has permitted the use of intensive multimedia contents in all industry especially education. The massive storage capacity of today’s storage medium such as Hard Drive, CDROM and DVD-ROM presents more flexibility and repetitively materials for teachers’ control.


3. Distribution
With immerse of Telecommunication Technology and the Internet, multimedia contents distribution across network can be implemented in Malaysia. Multimedia across networks poses unlimited opportunities in education industry. Online Tutorial, for instance, is one of the most effective web-based education tools available today. Online tutorial with the ability to present multimedia contents such as the mentioned representation elements discussed in section 1, the web-technology empowers the distribution of those material to audience all around the world.
The distribution advantage can be adapted in this project by storing teacher teaching materials with effectively, and distribute them to the students by using telecommunication network technology and the Internet.


4. Controlling
Multimedia teaching material is centralized in Teaching Database. Teachers are able to access those materials easily and have greater control over those materials. Teachers are able to control the pace (pause, skip, forward and etc) of the materials, and even modify the teaching materials itself to suit his/her needs. With little creativity, teachers are able to generate great multimedia contents in no time!

5. Participation
As mentioned in (4), teachers will have better understanding on relevant subjects because they are directly expose to the teaching materials and having the facility to enhance those materials. Teacher’s participation on making the right teaching material can generate better results because he/she knows the needs of his/her students.

Multimedia teaching materials are more interesting compare to ordinary teaching materials. The attractiveness draws student’s participation and increases their interest to learn.

Teknologi Dalam Pendidikan

(http://www.educ.upm.edu.my/~rj/5.html)

Berbagai-bagai takrifan telah diberikan mengenai teknologi pendidikan

"Teknologi pendidikan ialah gabungan manusia, peralatan, teknik dan peristiwa yang bertujuan untuk memberi kesan baik kepada pendidikan"

(Crowell (1971):Encyclopedia of education)

"Teknologi dalam pendidikan ialah penggunaan kemahiran dan teknik moden dalam keperluan latihan, yang meliputi kemudahan belajar dengan menggunakan persekitaran setakat mana ianya menimbulakn pembelajaran"

(Uhwin Derek (1976): Applying Educational Technology)

Kesimpulan: Teknologi pendidikan ialah satu sistem yang meliputi alat dan bahan media, organisasi yang digunakan secara terancang bagi menghasilkan kecekapan dalam pengajaran dan keberkesanan dalam pembelajaran.

Kepentingan teknologi pendidikan dalam pengajaran dan pembelajaran

· Melicinkan proses pengajaran dan pembelajaran kerana berfokuskan kepada isi-isi penting kepada topik yang akan disampaikan.

· Menjimatkan masa, tenaga dan wang.

· Mengelakkan rasa bosan pelajar seterusnya mengekalkan minat pelajar. Ia juga boleh menghiburkan pelajar.

· Mengelakkan berlakunya tidak faham atau salah tafsir terhadap konsep melalui deria melihat, mendengar atau menyentuh.

· Membetulkan sebarang kekeliruan atau salah tafsir kerana ia memberi sesuatu gambaran yang menyeluruh dan jelas sesuatu konsep dan kaitannya dengan kehidupan seharian.

· Melibatkan pelbagai deria pelajar. Cth: penggunaan visual yang diikuti oleh audio akan melibatkan deria lihat dan dengar dan mungkin deria sentuh. Penglibatan deria ini akan meningkatkan daya ingatan pelajar.

· Memberi kelainan dan kepelbagaian kepada kaedah mengajar.

· Membantu pelajar mendapat kesan pembelajaran yang maksimum dengan penggunaan masa yang minimum.

· Memperkayakan pengalaman pelajar. Cth: media bergerak boleh memperkayakan pengalaman murid. Kejadian yang tidak pernah mereka lihat atau alami akan dapat mereka saksikan sendiri dan ini menjadikan mereka seoalah-olah mereka mengalaminya.

Prinsip menggunakan teknologi pendidikan dalam proses pengajaran dan pembelajaran

· Ia hanya merupakan sebagai bahan bantu mengajar dan tidak boleh digunakan untuk menggantikan pengajaran. Ia digunakan untuk menggantikan pengajaran. Ia digunakan untuk membantu guru mengajar sesuatu topik dengan lebih berkesan.

· Ia mesti digunakan untuk pengajaran dan bukan untuk hiburan dan membuang masa.

· Penggunaannya mesti dirancang dalam tiga peringkat iaitu:
sebelum kegunaan - merancangmasa dan cara bagaimana mengaitkannya dengan topik pengajaran.
semasa kegunaan - merancang ulasan dan penekanan aspek-aspek penting yang dapat membantu pembelajaran.
selepas kegunaan - merancang aktiviti lanjutan seperti soalan-soalan, kesimpulan dan penilaian.

· Ia mesti dipilih berdasarkan kesuaiannya dari segi topik dan objektif pelajaran, latar belakang pelajar, saiz kelas dan keadaan fizikal bilik darjah.

· Ia mesti digunakan untuk mencapai sesuatu objektif pelajaran dan peringkat perkembangan pelajaran itu sama ada:
- pengenalan topik
- perkembangan pelajaran iaitu penerangan konsep
- penutup dan kesimpulan topik pelajaran
- penilaian kefahaman terhadap topik

· Digunakan mengikut masa yang sesuai iaitu masa yang dapat merangsang pembelajaran

· Digunakan dengan merujuk kepadanya dan bukan sekadar untuk menunjuk-nunjuk sahaja.

· Selepas digunakan tanggalkan atau ubah supaya tidak mengganggu pelajar belajar seterusnya.

· Setelah tamat sesi pengajaran, pamerkan untuk rujukan kelas di papan buletin kelas.

Ciri-ciri dan jenis teknologi pendidikan yang baik

· Alat yang dapat menjelaskan idea - idea yang kabur dan menrangkan isi-isi pelajaran.
Contoh: Penggunaan cek terbuka dan tertutup yang telah diperbesarkan

· Alat yang besar dan jelas untuk dilihat oleh semua pelajar.
Contoh: Tulisan dan angka yang ditulis dalam transperensi mestilah besar dan jelas.

· Tulisan dan gambar perlu dipelbagaikan warnanya.
Contoh: Gunakan plebagai warna pen untk memberi penekanan kepada perkataan-perkataan dalam topik yang ingin diajar.

· Gunakan bahan yang boleh tahan lama dan boleh disimpan.

· Tunjukkan hasil dan kemahiran yang baik sekiranya alat dibuat sendiri.