Content Creation Technologies   |    Content Management Technologies

Resources -Learning Content Creation Technologies

Following are some great links for Learning Content Creation Technologies. Let me explain "Learning Content Creation Links" in slight detail. When we create content (for learning, and of course, for the web) we need to enlist the help of some technologies. Technologies that help us make the content become digitally available. We use HTML, Flash, XML, ASP, JSP, PHP,Java, Oracle, SQL Server, MySQL, and so on. These technologies help us "create" content for web and digital delivery.

This section focuses on bringing you information on these technologies, as we believe that an eLearning professional should be aware of these technologies and their capabilities.

We hope you will find this section useful.

August 2007

1. If you are new to mobile content creation, read "Creating Web Content for Mobile Phone Browsers" at http://www.oreillynet.com/pub/a/wireless/2004/02/06/mobile_browsing.html
   This article was written in 2004, so it may not be as technologically relevant today, but it does provide an overview of how content is created for mobile learning.
   
   The beginning of this article is of general interest, but the latter part is technical and may be of more interest to the programmers.
   

July 2007

1. As the times change, we will see ourselves creating a lot of content for m-learning or mobile learning. Mobile learning entails the use of PDAs and other hand-held devices (with an Internet connection) for learning. http://www3.telus.net/~kdeanna/mlearning/ presents information on:
   • Benefits and challenges of mobile learning
   • Technologies required
   • Applications that assist in creation and management of m-learning content
   • Links to resources related to mobile learning
   • some interactives

   
   The section on technology is particularly interesting. Click http://www3.telus.net/~kdeanna/mlearning/technology.htm to access it.

2. Click http://www.m-learning.org/demos/demo.htm to access the pdfs of some m-learning examples.

June 2007

1. What shall be the technologies of the future? How will we create content for new mediums and an audience with their technological expectations completely different from the audience of today. Podcasting is fast becoming an online learning tool. Read "Teaching with Technology" by Jim Lengel, for an overview of using podcasting as a learning technology. This article at http://www.powertolearn.com/articles/teaching_with_technology/podcast.shtml provides a crisp insight into "How to make a podcast' and "How to distribute a podcast". There isn't anything that beats real-life experimentation as a learning experience. (It is at the bottom of the Dale's Cone of Experience - isn't it?:-))

May 2007

1. What is Rapid eLearning? Simply explained, rapid eLearning is eLearning that enables SMEs to develop eLearning content thus reducing the time spent in development of the content. Although Rapid eLearning results in a substantial saving of time, it shouldn't however be considered a panacea for all eLearning development related ills.
   
   As the author of the article "Rapid E-Learning: A Growing Trend" says, "REL is most useful for low- to mid-range levels of e-learning complexity in which knowledge and comprehension is key. It’s typically considered less effective to use REL for high-end solutions in which evaluation and synthesis are critical."
   
   Click http://www.learningcircuits.org/2005/jan2005/archibald.htm to read this article by Dianne Archibald.
   

April 2007

1. If you've written a lot of eLearning scripts, then you know what goes into the task. But if you haven't...and if you find yourself in the hot seat of eLearning content writer or reviewer - you would like to know what it takes to do the job. http://www.adobe.com/resources/elearning/article/itskills/
   has a good article, "Online learning… Do I need to be able to design AND build it?" by Patti Shank, which will give you an overview of the additional skills that you should be developing. Also check out the Wavelength article "Peripheral Learning" at http://www.vibrantwavelength.com/peripheralLearning.htm, which explains the logic behind the development of these peripheral but essential skills.
   

March 2007

1. VLEs are going to be soon removed from the exotic eLearning medium throne by eLearning 3.0 or eLearning managed and customized by the learner. If you are feeling a bit lost, I can give you an additional clue. VLEs are part of second-generation eLearning or eLearning 2.0. The future, they say, belongs to blogs and wikis, but until they take over, and probably even after they take over; VLEs should survive as they can provide a formal structure to learning, which wikis and blogs can’t.
   
   This is why I selected the article "Using the virtual learning environment" for you. This article will give you a good understanding of the implementation methodology as well as the technology that works behind VLEs. Click http://www.ukcle.ac.uk/resources/tlr/vles.html to read it.
   

February 2007

1. If you've wondered how computer-based learning can make use of the constructivism approach to learning, click http://www.sedl.org/pubs/tec26/cnc.html to read the article "Building on Technology's Promise". Some of the ideas presented here are important to building interesting and useful in view of eLearning content development.
   

January 2007

1. A subset of eLearning, which is growing slowly but sure-footedly, is m-learning or mobile learning.
   
   Wikipedia defines m-learning as "the delivery of learning to students who are not keeping a fixed location or through the use of mobile or portable technology." To understand m-learning and to become comfortable with the strengths and limitations of the corresponding hardware (primarily the mobile phones and the PDAs) click http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M-learning.
   
