E-Learning Research base

Below is the research techniques we implemented when developing our idea:

-Talk directly to target audience

-Questionnaires to our target audience

- Looking at Online tutorials ( w3Schools )

-Video tutorials
www.watchtutorial.com / www.youtube.com
Often useful but not very structured

Mostly user generated and have an unprofessional feel to them, lacking any real learning structure

Every video style is slightly different and there is no constancy from one video to another

-www.vtc.com
More structured and professional

Academically and reasonably structured

The layout and style create consistency which helps the user to understand and navigate the tutorials

In general it makes the process of learning a lot more efficient as focus is on the content

Conclusion

The idea is to draw on elements of vtc.com’s ethos to keep our tutorial academic while further examining the user generated content for a less impersonal approach to learning.

E-Learning Panic Button

We will have a panic button, which will provide instant assistance to predicted problems, explaining and reassuring the user. The information will be based on what we believe will be potential problems combined with the analysis and feedback of prototype testing on the target audience.

E-Learning Questionnaire

This is a questionnaire that we developed to asses the needs of our target audience and analyse any specific learning requirements.

Out of the 17 people surveyed…

75% had basic computer skills and were able to user a web browser

14% had used online shopping before

68% felt at risk when giving out financial details over the internet

0% had used an online tutorial

87% said they would feel comfortable learning through an online tutorial

94% said a better knowledge of e-commerce would result in them using online shopping more

E-Learning Concepts

(writen by Jason Cheah)

Just a few quick concept sketches pulled from my e-learning presentation for a current project in development with Jason Cheah. It was basically just a quick talk on our idea, research and delivery methods and was received well.

Tutorial navigation

Ive been playing around with the navigation of the tutorial, Jason and me both agreed that with our target audience being basic and perhaps slightly older users, it was important that as they navigated through the tutorial they got the impression of moving forward/making progress and could judge how far they have got left.

e-learning progress

We have looked into iFrames and how to use them. Its a really simple way to embed one web page into another, so we will use it to embed the amazon site into our tutorial page, with our flash file next to it so the user can physically navigate the site whie we explain what is going on and what they need to do.

Also ive been working on the navigation animation for the user clicking ‘next’ and ‘back’ between the steps of the tutorial. Jason has been working on the script for the voice-over on the tutorial.

e-learning brief

For e-learning module we have to create an application that aids learning..

Im working with Jason Cheah again and below is our  brief for the project.

Our overall aim is to teach the concepts and dynamics of distance shopping (internet shopping) as a whole, to the older and generally technologically uneducated individuals. The focus will be on generating a pathway for these individuals to equip them with the fundamental knowledge required to access this increasingly dominant form of commerce.

Research and development

The key research methods will be target audience interviews. i.e. parents and the older generation to ascertain what the average level of understanding of these groups are.

Examine existing e-learning solutions for this subject and critically analyse their approach to the problem.

Tryout prototype builds of the program on our target audience that we have extensive access to e.g. Parents and grandparents. This close relationship to the subject should help us develop a more tailored application.

Learning Outcomes

The tutorial is designed to introduce the fundamental concepts of online commerce. After finishing the tutorial the user should not only feel safer completing online transactions but also have the basic skills to further their own knowledge. (They learn how to learn in a new medium, using the abilities that younger generations often take for granted).

Hardware and Software

The application will be produced in Adobe Flash CS3, using actionscipt 2.0. The GUI will be designed using Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator and presented in an online tutorial.

Advantages:

•    Flash is hardware independent and widely deployed
•    Facilitates rich graphics and audio (better delivery of learning objectives)
•    Easily accessible (internet)