Learning is a process of integrating the new and unfamiliar with the complex, pre-existing structure of knowledge that exists within an individual's mind. As you design an online learning resource, your task is to present the new material, and to support the learner in this task of integration -- a task each learner must accomplish on his or her own.
In Unit I, we looked at the particular features of the online medium and explored issues you'll need to consider as you design instruction for or teach using this medium. The online medium can well suited to presenting material in a desired sequence and using varied modalities, but at the same time, for providing individualized pathways through the material and for reinforcing earlier learning through hyperlinks. As we'll further explore in this coming unit, asynchronous tools like email, listservs, news groups and web-boards support interactions that help learners "make sense," without requiring the communicators to participate at the same time. Synchronous tools like chat and video conferencing restore some of the immediacy of classroom discussions and guest appearances, even when great distances separate the participants. As digital exchanges, all these interactions leave tracks that can be recorded, and saved for later reference.
In Unit II, we'll introduce you to strategies and tools for producing and presenting Web -based instruction. We'll discuss methods for of organizing content, presenting materials, and choosing technologies to support particular learning activities. By the end of this unit, you should be able to identify a range of applicable technologies and have an idea of both their potential value and their limitations, as well as a sense of what you can accomplish on your own and what requires other professional assistance. If you perform the activities, you'll also develop concrete plans for your own learning resource.
session 7 - Organizing Your Content
session 8 - Presentation/Interaction Tools
session 9 - Production Tools
session 10 - Providing Unique Learning Experiences
session 11 - Your Project Plan
