This presentation looks at 6 key areas involved in effective course design, first presented at the UK Moodle Moot 2017 #mootieuk17

1. EXCELLENCE IN THE
DESIGN OF LEARNING
CONTENT
LEWIS CARR
@LEWISCARR

2. “ I N O R D E R T O C R E A T E A N
E N G A G I N G L E A R N I N G
E XP E R I E N C E , T H E R O L E
O F I N S T R U C T O R I S
O P T I O N A L , B U T T H E R O L E
O F L E A R N E R I S
E S S E N T I A L . ”
BERNARD BULL

3. “PEOPLE OFTEN TOUT
INTERACTIVITY AS THE
GREAT BENEFIT OFFERED BY
ELEARNING, YET MOST
INTERACTIVITY DOES
NOTHING TO EITHER ENGAGE
OR INSTRUCT.”
ETHAN EDWARDS

4. “ TH E KEY TO SU C C ESS IS TO
APPRECIATE HOW PEOPLE
LEAR N , U N D ER STAN D TH E
TH OU GH T PR OC ESS TH AT GOES
IN TO IN STR U C TION AL D ESIGN ,
W H AT W OR KS W ELL, AN D A
R AN GE OF D IFFER EN T W AYS OF
ACHIEVING GOALS.”
TIM BUFF

5. “WHEN IT COMES TO
ELEARNING, CONTENT MEANS
EVERYTHING. IF ELEARNING
CONTENT IS NOT
MASTERFULLY DESIGNED,
ALL THE REST WILL JUST GO
DOWN THE DRAIN.”
CHRISTOPHER PAPPAS

6. I N T H I S
P R E S E N T A T I O
N
BASED ON A LEADING TECHNOLOGIES
AWARD CRITERIA
CONSIDER 6 APPROACHES TO THE
DESIGN OF LEARNING CONTENT

7. C O N T E N T &
P E R F O R M A N C E
N E E D
A L I G N M E N T
C O N T E N T
I N N O V A T I O N
M E D I A
& L E A R N I N G
I N T E R A C T I V I T Y
C O N T E N T
O P T I M I S A T I O N
L E A R N E R
E N G A G E M E N T C O N T R I B U T I O N M A D E
T O L E A R N I N G
V I E W S O F T H E
L E A R N E R
I M P A C T O N T H E
O R G A N I S A T I O N

8. C O N T E N T
P E R F O R M A N C E & N E E D
A L I G N M E N T

9. CONTENT
PERFORMANCE
& NEED
ALIGNMENT
Courses structured into distinct modules and then
broken down into smaller units.
Activities linked to learning outcomes
(Outcomes clearly identified to the learner at the start
of each unit).
Units kept purposefully short to strengthen the
attention of the learner.
Conditional Release to deliver content.
Let learners see the end goal!

10. C O N T E N T
P E R F O R M A N C
E
TABLE OF CONTENTS COURSE PROGRESS CHECKLIST

11. CONTRIBUTION
MADE TO LEARNING
VIEWS OF THE
LEARNER
IMPACT ON THE
ORGANISATION
CONTENT PERFORMANCE & NEED ALIGNMENT
Content released
based on performance.
Stops learners racing
ahead before they
understand the key
core concepts.
Promotes a linear
progression as the
complexity of the course
increases.
Learners prefer to
unlock content as they
progress.
Learners need to track
progress and see what
activities are next.
Learners want to check
grades at any time and
see a % course
completion.
Continual assessment
helps to identify the
performance needs of
the learner.
Identify failing learners
and see which
concepts they are
struggling with.
Results analysis allows
for the tailoring of
content.

12. CONTENT INNOVATION

13. C O N T E N T
I N N O V A T I O N
High quality production of course
content is essential.
Learners value quality & Innovation.
Adopt new technologies.
(Gamified Learning, Interactive video)
Be ORIGINAL!
Build your own content.

14. C O N T E N T
I N N O V A T I O N
H5P MOODLE QUIZ

15. C O N T E N T
I N N O V A T I O N
LEVELUP OPEN BADGES

16. CONTRIBUTION
MADE TO LEARNING
VIEWS OF THE
LEARNER
IMPACT ON THE
ORGANISATION
CONTENT INNOVATION
Content displayed and
created using different
media engages
learners.
Gamification in Moodle
really does work!
Learners do care about
your resources.
(They do make
judgements.).
Creating high quality
learning materials is a
resource heavy task.
The more people
involved in course
production, the more
everyone understands
the course structure,
resources and learning
outcomes.
You then have more
people supporting the
entire learning process.
Poor quality courses
negatively affects the
learning process.
It’s 2017, learners
EXPECT innovation.
Learners respond to
points, prizes and a
virtual pat on the back.

17. MEDIA & LEARNING

18. M E D I A &
L E A R N I N G
Include a wide range of different learning materials.
Blend verbal and visual techniques.
Embrace social media.
Video is EVERYWHERE. Don’t shy away from it.
Don’t limit yourself to just Moodle.

