Creating online learning resources for schools for uploading

Creating online learning resources for schools

Ulster Museum28 September 2011

Martin Bazley (Martin Bazley & Associates)

Martin BazleyPreviously• Teaching (7 yrs)• Science Museum, London,

Learning Unit, Internet Projects (7yrs)• E-Learning Officer, MLA South East (3yrs)

Martin Bazley• Currently• Vice Chair, DLNet (was E-Learning

Group for Museums, Lib, Archives)• Consultancy, websites, training, user

testing, evaluation …Martin Bazley & Associateswww.martinbazley.com

http://www.martinbazley.com/

http://www.digitallearningnetwork.net/

Martin Bazley & Associates

BBC / Public Catalogue Foundation Your Paintings project

Consulting on user interface

Consulting on online survey

User testing


Ford Madox Brown Work schools interactive with embedded video

Consulting on content and user interface

User testing (classroom-based)

(Also worked on redevelopment of main website)


John Ruskin Elements of Drawing website

Consulting on content and user interface

User testing – HE and Ruskin specialists

(Also development of schools resource)


The National Archives Cabinet Papers project

Consulting on content and user interface for schools

User testing (classroom-based)


Development of small to medium sized museum websites

Using WordPress or working with web developer associate

User testing etc included


Training

Writing for the web

Developing online resources

Planning online audience research and impact assessment

Video for the web

Podcasting – planning, production, promotion

Social media

And more – anything digital

Elements of online learning resourcesImage(s) + caption(s)

Key question(s) / short activities

Background teacher notes / pupil activity sheets

Zoomable images

Video

Interactive

More complex functionality

Increasing cost and complexity

Increasing cost and complexity M

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These are the first things to provide, and do not require high levels of IT expertise or investment

Video can be done quite easilyThe others will mean investment of money and /or expert time

This is good news. Maybe there is no need to learn how to create online learning resources after all?

Why do we have to learn to write for the web?

Isn’t it just writing like any other kind of material?

Users don’t always ‘get’ what we are offering:

a real–world analogy

Even a slight difference in viewpoints…

…can cause real problems for users

In a conflict between visual affordance…

…and written instructions

visual affordance almost always wins

Another example

Hmm… the button is really small…

And it’s not green…

You can’t push it in…

Just push the big green

button by the gate

Huge green button

So what is the point of all this?

Web users also don’t get it

People use the web differently…

… from the way they use books, object labels, magazines, newspapers,

information screens, etc

For most people the web is a

predominantly visual

medium

We are all different and some people like to read

all the text on a web page before deciding

what to do next, even though a lot of it might

be pretty redundant but most people – or at least most regular users

of the web – rather than reading through them

in detail just scan the web pages they are using, or at least the

ones where they are still trying to work out

where to go next

• Users won't read your text thoroughly word-by-word.

Exhaustive reading is rare, especially when browsing. Yes, some people will read more, but most won't.

• The first two paragraphs must state the most important information. There's some hope that users will actually read this material – though they'll probably read more of the first paragraph than the second.

• Start subheadings, paragraphs, and bullet points with information-carrying words that users will notice when scanning down the left side of your content in the final stem of their F-behaviour.

They'll read the third word on a line much less often than the first two words.

If they have to work at it for example if they

cannot see what they are looking for, or if it doesn’t make sense to

them at first glance then most people – or at least many

people who do a lot of searching or browsing on the web just

decide that this particular site is not for them, and anyway they

have a long list of other search results or ideas to try and so they go elsewhere

Exercise: Make this web page Exercise: Make this web page betterbetter

http://www.ohs.org/education/oregonhistory/index.cfm

About website structure, About website structure, ways people use the web and ways people use the web and implications for writing for the implications for writing for the

webweb

Certain types of websites impose linear user journeys:

TheTrainline.comCinema ticket bookings

Self assessment tax return online

In most websites, although there are some linear elements …

http://www.spinningtheweb.org.uk/journey.php?Title=Quarry+Bank+Mill+learning+journey&step=4&theme=places

… people like to have other pathways available to them…

… and most journeys are very non-linear

Also, most people reach your website via Google

Only 20% arrive at your website on the home page

Most may not have had your site in mind when searching

30% of them go to home page to ‘try and work out what this site is about’

