General
8: Development of online materials
Aim of module 8
Once you have identified the needs of your teachers you will then need to design and develop resources that you can share with your teacher group. The development of online resources is advantageous to printed resources especially from the cost perspective.
The aim of this module is to assist you in acquiring skills in the development of online materials.
Module 8 objectives
By the end of this module, participants will:
- Have learnt an instructional design model viz. ADDIE
- Be aware of online design principles
- Be able to identify a free online platforms
- Be able to develop online materials to help address teacher subject needs.
Module 8 resources
Review the module 8 resources below. Ensure that these resources are reviewed BEFORE the synchronous meeting takes place.
Use the link below to access the module 8 synchronous meeting. This online meeting will take place at Date | Time. Note: Your attendance is compulsory.
Instructional design model: ADDIEADDIE is one of the most popular instructional design models - are you familiar with it? The image below details the components making up this model:
Review your course slides (from slide 9 =>) where the ADDIE model is covered in further detail.
Additional information
Additional information on the ADDIE model can be found in this previous online training course offered by MGSLG. Click on the image below to review this online course.
Activity 8.1- Create your own template / table using the ADDIE components
- Demonstrate how you would go about applying your understanding of the model to the task of supporting your teachers.
Upload your template / table by using the assignment submission tool below.
What is an online learning environment?According to Puzziferro and Shelton, an online learning environment provides courses which are:
- Well organised into learning units
- Have clear learning goals and objectives
- Include materials and activities that directly support the learning goals and objectives
- Engage the learner through interaction with content, other students and the instructor
- Offer rich and relevant resources to the students.
How do you achieve the above?
Puzziferro and Shelton have also identified seven principles of good practice. These include:
- Encourage contact between students and the faculty
- Develop reciprocity and cooperation among students
- Use active learning techniques
- Give prompt feedback
- Emphasize time on task
- Communicate high expectations
- Respect diverse talents and ways of learning.
We encourage you to read the full article below but page 122 is of special relevance to what has been detailed above.
Activity 8.2Read through the Puzziferro and Shelton article. Pay special attention to pages 128 - 130 where they present a template that can be used to assist you in developing your own online material. Then:
- Assume that one of your teacher's required assistance with teaching a specific concept in your subject
- You will therefore assist this teacher by developing online material that they can use to teach this concept
- Create your own template
- Populate this with content that you would use for your intervention strategy
- Any software application can be used to develop this template
- Upload your template using the forum submission tool below
- Critique, using the forum tool, at least one other colleague's submission.
Online LMS (learning management system)Now that you are clear on the design items that you'd like to include in your resources, you will need to investigate the various online learning management systems that are available and that you will be able to use.
Click here to review a list of various LMS applications that are available (some of them are free). This list does include Moodle (which the GDE has adopted) as well as Google Classroom.
Moodle online training course
Should you have selected Moodle as your online training platform to work with, why not take a look at this existing MGSLG training course before you attempt the next few activities. This course will take you through the steps on setting up your own online LMS using Moodle Cloud software. Click on the image below to be taken to the course.
Forum discussion: Activity 8.3
- Select your preferred LMS application
- Present the following to your group:
- Describe your chosen LMS
- Show how you access it
- Describe how you will use it for your course
- Listen to the feedback which you will receive from your group.
Developing online materials
Now that you have selected your LMS platform, you will need to start actually developing your online course! This will involve creating and designing your course pages and uploading any additional documents / resources which the teacher / learners may require.
Before attempting your final ePortfolio activity, we recommend that you browse through these MGSLG online training courses relating to this topic. A lot of theory has been covered and it will be worthwhile to consolidate your learning by reviewing these courses.
Activity 8.4 (ePortfolio)- Select a subject topic which needs addressing in your schools
- Use the ADDIE model to design this unit which needs addressing
- Describe what the challenge is and how you believe that your materials will alleviate this challenge
- On the LMS tool which you selected in activity 8.3, design your online teaching unit. Ensure that you cover the design principles highlighted by Puzziferro and Shelton
- Once complete, share the hyperlink of your online teaching unit by pasting it into the forum tool below
- As a team, we will discuss and provide feedback on all the submissions.