1. Choose Your Own Adventure. I loved these books when I was a kid. Books where you can select which path the story should take, making decisions so you’re more involved in the narrative. Previously, we did this by conditionally turning to one page or another.
2. Tutorial based books. Since the iBooks 2 format allows embedding of HTML 5 code, tutorial material can include actual working examples in each chapter.
3. My Wedding album. Photos, guestbook messages and even videos can be included in a virtual coffee-table book for everyone to enjoy, not just those who paid for a copy of the DVD from the videographer.
4. My portfolio. An interactive portfolio, showing my work in the most effective way, complete with contact information and links to my online presence (or web portfolio pieces). For iOS developers, particularly, this would be powerful marketing.
5. My family history. Genealogy fans can include the old home videos, scanned photographs etc.
6. Band profiles. Since Kay does a lot with various bands, this could have History, trivia, music, live performance videos, photos and interviews.
7. Instruction manuals. Like build your Lego kit, assemble your Ikea furniture, or convert Optimus Prime from a truck into a robot. Run through the process step by step, seeing exactly how everything moves and goes together. Even user guides for software or hardware, or videogame strategy guides.
8. Scavenger/Treasure hunts. I am doing a scavenger hunt for my bucks party and I am informed that HTML 5 widgets can (with permission) access your current location from within a book. Imagine the possibilities of this technology.
9. Client proposals. I am definately wrapping up my pitches in book format, with interactive visuals, estimates, timelines, contact information and a profile of my staff etc.
Anyone else think of anything cool to use this format for? Let me know.
]]>The latest incarnations of HTML and CSS offer many new features. For example, HTML5 includes new elements that make web pages more semantic; you can now store data offline, create editable content areas, use drag-and-drop functionality, and much more. With CSS3, you can create round corners without graphics as well as add shadows and gradients. As you know I said in a previous post that I was going to look into the arena of m-Learning and mobile based development.
Well, over the last three weeks I been reading more on HTML5, CSS3 and this cool API called PhoneGap, which Adobe supposedly has just bought (so it must be good). After a few days I finally did a mini shopping list based app. It uses the cool local database SQLite feature in HTML5, and have added CRUD functionality, so next step is to make it look prettier and I might use it as a framework in other projects for more applications (due to the CRUD).
]]>I also came across this site Quest to Learn, a New York City public school that has based the principles of game design and integration in the classroom. Supposedly, each trimester, in each class, students are given a mission — a complex problem they can’t solve at that time. I think this unconventional learning model, in which students play games to introduce and reinforce skills is great. The designed quests that students embark upon are very sequenced, with each one giving them a piece of information they need to solve the complex problem. Students ‘level up’ only after they complete each quest. The approach mirrors how many video games work, and is a natural way for educators to think, set and achieve goals for students who have grown up playing on their computers. The idea of play in learning has been around for a long time and for some weird reason, it ends after early elementary school.
We all in our daily lives, even as professionals, play with objects and concepts to see how they work. If we mess up, it typically doesn’t hold serious consequences. Making failure fun is an important part of games and should also play a role in learning. Sure, there are other obstacles, though to all this game play. Game development is expensive and also some CEOs/managers/teachers don’t understand the technology’s learning benefits. What do you all think?
]]>As you all know, I have been working on a few simulation concepts at work and for years, simulations have played an important role in the training activities of certain sectors, like the defense, aviation and aeronautical industries in several countries, not just here in Australia. These days, simulations are being adopted in other industries and for a broad range of skills and competence development. Technology and cost barriers are continuing to shrink, opening up the potential for wider adoption of simulation technology. I believe that simulations offer advantages over handbooks and they can complement lectures, demonstrations and give real world practice.
I have also been investigating the mobile Learning (m-Learning) sphere. This is due to a few things, firstly, I now have a tablet based device now, and can definately see a growth market for this. For mobile learning there are two distinct potential markets which I see evolving:
The first one is the market of learning services for people that are without infrastructure (accessibility to internet and e-learning may not be as wide spread in rural or remote areas) and learners in developing economies.