So each page on the site must quickly: (a)engage users and (b)give sense of what site is about –

otherwise most will leave

‘Writing for the web’ is not just about text…

… but also choosing the right images… layouts

… graphical look and feel…website structure

etc etc

Key point of paragraph/

section

Image clearly related to text

Broken into short paras

Short video guides

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AoU2yANNxRs&eurl=http://inside.123-reg.co.uk/archives/video-writing-your-web-copy

• Writing web headlines http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBg7dJIfHM0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AoU2yANNxRs&eurl=http://inside.123-reg.co.uk/archives/video-writing-your-web-copy



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBg7dJIfHM0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBg7dJIfHM0

Home page: key functions

• Offer overview: – Show user what the site can do for them– Show user what is in the site:

• The structure at a glance• Content highlights or samples

• Engagement:– make user want to continue browsing

– www.manchestergalleries.org/

http://www.manchestergalleries.org/

Article page: key functions

• Engage the user – make them want to consume the article

• Signposting: – Show user what else is nearby in the site

• The structure at a glance

– Show user what else the site offers them

– www.mylearning.org/overview.asp?journeyid=73


http://www.mylearning.org/overview.asp?journeyid=73



Short writing exercisesShort writing exercises

Task: create some Task: create some online contentonline content

Decide where in the site this will be

Add a title Short, clear summary Write a few

sentences. Add subheading

Few more sentences

Banner

This is an ARTICLE page

TitleAdd a summary?

Each ‘promo’ needs Title Image?One-line descn

Links to related points elsewhere in this site

Where in the site is this?

This is a SECTION page - one of these links goes to the article page

Interactive Interactive whiteboardswhiteboards

Roles of IWB

… at different points in the lesson / learning cycle

– Starter

– Main

– Plenary

Interactive” means

• “lots of things moving on screen, clickable, automatic response, quizzes etc

• interaction between students, teacher and screen – activities, conversation, cognitive engagement, etc

first meaning used mainly by companies trying to market whiteboards, software etcas ‘interactive’

second used mainly by educators

Resources - examples

• Bedford Bytes • Britons at War• Tate Tools• Museum Network Artworks• National Portrait Gallery Mary Seacol

e• National Gallery• Museum of London Fire of London

http://www.museumeducation.bedford.gov.uk/bedfordbytes/toys/index.htm

http://www.nationalmediamuseum.org.uk/nmem/britonsatwar/home.asp

http://www.tate.org.uk/schoolsteachers/tatetools/modules/preview.shtm

http://www.museumnetworkuk.org/portraits/artworks/holburne/img8.html

http://www.npg.org.uk/live/edseacole.asp

http://www.npg.org.uk/live/edseacole.asp

http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/education/visits/resources.htm

http://www.fireoflondon.org.uk/

Resources for use on whiteboards - examples

• Wartime in Bedford • http://www.movinghere.org.uk/

schools/default.htm • www.mylearning.org/overview.asp?

journeyid=409 (Passion for Fashion)• http://www.mylearning.org/

overview.asp?journeyid=318 (Ruskin)• Ford Madox Brown MAG

Some examples

– http://www.nhm.ac.uk/nature-online/british-natural-history/index.html

– http://www.manchestergalleries.org/the-collections/highlights-of-the-collection/narrativeobject.php?irn=876

– www.seayourhistory.org.uk/content/view/39/77/

– http://www.portsmouth.gov.uk/business/2781.html

Task: create some Task: create some online content online content

-review-review

Decide where in the site this will be

Add a title Short, clear summary Write a few

sentences. Add subheading

Few more sentences

Banner

This is an ARTICLE page

TitleAdd a summary?

Each ‘promo’ needs Title Image?One-line descn

Links to related points elsewhere in this site

Where in the site is this?

This is a SECTION page - one of these links goes to the article page

More information:Well presented advice on usability

including writing for the web, with a useful little self test option

• http://usability.coi.gov.uk/ • A one page structured set of advice:

http://www.webdesignfromscratch.com/copywriting/writing-for-the-web/

More information (2)• Simple to follow good practice list:http://www.jisc.ac.uk/aboutus/whoweare/

brand/webwriting.aspx• Articles to read and help you develop skillshttp://www.writingfortheweb.co.uk/

artwrite.html • Classic advice from usability guru Jakob

Nielsenhttp://www.useit.com/papers/webwriting/




Zoomable images

Video

Interactive




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These are the first things to provide, and do not require high levels of IT expertise or investment

Video can be done quite easilyThe others will mean investment of money and /or expert time

Two contrasting examples of resource development

Both produced for Ashmolean Museum- Flash interactive- John Ruskin resources including video

• Funded through Take One… Picture project

• Repurposing an existing activity

• Focus on interactive element – buying in expertise not available in-house

• Opportunity to review and improve content

• Opportunity to involve local teachers

• Time consuming (attention to detail important), but great results!

