The document provides guidance on designing effective online content and materials for distance education. It recommends including multiple learning styles, mixing passive and active presentation models, and allowing students to uncover understanding rather than simply receiving information. Some specific tips suggested are using readable fonts and text sizes, limiting video and audio clips to 5-7 minutes, considering file sizes and formats, and ensuring images are clear for those with color blindness.

1. General Overview
• include multiple learning styles:
• verbal
• auditory
• visual
• kinesthetic
• Mix it up: include passive and active presentation models
• Provide opportunities for students to uncover under-
standing rather than feeding learning to students
• think about download size
• http://www.onlineconversion.com/downloadspeed.htm
• chunk into readable/viewable pieces
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2. Text:
• on-screen length - to scroll or not to scroll
• easy to read font (sans serif for screen, serif for print)
• readable size font
• (remember that mac users have a lower screen resolution so
don’t go too small)
• readability (grade level):
• http://standards-schmandards.com/exhibits/rix/index.php
• Formats:
• .txt, .doc / .docx, .rtf
• .xls /.xlsx, .csv
• .ppt / .pptx, .pps / .ppsx
• .pdf
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3. Audio/Video:
• 5-7 minute length audio/video lectures
Audio file types:
• .mp3
• .wav
• .aif
• .wma
Video file types:
• .mpg
• .swf
• .(wmv or .mov)
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4. Images:
• take into consideration colors – avoid pastels
• resolution:
• small enough to fit on screen but large enough to
see details
• color blindness (8-12% of males, .04-1% of females)
• green/red - combinations most common
• Check website: http://colorfilter.wickline.org/
• file types:
• .jpg
• .gif
• .png
• Online Imwage Editing: http://pixlr.com
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5. Getting Student’s Attention:
• http://blabberize.com/view?id=79944
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6. VoiceThreads
http://voicethread.com
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7. Spanish Grammar Class
Instructor speaking:
Student speaking:
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8. Math Example:
http://voicethread.com/#q.b8752.i68307
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9. Other VoiceThread Examples:
• http://voicethread.com/?#u4289.b3352.i28616
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10. Other VoiceThread Examples:
• http://voicethread.com/#q+art.b81021.i420528º
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11. Other VoiceThread Examples:
• http://voicethread.com/#q.b48359.i253692
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12. What others are using it for:
• Discussion Board Alternative
• Visual and Oral Assessments
• Instructor Presentation
• Student Presentations
• Tutorials
• Assignment/Syllabus Overview
• Digital Portfolios
• Audio Feedback for individual Students
• Lab reports
• Math process
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13. Account Information:
Free: - unlimited commenting, 3 voicethreads, 75 MG free stor-
age space
• Single user – unlimited number of voicethreads, 10 G stor-
age space, phone commenting, archival movie exports, create
and manage groups
• Higher Ed Manager – create accounts for students and col-
leagues
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14. Discussion Board Rubric Examples:
http://www.udel.edu/janet/MARC2006/rubric.html
http://www.txdla.org/Conference/2008/program/presenterre-
sources/299_DiscussionBoardRubrics.pdf
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15. Video: YouTube and other Video/Film Resources
The periodic table of video - all the elements explained.
• http://www.periodicvideos.com/
Rock Videos
• https://www.e-education.psu.edu/geosc10_web/l13_p2.html
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16. Created for education, the edu site was created specifically for
college and unversities to act as a filter.
• http://www.youtube.com and http://www.youtube.com/edu
A site created specifcally for instructional videos
• http://www.teachertube.com/
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17. Audio: Podcasting and other Audio Resources
Collections of recordings:
• http://odeo.com/
• http://epnweb.org/index.php
Foreign Language (including english as a sec-
ond language and business english)
• http://www.openculture.com/2006/10/
foreign_languag.html
iTunes University - specifically for college and
universities:
• iTunesU
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18. Nibepedia
http://nibipedia.com/
Example:
http://www.nibipedia.com/app.html?view=video&channel=nibi
pedia&playlist=545D828359E5CC5B&videoId=iZsVrHCPOio
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19. Powerpoint
How to avoid a bad Powerpoint presentation.
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cagxPlVqrtM
Adding Audio Narration to a Powerpoint
• http://www.slideshare.net/delhionlineeducation/adding-au-
dio-narration-to-powerpoint
Slideware: a place to store and share your presentations:
• http://www.slideshare.net
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