Creating Computer-based Learning Essay

Computer-based learning, or e-learning, refers to online or offline learning through the means of computers. It can be offline through the means of CDs or it can be online wherein the student accesses an online web-based training module to acquire learning. Computer-based learning provides various advantages as compared to classroom learning. It provides flexibility to the learners who can access the course at their own pace and at their convenient times. It also enables the students to undertake distance learning wherein a large distance separates the instructor and the students. It is estimated that in 2006 nearly 3. 5 million students in the United States were undergoing some kind of computer-based learning. In this essay, I will discuss computer-based learning and will also provide a sample outline of a computer-based learning course. A storyboard is used to provide a screen-by-screen description of the e-learning course to the programmers, graphic designers, and animators who construct the e-learning course. It contains the On-screen Text (OST) and detailed instructions on graphics and animation. A storyboard should be detailed enough to provide all the required information to construct the course. It should have the following minimum eight elements – project information, screen label, audio/narration text, video clips if used, graphics, OST, navigation and interactivity, and notes to programmers and artists (Creating Scripts and Storyboards for E-Learning). The OST in a storyboard should only contain the relevant information that the learner needs to see. Transition text should only be provided in the audio script of the storyboard. This enables the learners to focus on the core concepts that they have to learn. An e-learning course can have a linear or a staggered navigation. Providing staggered navigation through inserting hyperlinks or cross-references allows learners to choose their learning path, but it is more complex, provides slower navigation, and has greater upload time (Storyboarding for E-Learning Courseware). Secondly, a hyperlink to an outside site will make the learners navigate out of the course, and they may not return to the course. It is not necessary to describe each step of an animation in a storyboard. Only the key aspects of the animation should be outlined and the animation should be described in a separate document. It is not advisable to use too many animations in a course as an animation may take a long time to load. The development life cycle of a computer-based learning course consists of analysis, design, development, implementation and, evaluation phases. The content, graphics, and assessment are developed during the â€Å"development† phase. A sample outline of a course on â€Å"How to Buy and Sell a House† would be as follows: I. Welcome page II. Introduction screen a. Slide 1 – Opening questions (to establish motivation for learning). i. Questions on what type of house is required and various available options. ii. Questions on problems faced in buying and selling a house. b. Slide 2 – Common mistakes while buying or selling a house. III. Learning Objectives i. Given a specified budget and location preference, the learner will be able to identify how to buy the most suitable house for his or her needs. ii. Given a specified budget, the learner will be able to identify how to negotiate successfully with a seller or a buyer on the price and obtain the optimal bargain. iii. The learner will determine how to avoid hidden costs and charges while buying a house. iv. The learner will identify how to do the paperwork, such as house registration correctly. Unit I – Finding the Best House Within Your Budget and Location Preference Unit II – Negotiating Successfully Unit III – Avoiding Hidden Costs Unit IV – Carrying Out Paperwork Correctly There will be assessments for the course – one at the end of each unit and one at the end of course. A sample question for Unit II is as follows: 1. Which of these are correct negotiation techniques while buying a house? a. Refuse to budge from your price. b. Request persuasively to provide additional benefits. c. Give examples of other lower cost options that you have. References Kruse, Kevin. Creating Scripts and Storyboards for E-Learning. Retrieved May 23, 2008 from http://www. e-learningguru. com/articles/art2_5. htm Pandey, Amit. Storyboarding for E-Learning Courseware. May 1, 2007. Retrieved May 23, 2008 http://www. associatedcontent. com/article/229486/storyboarding_for_elearning_courseware. html? page=6