Creating Tutorials for the Web: A Designers Challenge

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Creating Tutorials for the Web A Designers
Challenge

• Module 3 Design for Learning

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Instructional Design

• This is the process of taking an idea from the
  concept stage to final production and includes
  the following elements
• Analysis
• Design
• Development- implementation
• Evaluation- revision

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Instructional Design - Analysis

• Who is the audience?- educational attainment
  level- access to resources (computers, Web
  etc)- ability/skill level with resources- size
  of user group (important if feedback is required
  from an instructor/librarian)
• How much money and support do you have?
• What are the goals and objectives?- link
  activities to objectives- direction of
  objectives should incorporate -- knowledge --
  understanding -- skills

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Instructional Design - Design

• Create learning activities that promote desired
  outcomes- teaching strategies- related learning
  outcomes
• Design assessment to reflect both outcomes and
  strategies- types of assessment-
  formative/summative (more about this later)- is
  the process of completing the tutorial the
  purpose of the tutorial?

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Instructional Design - Development

• Considerations for creating the tutorial - how
  much time do you have to create this?- create a
  timeline starting from the end- a Gantt chart is
  useful for development timelines- list resources
  you will need- is a project team required?
  (librarians, media specialists, Webmaster etc.)

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Instructional Design - Evaluation

• Evaluate your teaching design
• Do the instructional methods accomplish the
  goals?

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Instructional Design - Evaluation

• Formative evaluation- provides feedback to
  instructors and students over the course of the
  instruction which is then adapted to meet student
  needs
• Summative evaluation- usually done at the end of
  a lesson or unit to evaluate overall student
  progress or the effectiveness of the tutorial

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Instructional Design - Evaluation

• Quantitative evaluation-Involves asking
  questions which can be tabulated and analyzed,
  often using a scale, check list, or yes/no
  responses- requires a large student sample for
  analysis
• - student responses limited to the survey
  questions/categories
• Examples- surveys- questionnaires

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Instructional Design - Evaluation

• Qualitative evaluation- typically more
  subjective- allows for a variety of responses-
  doesnt always fit in neat categories and can be
  difficult to tabulate- less affected by sample
  size
• Examples- open ended questions- observation-
  interviews

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Web Authoring Resources Some Examples

• Macromedia Dreamweaver
• Macromedia Contribute
• MS Frontpage
• HotDog

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Web Graphics and Animation Software Some
Examples

• Adobe LiveMotion
• Adobe Photoshop with ImageReady
• Macromedia Fireworks
• Macromedia Flash

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Web Design Considerations

• Adapted from Writing for the Web A Primer for
  Librarians, Eric H, Schnell
• Use a consistent writing style with language that
  is familiar to users (avoid library jargon)
• Try not to put all of the content on the top
  level page. Give links to other pages to avoid
  cluttering the space
• Each Web page should be able to stand alone and
  contain one theme or concept it is a good idea
  to annotate links to other resources

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Web Design Considerations

• Graphics and animation are good if they have a
  purpose and add value beyond looking cool
• When using large images provide thumbnail images
  with which to access them
• Fonts and graphics can display differently in
  different browsers and machines
• Keep font attributes (bold, italics etc) to a
  minimum aim for a consistent look
• Its a good idea to develop templates for
  additional pages which give a uniform look to the
  Web site

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Web Design Considerations

• Provide contact details for the user as well as
  the URL
• Make the site as easy to navigate as possible
  with links to the top level/home page
• Offer links to software or plugins the user may
  need to fully use the site (Adobe Acrobat Reader
  etc.)