   
2. Nitin Upadhyay 's article "M-Learning – A New Paradigm in Education" at http://www.itdl.org/Journal/Feb_06/article04.htm gives us an overview of m-learning by first outlining the characteristics of m-learning, then reviewing its advantages and disadvantages.
   

~~~~~~ 2006 ~~~~~~

December 2006

1. If you are interested in some free content creation technologies, click http://elearning.uvic.ca/resources/cctools1.html for a list of free software that can aid organizations and individuals who are taking their first steps towards content creation.

November 2006

1. Flex...What is it? Simply speaking it is an application based on Flash, which helps you create platform independent, "scalable" applications. Of course, I've just reworded the description available at: http://www.adobe.com/products/flex/, which reads - "Adobe® Flex™ 2 software is a rich Internet application framework based on Adobe Flash® that will enable you to productively create beautiful, scalable applications that can reach virtually anyone on any platform."
   
   
2. I guess then, that the main difference in the functionality of Flash and Flex is that of scalability and modularity along with smooth data integration from various sources. Click http://www.adobe.com/products/flex/ to view a set of five interconnected presentations. (This also solves the mystery of the name - Flex...Aha!) Hurray! Flex grants organizations, the boon of Object-Oriented programming!
   
   

October 2006

1. Media is what makes eLearning worth pursuing. It adds color and interest to the courses that we develop. For this simple reason, it is a good idea to follow the trends in media technology as part of content creation technologies. "Adobe's Suite Ambitions" is an almost non-technical article, which can be read (and also understood) by the managers and instructional designers. It will give you an idea of the increasing media creation possibilities:-) Click http://www.computerworld.com/softwaretopics/software/apps/story/0,10801,90523,00.html
   to read this article.
   

September 2006

1. If you are bored of desktop applications, if you would rather spend your time connected to the web...on the web... and not staring at the unsocial, Internet-starved desktop; check out the webtop Flash applications from Goowy. Their web-email created in Flash (well, they are the first ones to create a complete web-email using Flash!) has a fresh look to it. It's free for personal use! Try it out by clicking http://www.goowy.com/
   

August 2006

1. Freelance instructional designers could benefit a lot from the site http://www.newfreedownloads.com/find/screenshot.html. Here you will find links to many free screenshot programs. You can review each program and select the one that fulfills your requirements.
   
   
2. Read more about Breeze and what it helps accomplish in Rapid eLearning (also review the graph provided for three kinds of eContent) at http://www.adobe.com/resources/elearning/presentations/v1/#slide=9. The presentation looks fine, but I would still prefer a more organic experience! I do like the interactivity in the presentation.
   

July 2006

1. If you are into eLearning content development, you are probably neck-deep into Flash ActionScript programming. The buzz and hum of ActionScript 3.0 has long been in the air. In office canteens, near the coffee vending machines, at the “cigarette-ki-dukan”, wherever two or more elite programmers meet, they talk of AS3. If you want to know what Garry Grossman, the inventor of ActionScript and Emmy Huang the senior product manager for Flash Player have to say about AS3, click http://www.adobe.com/devnet/actionscript/articles/actionscript3_overview.html.
   
   
2. You may want to figure out how to migrate your AS2.0 code to AS3, click http://livedocs.macromedia.com/flex/2/langref/migration.html for a table that tells you about the differences between them.
   

June 2006

1. If you are involved in creating lessons that impart learning at BL1 and would be implemented in the ILT mode, you would probably consider using Flash Cards as one of the learning devices. The use of electronic media, however, makes the use of Flash Cards slightly difficult. If you would still like to include Flash Cards as a memorization device, then click on http://www.macworld.com/weblogs/macgems/2005/10/iflash/index.php to read "Fantastic flash cards" by Dan Frakes. Though this is a review of Loopware’s iFlash 2.6 for Mac OS2, yet it will introduce you to the workings of a digital Flash Card.

May 2006

1. If you want some quick tips on uploading files through Flash then you will find "A Programmer's Look at Flash 8" by Danny Patterson at http://www.communitymx.com/content/article.cfm?cid=513FF useful. This article helps you apply simple concepts such as file upload, loading of graphic files, etc.; through ActionScript.
   
   
2. Another link that would interest the right-brained programmers more is http://www.informit.com/guides/content.asp?g=flash&seqNum=341&rl=1. Here you can find ActionScript codelets that will help you find your way through the maze of filters.
   

April 2006

Click on http://www.macromedia.com/resources/elearning/whitepapers.html to download and read the following white papers.

1. If the new instructional environment, resplendent with high-end technological tools, take your breath away, "Making the Most of Virtual Classrooms & Self-Paced Presentations: Guidelines for Rapid eLearning" by Dr. Karl Kapp and Dr. Mary Nicholson will steady you up!
   
   
2. "Getting Started with eLearning Standards" will help you understand what eLearning standards are all about. This will help you create more effective online courses.
   

March 2006

1. "Tomorrow's programmers, tools and e-learning" by Eric Wilson is a simple article that pulls our attention towards the inevitable. The next generation eLearning programmers would probably not think in terms of code at all! The software programmers will make sure that they take care of all the programming leaving the eLearning technologist with the sophistication of macro-design! The other point that this article (http://www.smh.com.au/news/In-Training/Tomorrows-programmers-tools-and-elearning/2005/01/18/1105810874510.html?from=moreStories) makes is that the technology that is used for gaming sets directions for eLearning.
   
   
2. "Working with Classes" at http://www.informit.com/guides/content.asp?g=flash&seqNum=136 may interest you if you are just beginning to work with classes and are befuddled by them! This short essay will orient you to the concept of classes.
   

February 2006

1. If your work requires loading dynamic data into Flash, the article "Loading Dynamic Data into Flash" at http://www.flash-db.com/Tutorials/loading/loadingData.php?page=1 could guide you through it. This tutorial written in simple language provides short codelets(?) to assist you on your quest of dynamic data loading.
   
   
2. If you visit the Site of the Month for this month, you may plan to apply some ActionScript driven filters in your current projects. If so, you will find http://www.macromedia.com/devnet/flash/articles/graphic_effects_guide_03.html extremely helpful. Certain code examples have been provided here, which could help you start on your way to becoming a magnificent "filter-bond!"

January 2006

1. It's in the air...what? Oh it's only Breeze! They call it the communication technology of tomorrow - It delivers rich multimedia content over the web through Flash Player (when I tried downloading a couple of breeze demos, my browser stopped responding - but then I must've been on a slower connection - Breeze is the technology of tomorrow. Right? BTW, it requires a minimum of 512 MB RAM for faithful delivery.) Well, what it can accomplish is that those who have little knowledge of programming can use PowerPoint, Flash, recorded video, along with synchronous communication methods such as screen sharing and text chats to deliver online trainings and presentations more effectively.
   
   Click on http://www.figleaf.com/products/Macromedia-Breeze.cfm to read about Macromedia Breeze. You can also visit Macromedia site at http://www.macromedia.com/go/gnavtray_breeze_home, but if you are on a slow connection or your system RAM is lower than 512 MB, stay with the first URL:-)
   

