SESSION 10: PROJECTS

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY.

Click HERE to access my project.
Describe the context of your work:
     I have developed a training manual entitled “essential components for effective eLearning delivery.” The entire process enabled me to reflect on information presented in various articles I read about eLearning delivery along with what I have learned in this class. I now have a broader understanding about eLearning delivery and assessment because I have presented information in the best way I understood. All these will be implemented when I will be conducting my online classes so that learners can benefit.

Developing this project helped me to interact with Google sites and evaluate how the final product will look like.

Give details about the content area and other considerations that both make the project you take on useful to you, and also that influence design choices that you make in doing the project:

     This manual will be a self-paced training manual about eLearning delivery. It is a leaner- centered product. I have presented four major topics which I felt are critical. These include:

- Representing information to online learners. 

- Facilitating interactions in eLearning setting.

- Tools to use in eLearning delivery.

- Best practices in eLearning delivery.

     I believe constructivism approach was used in coming up with this assignment. The theory provides that creation of authentic tasks promotes knowledge and meaningful learning (Keengwe, Onchwari & Agamba, 2014). In addition the authors have mentioned, interacting with learning materials helps learners to develop a deeper understanding to solve problems. This projected helped me to learn more tools that can be used to deliver content in an online learning environment. I have embedded a You-Tube video which has presented top 100 tools to use in learning. Due to drastic advances in technology and the desired need to incorporate technology into teaching and learning, online instructors have to undergo training/refresher courses to keep at per with these developments. This is what prompted me to develop this product.

Describe your development process:

     While developing the product, I interacted with a variety of learning resources which helped me to gather information I have presented in the manual as well as understand better how eLearning delivery should be facilitated. The process was hectic because I had assignments from other classes I was taking and I was running short of time, even though am glad I covered all I had aspired to cover. I used Google sites, the first time am developing a product using Google sites. I found it to be easy and convenient to use because I could upload files, video, embed a PowerPoint presentation and links to make page navigation easy. I also collected feedback to help me improve it further. This is not the final product, I will keep on improving it by providing more information. I will use it in future as a resource material to remind me about issues to do with eLearning delivery.

Discuss your results:

     The final product looks great and I believe it will be useful to readers. I chose it to be an online product to make it easily accessible, convenient to the readers so that they can learn at their own pace, and also as Keengwe, Onchwari & Agamba (2014) says, eLearning enables people to acquire competitive edge to keep up with the rapidly changing global environment.

BIBLIOGRAPHY.

Chickering, A. and Gamson, Z. (1987). Seven principles for good practice in undergraduate education. Washington Center News. Retrieved from http://www.lonestar.edu/multimedia/SevenPrinciples.pdf

Clark, R. , & Mayer, R. (2011). E-learning and the Science of Instruction: Proven Guidelines for Consumers and Designers of Multimedia Learning. San Francisco, Calif.: Pfeiffer.

Huang, X. , & Hsiao, E. (2012). Synchronous and asynchronous communication in an online environment: Faculty experiences and perceptions. Quarterly Review of Distance Education, 13(1), 15-30.

Keengwe, J. , Onchwari, G. , & Agamba, J. (2014). Promoting effective e-learning practices through the constructivist pedagogy. Education and Information Technologies, 19(4), 887-898.

Taylor, R. (2002). Pros and cons of online learning – a faculty perspective. Journal of European Industrial Training, 26(1), 24-37.

Volery, T. , & Lord, D. (2000). Critical success factors in online education. International Journal of Educational Management, 14(5), 216-223.

York, C. , & Richardson, J. (2012). Interpersonal interaction in online learning: Experienced online instructors' perceptions of influencing factors. Journal of Asynchronous Learning Networks, 16(4), 83-98.