The second one is the market of learning services for people who’s jobs require them to continuously move, people learning and receiving information while visiting various sites and locations, certain types students needing individualized learning education, on the move and while on external projects.
From my research, in the United States, PDAs have already been used in schools and for workers on the move and this thing had significant results in terms of improved learning effectiveness. In Europe, mobile learning is beginning to develop, and telecommunications companies such as Nokia and Vodafone have already integrated these technologies into their training and development systems. So, having said all this, I think this year, I will invest some time into looking into more m-Learning solutions.
]]>To all my readers, I wanted to say thankyou, thankyou for taking the time to read my blog and participate in my discussions. I have enjoyed sharing the events of work and other adventures! I hope you all have a wonderful Merry Christmas with your family and a safe and Happy New Year.
I’m taking some time off from blogging, to enjoy this holiday period with my family and friends, but I will be back.
]]>Multimedia by nature adds complexity both to the screen and to the tasks that learners need to perform. By definition, a learning environment or management system is already an unfamiliar and perhaps complex space for even a seasoned web developer let alone an end user. Sure, you can use multimedia to help learners find their way around it. If multiple types of media and content are required, use position and prominence to direct learners’ attention to the most important information. Consistent-looking and consistently placed navigation elements clarify what to do next. I help learners determine how to proceed but don’t restrict their choices unless it’s absolutely necessary (and it’s almost never necessary). Like websites, highly constrained navigation, for example, can make learners feel as if they are being coerced rather than led, with no control over their own learning. I think that learners should always be able to tell where they are and how to get to where they want to go. Moodle is a great platform for this.
As a strong advocate of usability, you need to test screen layout with learners to gauge ease of use, and be willing to make changes. Always provide ways for learners to get help with the technology and with questions about the content. Also consider whether the combination of media adds to the learning experience. Better yet, ask the learners. Is it confusing? Frustrating? Too much?
In my own design work, I make have made sure that the learner can determine when to use additional media (for example, start an animation or video, or listen to a narration or see the text of it. Captivate is great for that) rather than making them turn it off if they don’t want it.
One more fundamental implication of using multimedia in elearning is that experiencing it requires multiple senses. That means you must consider the implications of each medium you want to use on people who have visual, auditory, or other disabilities. That in itself I could write many blog entries on.
So keep in mind when you work on an e-learning system, when someone asks, “can you whack a simple quick elearning solution for me?”, I should return by saying “it’s not as simple and quick as you think”. Thoughts?
]]>1) I have yet to see a technology tool that delivers on the promise of outputs “better than Flash” in every case. While there are great steps in the right direction, the outputs aren’t the same for the types of things that I would choose to use Flash for. I do think we’ll get there with HTML5 and the current craze of I HATE FLASH or DONT USE FLASH! will not benefit the acceleration of this improvement, its just that we just aren’t there yet.
2) Older browsers still maintain significant positions in the landscape. IE6 and IE7 offer extremely poor support for HTML4 or higher technologies. On the bright side, this obscene move to kill Flash completely could also accelerate the demise of these older browsers.
3) Most of the things I build in Flash (been using it over 10 years now) like basic simulations still work using the VM. Nearly identically on every platform. Consistently. Without any required changes. I build once and have confidence that they would just work wherever I deployed them due to the tight control of the platform. Now what? We move to a technology that doesn’t work that way. “Standards” that don’t JUST WORK wherever they are deployed because every browser chooses to interpret the standard differently.
Like I said, I *love* the idea of a future friendly platform. I also love how the standard is growing up to meet the capabilities formerly offered normally exclusively by plug-ins. All I see is Flash is bad. HTML5 will cure the web of those evils. I do not like this negativity, I’m not dropping Flash from my toolbox any time soon. Yes, no doubt I will be using it less but the removal of Flash technology completely from the elearning landscape, particularly given the amount of the usage is in our field. Please don’t diss Flash. He is my buddy.
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