~~~~~~ 2005 ~~~~~~

December 2005

1. http://www.macromedia.com/devnet/flash/articles/actionscript_guide_07.html provides a detailed view into ActionScript 2.0's capabilities as a fully Object-Oriented programming (OOP) language. This article lists the benefits that AS2's OOP provides to the programmer. It is a great article for all those who have been programming in ActionScript 1.0 for a while and now want to make their programming more efficient through object-oriented programming concepts. Review other links that pertain to Flash ActionScript 2.0 provided at the left side of this page.
   
   
2. Check out http://www.flazoom.com/usability/ for reading a white paper on "usability" in Flash. If you don't understand the term fret not, for in the list of links on this page, there is one that will tell you about it. The white paper discusses the reasons behind the relative failure of Flash content to establish itself as usable. It then provides useful tips for Flash designers as well as developers to help make their content usable.
   
   
3. Another interesting link (on the same site) is http://www.flazoom.com/news/fitts_07102000.shtml, where you can read the article "Making Sure Usability "Fitts" Flash. This article explains Fitts' Law, and uses some interesting practical examples to demonstrate how the law helps. So if you want to make life easier for the user, you may want to check this out.

November 2005

1. Click on http://www.irrodl.org/content/v3.2/soc-hes.html to read an article that tries to simplify the concept of learning object. This concept continues to flummox even those who have been in the industry for quite some time, so I assume that a simple explanation such as the one provided in this article will definitely be useful to those who are new to the industry.
   
   
2. The recent launch of Flash8 has resulted in a flurry of research activity among Flash designers and developers; all wanting to find out what the treasure chest contains. Click on http://www.macromedia.com/software/flash/flashpro/productinfo/features/ to see a beautifully crafted Flash presentation that takes you through all the new features that Flash 8 proudly sports, starting from the introduction of filters to advanced video functionality.
   

October 2005

1. I welcome the media programmers, both present and prospective, to this section by presenting this simple, to-the-point article - "An Introduction to Authoring Tools" by Jeff Harris at http://www.learningcircuits.org/2002/mar2002/harris.html. It is not unusual for us to get chained to a particular software for years together, forgetting the macro picture! This article will help you build it...in not more than an hour.
   
   
2. Check out the article "Content builders - tools for eLearning authors" at http://www.fastrak-consulting.co.uk/tactix/features/content.htm. I specially recommend that you scroll down to find the table that compares different authoring tools. I am sure that this information will help you broaden your horizons.
   
   
3. Flash lovers...you should read this article "Macromedia FlashMX - A Serious Instructional Authoring Tool," at http://www.macromedia.com/resources/elearning/article/flashmx_authoring/. If you aren't in love with Flash yet, you too should read it, and find out why it such a great package.
   

Content Creation Technologies   |    Content Management Technologies