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Creating online learning resources Martin Bazley Royal Collection 18 Jan 2011
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Creating online learning resources
Martin Bazley
Royal Collection
18 Jan 2011
Martin BazleyPreviously• Teaching (7 yrs)• Science Museum, London,
Internet Projects (7yrs)• E-Learning Officer, MLA South East
(3yrs)Currently• Vice Chair, DLNet (was E-Learning Group
for Museums, Lib, Archives)• Consultancy, websites, training, user
testing, evaluation …Martin Bazley & Associateswww.martinbazley.com
•Slides and notes available online
Users don’t always ‘get’ what we are offering:
a real–world analogy
In a conflict between visual affordance…
…and written instructions
visual affordance almost always wins
So what is the point of all this?
The web is different
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
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 …
… 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
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/
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
– www.manchestergalleries.org/
Short writing exercisesShort writing exercises
Short writing exercisesShort writing exercises
Short writing exercisesShort writing exercises
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
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
– www.manchestergalleries.org/
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
Using whiteboards
• http://www.teachers.tv/ict/whiteboardtips
• http://smarttech.com/trainingcenter/tutorials.asp#
• http://www.prometheanplanet.com
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
Resources for use on whiteboards - examples
• Wartime in Bedford • http://www.movinghere.org.uk/school
s/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
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
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
– www.manchestergalleries.org/
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/
Website usersWebsite users
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?
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?
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
Victoria and Albert
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
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.
Adults/families with general interest
• 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:
Adults/families with general interest
• 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
Adults/families with general interest
• 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
Adults/families with general interest
• 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