• Attempts to create interactives in house less successful

Example 1: Brighton Then & Now whiteboard interactive

Brighton Then and Now screenshot

http://www.ashmolean.org/education/resources/resources2011/interactives/Brighton/Brighton.html

Take One Picture interactive: pros

+ An ‘interactive’ resource often seems more attractive.

+ Offers a richer experience around each painting.

+ Activity is closely guided, so can be used even by inexperienced teachers.

Take One Picture interactive: cons

- Relatively expensive to produce.- Quite limited in application – teachers cannot

adjust to suit their needs. - Because most images / assets are ‘wrapped’ in

Flash, this type of resource is sometimes less findable via Google etc.

• Funded through AHRC grant - small component of bigger project

• Starting from scratch - defining concept very time consuming

• Opportunity to work closely with local school on in depth project

• Heavy demands on education staff time – (esp Joint Museums Art Education Officer)

• Opportunity to try out new approaches eg video clips

•Resulted in ‘solution’ for education staff to create teaching and learning packages (requiring minimal help from busy ICT team)

Example 2: ‘Through Ruskin’s Eyes’ learning package

‘Through Ruskin’s Eyes’ screenshot

http://educationonline.ashmolean.org/ruskin/

John Ruskin resource: pros

+ Provides images, videos and straightforward activities that students or teachers can use in their own way.

+ Less expensive to develop+ More likely to be found via Google etc+ Used WordPress.com for prototyping and

Wordpress.org for the final site – with the option to produce more as required

John Ruskin resource: cons

- Does not have the ‘wow’ factor of an ‘interactive’

Overall comparison

TOP: approach quite well defined so easier to see the potential. More constrained.

Ruskin: more specialist audience so more in depth activities. Working with partners creative but increases complexity.

Wordpress.com vs Wordpress.org

Wordpress.com is particularly quick to get going – great for developing and trialling resources, or just playing around with ideas

Wordpress.org needs installation and a little maintenance, but offers a stable website solution

Making websites - CMSs

http://wordpress.com - free website creation service (pay extra for features like own domain name etc). All hosting and upgrading etc is done for you


http://wordpress.org - free website creation service – like .com except you have to install it on your server and you are responsible for updating, hosting costs, etc


www.contentcurator.net - free open-source CMS specially developed for cultural and heritage sector. Powerful and easy to use e.g. in-place editing


www.cmsmadesimple.org - free website creation service – you install it on your server and you are responsible for updating, hosting costs, etc - very similar to wordpress.org

Developing a learning resource: iterative review

your content curriculum (find a match)

Ch

eck

Does it match your audience’s specific needs?

If so TEST - and then amend

Learning activities Learning outcomes (find a match)

‘What have museums ever done for us?’The main value added for teachers working online is

selection of suitable material

with learning activities and outcomes in mind

Focus resources on editorial, evaluation and testing

rather than technical functionality




Zoomable images

Video

Interactive




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Reflection

How can you create effective learning resources on a limited budget?

What are the quick wins for teachers, in online provision?

How do you build a case for investing in the development of online resources?

Website usersWebsite users

Website users• Who uses your website?

• Why would they want to use it?

• How would they find it?

• What do they get out of it?

• What do they dislike about it?

How do you get it right for everyone?

• Answer:• You can’t get it right for everyone.

• You have to make choices, and stick to them:

• Who is it for? • What..• How…

Who for…?Who for…?What for?What for?

How will they use it?How will they use it?

Learning resource: iterative planning

content curriculum (find a match)

Learning activities Learning

outcomes (find a match)

Filtered by your specific audience needs

Who for…?Who for…?What for?What for?

How will they use it?How will they use it?

Who for what for ...• Who for? (audience)

Need to be clear from start• mum + 2 children looking for something to do

this weekend• teachers of yr5/6 in local area with whiteboards• men interested in gadgets

Who for what for ...• What ‘real-world’ outcomes?