19. M E D I A
& L E A R N I N
G VIDEO DEMONSTRATIONS
TALKING HEADS
SOCIAL
RSS
INTERACTIVE VIDEO

20. CONTRIBUTION
MADE TO LEARNING
VIEWS OF THE
LEARNER
IMPACT ON THE
ORGANISATION
MEDIA & LEARNING
Visual materials can
enable learners to
progress quicker than
traditional “text heavy”
materials.
Strong visuals can help
improve and reinforce
understanding.
Learners see an
increase in recollection
and comprehension of
new material.
Higher engagement in
courses means higher
retention rates.
Learners are
particularly
complimentary about
visuals in courses.
Learners find videos
help them to retain
knowledge.
Higher community
engagement from
social media.
Understanding of core
concepts is made more
accessible.
Social media helps
extend Moodle (breaks
down walls).

21. INTERACTIVITY

22. “PEOPLE OFTEN TOUT
INTERACTIVITY AS THE
GREAT BENEFIT OFFERED BY
ELEARNING, YET MOST
INTERACTIVITY DOES
NOTHING TO EITHER ENGAGE
OR INSTRUCT.”
ETHAN EDWARDS

23. I N T E R A C T I V I T
Y
Live chats and webinars allows you to
engage directly with learners.
Interactions increase focus.
Chose the right tool for the job.
Creates a less passive learning
experience.

24. I N T E R A C T I V I T
Y
INTERACTIVE (CLICKABLE CONTENT)
WEBINARS OR MOODLE CHAT SESSIONS OR BOTH
SOCIAL EXTENDS
THE VIRTUAL LEARNING PLATFORM

25. CONTRIBUTION
MADE TO LEARNING
VIEWS OF THE
LEARNER
IMPACT ON THE
ORGANISATION
INTERACTIVITY
Interaction engages
learners and increases
focus.
Gamified elements
(quizzes, memory
games, flash cards) all
reinforce learning.
Learners respond
better to interactivity.
As a direct result of
Gamification, learners
spend more time in
courses.
Interactive assessment
(question types)
provides greater
enjoyment for the
learner.
LevelUp! really does
encourage learners to
do more.
It increases their
voluntary learning.
Open Badges (if done
correctly) motivate
learners.
Social Media
(Instagram, Facebook)
allows providers to
utilise new
technologies and blend
it with their teaching.

26. CONTENT
OPTIMISATION

27. C O N T E N T
O P T I M I S A T I O N
Design for accessibility and inclusion.
Mobile, mobile, mobile!
Video is accessible and often preferred by
learners, but variety is key.
Keep it simple.
Don’t be afraid to go “old school”.
There is nothing wrong with course notes.

28. C O N T E N T
O P T I M I S A T I O N
MOBILE, MOBILE, MOBILE!
NOT JUST HOW IT FITS, BUT HOW IT WORKS

29. C O N T E N T
O P T I M I S A T I O N
WORKSHEETS SHOULD BE MULTI-FUNCTIONAL
- PRINTED
- COMPLETED DIGITALLY
- SCANNED AND UPLOADED
(THINK ABOUT INCLUSION)
“OLD SCHOOL” COURSE NOTES SUPPORT LEARNING

30. CONTRIBUTION
MADE TO LEARNING
VIEWS OF THE
LEARNER
IMPACT ON THE
ORGANISATION
CONTENT OPTIMISATION
Creates a fully rounded
learning experience.
Learners gain further
skills in digital literacy.
Higher pass rates and
assessment scores.
Listen to feedback and
tweak resources.
Improve quality
assurance.
Learners like us to act
upon their feedback
(ask, deploy, test) .
Reach more learners
with multi device
support.
Learners want choice.
Continual improvement
(your course gets
better each year).

31. LEARNER ENGAGEMENT
& FEEDBACK

32. L E A R N E R
E N G A G E M E N T
& F E E D B A C K
Course surveys.
Social Media.
Reviews - put yourself out there.
Speak to learners about their experience.
Keep learners engaged, before, during
and after the course.

33. L E A R N E R
E N G A G E M E N T
ENGAGEMENT TOOLS IN MOODLE

34. L E A R N E R
F E E D B A C K
QUESTIONNAIRE

35. CONTRIBUTION
MADE TO LEARNING
VIEWS OF THE
LEARNER
IMPACT ON THE
ORGANISATION
LEARNER ENGAGEMENT
Learners value feedback
above ALL other forms of
assessment/communication.
Students directly influence
their learning.
Student help design your
courses and content
(student centred).
Public reviews generate
more business (Trust Pilot).
Discussion-led learning
encourages new ways of
thinking.
Social Media extends
learning beyond the
classroom.
Learners like to “belong”.
Learners can learn from
others.
Webinars deepens
understanding if the user
interacts with them.
Organisations get to
understand their learners
better.

36. C O N T E N T &
P E R F O R M A N C E
N E E D
A L I G N M E N T
C O N T E N T
I N N O V A T I O N
M E D I A
& L E A R N I N G
I N T E R A C T I V I T Y
C O N T E N T
O P T I M I S A T I O N
L E A R N E R
E N G A G E M E N T C O N T R I B U T I O N M A D E
T O L E A R N I N G
V I E W S O F T H E
L E A R N E R
I M P A C T O N T H E
O R G A N I S A T I O N

37. EXCELLENCE IN THE
DESIGN OF LEARNING
CONTENT
LEWIS CARR
@LEWISCARR