the end of single source? e-learning David Locke WordSmith, LLC

e-learn: end of SS? how it evolved and costs e-learning sources and paradigm maybe, maybe not

how it evolved and costs

e-learning sources and paradigm

maybe, maybe not

evolution of SS Technical writers’ Crusades against the twin barbarians: “ Just document the application.” “ Gimme that help stuff on paper, too.”

Technical writers’ Crusades against the twin barbarians:

“ Just document the application.”

“ Gimme that help stuff on paper, too.”

evolution of SS 1990: a paradigm for single sourcing: John Carroll Minimalism: Beyond The Nurnberg Funnel

1990: a paradigm for single sourcing: John Carroll

Minimalism: Beyond The Nurnberg Funnel

User assistance: task-oriented least intrusive display embedded, CSH variant browse-able evolution of SS

User assistance:

task-oriented

least intrusive display

embedded, CSH variant

browse-able

evolution of SS 1680 to 1980 1998 + 1990 The evolution of help, 1680 to the present: 1992 “ documenting the app” fake single source dies user assistance/ true single source Minimalism

Online help : context-sensitive, user-task-centered information Paper/PDF : reference data Paper : beginner’s bridge information: use, learn, and toss ---and more to come. evolution of SS

Online help : context-sensitive, user-task-centered information

Paper/PDF : reference data

Paper : beginner’s bridge information: use, learn, and toss ---and more to come.

small example: PsychData.com evolution of SS

small example:

PsychData.com

training evolution of SS developers customers suits other writers marketing users sales

SS core issues: chunking information typing structured documentation tool demands: data storage ,conditionals, outputs evolution of SS

SS core issues:

chunking

information typing

structured documentation

tool demands:

data storage ,conditionals, outputs

evolution of SS evaluation not bad: tools, methods evolved understand users, information better dirty little secret: maintenance

evaluation

not bad:

tools, methods evolved

understand users, information better

dirty little secret:

maintenance

e-learn sources, paradigm Good e-learning needed a paradigm Slow in coming (just as help sinks our of sight: e.g., Office 2007)

Good e-learning needed a paradigm

Slow in coming

(just as help sinks our of sight: e.g., Office 2007)

e-learn sources, paradigm What engages memory? Visual when possible, then text (Medina: “Visual trumps all other senses.”) Combination of sensory data lots of research: richer is better but: take care with sequence Spaced repetition let content suggest intervals

What engages memory?

Visual when possible, then text

(Medina: “Visual trumps all other senses.”)

Combination of sensory data

lots of research: richer is better but: take care with sequence

Spaced repetition

let content suggest intervals

e-learn sources, paradigm Combination of Michael Allen Repurposing: “…turning a toad into a prince...” Chunk materials specifically for e-learn formats John Medina Best sequence for attention, memory: large statement, hook, details, paraphrase summary Richard Mayer Combine text, visuals in ways that enhance rather than override or obscure

Combination of

Michael Allen Repurposing: “…turning a toad into a prince...” Chunk materials specifically for e-learn formats

John Medina

Best sequence for attention, memory: large statement, hook, details, paraphrase summary

Richard Mayer

Combine text, visuals in ways that enhance rather than override or obscure

e-learning: tools In order of complexity, sophistication of product: Captivate Lectora Adobe Visual Communicator … and a lot more examples

In order of complexity, sophistication of product:

Captivate

Lectora

Adobe Visual Communicator

… and a lot more

examples

e-learning: organizations e-Learning Guild focused on learning: research & practice small, local events (plus large national) ASTD – American Society for Training and Development by contrast w/ STC: more commercial, more glitz and glam at far end: e-learn morphs into “employee development & career management,” folds into/ becomes extension of HR department

e-Learning Guild

focused on learning: research & practice

small, local events (plus large national)

ASTD – American Society for Training and Development

by contrast w/ STC: more commercial, more glitz and glam

at far end: e-learn morphs into “employee development & career management,” folds into/ becomes extension of HR department

e-learning vs single sourcing Summary, implications - 1: good e-learning materials function best as partners with text-based information systems or in blended (e-learn, classroom) combos single source systems continue to provide a rich, stable base e-learning: supplement, not supplant

Summary, implications - 1:

good e-learning materials function best as partners with text-based information systems or in blended (e-learn, classroom) combos

single source systems continue to provide a rich, stable base

e-learning: supplement, not supplant

e-learning & single sourcing Summary, implications - 2: e-learning: new opportunities for writers who better to understand from the user perspective, to distinguish task from concept will require learning: tools, some methods, jargon (don’t be put off by “instructional designers” – that’s what you’ve been doing all along)

Summary, implications - 2:

e-learning: new opportunities for writers

who better to understand from the user perspective, to distinguish task from concept

will require learning: tools, some methods, jargon

(don’t be put off by “instructional designers” – that’s what you’ve been doing all along)

References: John Medina, Brain Rules ( www.brainrules.net ) Michael Allen, Michael Allen’s Guide to e-Learning (John Wiley, 2003) Richard Mayer and Ruth Colvin Clark, e-Learning and the Science of Instruction (John Wiley, 2008) e-learning & single sourcing

References:

John Medina, Brain Rules

( www.brainrules.net )

Michael Allen, Michael Allen’s Guide to e-Learning (John Wiley, 2003)

Richard Mayer and Ruth Colvin Clark, e-Learning and the Science of Instruction (John Wiley, 2008)

Questions? and thanks. e-learning & single sourcing

Questions?

and thanks.