Reflecting on experience

When I started this blog I was unsure if it was necessary. How could blogging help me in my MA in Technical Communication and eLearning journey? Taking the plunge and going back to education as a mature student wasn’t an easy decision and brought lots of challenges. Two years on and as I approach the finish line, I have reflected on what has been a worthwhile learning experience.

Choosing an eLearning Authoring Tool

I recently conducted a Twitter poll on eLearning authoring tools that students are considering to use for the development project. As part of the MA in Technical Communication and Elearning  we can either create and develop an entire eLearning course or write a dissertation.

Characteristics of an Instructional Designer

Two years ago if I was asked what is an instructional designer, I would have struggled to give a confident answer. Fast forward and now I have a better understanding of the role of an Instructional Designer (ID) and their key characteristics. Put simply, an Instructional Designer takes information and creates learning experiences that help learners.

5 Stages of eLearning Course Design

I work well with structure and process. As a marketing specialist, I often create and manage marketing campaigns. I follow a process that includes researching, analysing, and prepare content that will be used to target a specific market to achieve best outcomes. I understand that for a campaign to be successful it requires a structured, systematic process. It is clear that the process I follow for these campaigns is similar to developing a new eLearning course.

Week 3 – Writing Phase

It was a busy but productive week for the writing team as they started the writing phase. The writing team decided to divide up the writing and each member had specific content and tasks to focus on. It will be interesting how each writer interprets the style guide. Although, I’m not part of the writing group I got an overview of information in the weekly email updates. 

Learning Styles – are they useful?

I remember when I was in school trying to learn large amounts of information. I would highlight and map out the data to try and recall it. My friends had their own way of revising the information, some used flashcards, memory techniques and sometimes audio recorded themselves. When it comes to learning, there are many preferences, we are unique and are capable of learning in a variety of ways.

The Principles of Gestalt and E-learning

With a background in marketing and a keen interest in visual design, I have used images to communicate and deliver messages effectively. Similarly, using design in eLearning is a powerful tool for communicating and engaging with the audience and learners. E-Learning courses need to be well designed; structurally and visually to enhance learner’s experience and for content to be understood.