This document discusses online learning and eLearning. It defines eLearning as education facilitated by electronic technologies to access educational curriculum outside of a traditional classroom. It notes the popularity of eLearning is due to factors such as increased access to resources, interactivity, and lower costs. The document outlines different forms of eLearning from fully online to blended models. It also discusses instructional design approaches, developing online content and materials, facilitating communication, and delivering online content. Emerging trends in online learning mentioned include open educational resources, massive open online courses, open badges, and the use of learning analytics, video, social media and mobile devices.

1. Commonwealth Educational
Media Centre for Asia
Preparing Online
Materials
Understanding foundations of online learning
Sanjaya Mishra
Director, Commonwealth Educational Media Centre for Asia, new Delhi

2. Overview
 eLearning or Online Learning
 Forms of eLearning
 Instructional Design for eLearning
 Designing Online Learning Environments
 Trends in Online Learning

3. What is eLearning?
(Source: © Sharma & Mishra, 2007)

4. Why eLearning is popular?
 Access to educational resources from outside
the institution;
 Quick and easy way to create, update and
revise course materials;
 Increased interaction with student through e-
mail and discussion forums;
 Location and time independent delivery of
course materials;
 Multimedia capabilities enabling instructional
designers to prepare quality learning
materials;
 Interactive and dynamic learning experience
through online assessment tools;

5. Why eLearning is popular?
 Platform independent delivery, accessible
through any computer with a simple browser
interface;
 Increased learner control through hypertext
based presentation of information;
 Opportunities for international, cross-cultural
and collaborative learning; and
 Ability to serve a large number of students at
a potentially reduced cost.

6. Forms of eLearning
Type 1 Type 2 Type 3
Web
integrated in
the
classroom to
supplement
teaching
Web used in
a mixed
mode (as
blended
learning)
Web used
independently
as a stand
alone system

7. Instructional Design for eLearning
(Source: © Mishra, 2002)
Learning activities
Learner supportContent
Behaviourism Cognitivism
Constructivism
Participation in
discussion forum
Email contact
Reading of lessons
•Learner guide
•Mentor support
•Online library
•Social interaction
•Synchronous chat
-counselling
•Objective-
based course
units
•Self-
assessment
online

8. ERIC-Model
CONSTRUCT EXPERIENCE
INTERACT REFLECT
Source: © Sharma & Mishra, 2007)

9. Designing Online Learning
 Needs Analysis
 Learner Profile
 Organization Profile
 Development of a Blueprint
 Institutional preparation
 Learning material development
 Evaluation
 Promotion
 Maintenance and Updating

10. Developing Online Learning Content
Types of Contents
 Text, plain or formatted
 Hybrid text/graphics documents, such as
Adobe Acrobat
 Colour images, still and animated or videos
 Sound
 3-D models
 Interaction or simulation using JavaScript, VB
Script, ActiveX

11. Developing Online Learning Content
Media Types
 Text
 Graphics/Images
 Audio and Video
 Animations and 3D
models
Tools/Formats
 Word processor, PDF, HTML
editor
 GIF, JPEG format image
documents using photo editors
and graphic suits
 MPEG-2, and MPEG-4 for Video
and Mp3/Ogg Vorbis for audio
most widely used format.
These can be developed using
digital video/audio capture
tools
 Flash animation, VRML

12. Facilitating Online Learning
Communication Tools
 Electronic Mail
 Discussion Board
 Mailing List
 Chat
 Blogs
 Micro-blogging
 Wikis
 Social networking/bookmarking

13. Delivering Online Learning
 Synchronous (eg. Delivered using video
conference tools)
 Asynchronous (mainly through use of Learning
Management Systems)
 Both synchronous and asynchronous
 Using hosted Services in any suitable
platform
 Innovative Practices

14. Innovative Practice Example
• SLM Development, 2008
• Sanjaya Mishra trained 20
individuals to write self-
learning materials
• Used weekly reading and
GoogleGroup
• Wiki-based Tasks to
develop SLM using wiki
• Learning contract,
certification, online
activities, visible outputs

15. TRENDS IN ONLINE LEARNING

16. Open Educational Resources
 Reuse
 Revise
 Remix
 Redistribute
– No permissions required
– Released in open license

17. Massive Open Online Courses
 Large enrolments
 Freely available, not
necessarily in open license
 Online and required
networked connections
 Courses, meaning designed
and delivered by teachers,
in cohorts as opposed to
OER

18. Open Badges
 Identity management
 Authenticating learning and skills
 Banking of skills and display online

19. Other Trends
 Learning Analytics
 Video Learning
 Social Media
 Mobile Devices

20. Thank You