Learning Design

Many of the learners today are actively engaging in online learning or social networking like blogging or Facebook. Howevery most of them who do not have computing or programming background do not know exactly how the websites or blogs are created. Hence, our group has come out with a task to construct or create a website or blog site (not a blog) with the assumption that the learners have no knowledge about this task at all. Thus in the very beginning after the instructions given, learners have to do the readings and to understand what and how to do of this task. Of course with tutor's support of indicating the book chapters, learners read and try to understand the content. Tutor will guide them if there is any misperception or confusion. Resources for this step would be the text or reference books, internet resources which includes blogs and forums with relevant information as nowadays people like to discuss and post information straight from their blogs or forums. In addition there are many commercial or official blogs that have relevant information like the steps or procedures to create a website and also examples given. These different sources are used according to individual preference, needs, information relevancy and practicality as textbooks description might be too theoretical and thus internet resources with concrete and current examples may help better. While blogs and forums provide the platform for enquiries and feedback in real time which further ensure learners understanding.

After having a certain degree of understanding, learners start to create the homepage of the website. A particular software like dreamweaver is introduced and tutor will guide and direct them on navigating or exploring the software from how to download to applying it on the website creation. Meanwhile, learners can share their ideas of the website interface, content and navigation system on their personal blogs or public forums; or even interacting with tutor on online chat for more ideas and improvements. Tutor could comment through these mediums as well to enjoy or provide asynchronous interaction to guide the learners. Moreover, with the engagement of other websites and blogs, learners could get ideas of the website design from their own practical experience and apply the pros and cons on their website prototype.

After all of the ideas being finalised and created, the website created has to be tested. Tutor and peers will review on the website and comment or advise after they have tried on the website created. Then the learners will take these into consideration and refine the website if necessary. Once everything is finalised, the website will be launched and published as an official one to be graded by the tutor. This will be supported by the domain server.

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Actually I thought of this task to be very simple, too simple to be analysed for a learning design structuring. At this moment of typing the chart description, I have thought of something else to be added on. What is the content of the website, the purpose of it? Learners have to decide on this in the beginning as a guide for them to proceed and research for information to create a good interface and fruitful website. Besides to help them in their step of information sourcing and gathering, it helps in their decision on tools to use. For instance, if they are doing a big topic with large content included, the dreamweaver software might not be compatible for such complicated website. Also, if the content is more towards personal, it would not be appropriate to discuss on blogs and forums. Other than these, other physical factors like computer compatibility with the software and costs also need to be considered in choosing e-tools. Choosing e-tools is not as simply as it seems theoretically.