What will they do as a result of using the site?

• make a donation• plan a visit to a museum• buy a train ticket• think differently about learning disability

Who for what for ...• How will they use it? (user experience)

What do they actually do on the site? • browse and read articles

• working alone or in pairs? (learning resources)• lean forward or sit back?• Browsing, following, searching…

• Also Where, When and Why?

Examples of teacher feedback

• Vimeo videos• http://vimeo.com/18888798 Key ideas• http://vimeo.com/18892401 Lesson

starter• http://vimeo.com/18867252 Timesaver

Who for what for ...• Website appraisal

– For each example note first impressions

•Who is it for?•What does it offer them?•How will they use it?

Agree activity Agree activity following following

today’s sessiontoday’s session

Sustaining learning – continue practising!

Now:

- decide on an achievable task for the next two weeks

In two weeks: - Email your work (however unfinished) to

Martin [if progress is slow, ask for help]

Then:

- Martin will offer feedback and suggestions

My task

Write down what you plan to achieve within two weeks

Crit roomCrit room

Crit room

Simulated user testing- Learn how user testing works- Get feedback on specifics of websites

Remember this is just a simulation of real user testing!

Crit room sites

Websites for different Websites for different audiencesaudiences

Websites for different audiencesThe following tips are based on

• numerous evaluation sessions

• numerous user testing sessions

• talking to other people who use websites

• talking to other people who make websites

‘General users’There is no such thing as a general user

Are you a general user?

Adults/families with general interest

• What does the site tell me at a glance?

• genuine enthusiasts will stay interested whatever the website looks like, and will spend some time looking around it or phone up for more information if required.


• But most will not bother unless something engages them within a few seconds

• The questions people might like answered within a few seconds of arriving on a museum site probably include:


• Where is it? a schematic map on every page, or at least on the home page and visit info, would really help in attracting visitors who don’t know the area


• What’s the rough cost and roughly how long might I/we want to spend there?This would give me an idea of whether to view it as a place to pop into on the way somewhere or combine it with another attraction; or whether it requires more serious investment of time or money


• What kind of experience will I get?I know there will be ‘displays’ – it is a museum!

• but will there be people around to help bring the place alive for me, my spouse, my children or friends?

• – or are there events, or things to do like dressing up in a pilot’s uniform, or games to play, etc?

Websites for schools‘Serve the National Curriculum’ or ‘extend or

enhance’?‘enhance’ sounds good but most teachers want:

1. curriculum specific – by all means cross-curricular but with one scheme of work or topic as ‘headline’ (think ‘product byline’)

2. ready-to-use – teachers may want to adapt to their own situation (esp second time round), but most will not have time – offer at least one ready to use version

3. minimal preparation and with time commitment (preparation time and class time) clearly specified

4. flexible/adaptable/extensible where possible

Foundation and KS1 (3-7yrs)

Production of materials for this age range is particularly tricky:

• aim at teachers not children, so…• good bank of images, videos or other mainly

visual assets • think of interactive whiteboards

Key Stage 2 (7 to 11 years old)

• keep no of words on each page to a minimum, say 50 in total

• illustrate key ideas visually as well as verbally and use audio if possible

• do not assume that the teacher can be over their shoulder at all points – so keep the instructions and processes simple

• try to use language, images, ideas, and settings that will appeal to the target audience

Key Stage 3 (11 to 14 years old)

• For KS2 a cross-curricular approach is OK (for example they may use the same site for Geography and Science) but:

• At KS3 cater for a single subject (and scheme of work)

• (Can offer suggestions for cross-curricular working, but remember generally each teacher teachers only one subject each.)

‘Lifelong learners’

• for (non-specialist) interest level think of 12 yr olds

• Identify a particular audience with specific interests/motivations for using your site

• then focus on constraints to allow successful design to proceed. (In a formal learning setting constraints often implicit in the course, physical set up etc.)

Specialist researchers

• Fact-oriented, less graphics and design, more text and specifically relevant images, with good search facility

• Examples of specialist researchers: – HE students and staff– experts or enthusiasts in this subject area

More information / advice / ideas

Martin Bazley0780 3580 737

www.martinbazley.com

Creating online learning resources for schools for uploading

Education

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