Posted 6:54 AM by George Siemens
Copy & Content
Quote: "Generally speaking, the writers of content came to the Web in advance of copywriters."

Comment: This article is follows a theme of an article posted last week on the differences between information architecture and graphic design. This is an important distinction to make when developing online courses. IA first, content presentation second. With courses I've taken online, I find that I value a clear navigation/organization structure more than a "good look". However, if the organization is in place, the design/look/feel becomes important. via elearnpost

Staying the Course
Quote: "No one has exact numbers, but there is a general agreement that attrition is higher in online courses than in classroom-delivered courses. High drop-out rates have been attributed to the demographics of online students, the inexperience of online faculty, poorly designed e-learning technologies, flawed course design, and low bandwidth. Whatever the root cause, I believe the problem can be largely solved through accountability."

Comment: Short article - highlights the critical role of the instructor. One of the big advantages of elearning (often claimed) is the ability for self-directed students to work at their own pace. Great...but it can go too far. Instructors are in danger of abondoning students if they adhere too much to the view that "students are adults, they'll contact me if they need help". Instructors should allow students to move at their own pace - but still stay in touch - let them know someone is out there.

Learning to Teach with Technology
Comment: Worth reading just for the diagram listing the stages of learning to teach with technology.

Time for Straight Talk on Technology
Quote: "Considering all the "evident" benefits offered by personal computing devices, you might naturally assume that more people would want to enrich their lives with new technologies. Therefore, I'm surprised by the slowdown in technology adoption that many pundits are now blaming on the economy."

Comment: This article touches on the heart of why technology adoption is slow in many classrooms: "The average person using technology often faces an unfamiliar vocabulary of acronyms and abstract high-tech terms that he or she doesn't understand. When purchasing, setting up and even using technology devices, this lack of understanding only serves to confuse, paralyze and frustrate. Even worse, as technology continues to innovate, the technology vocabulary constantly increases."
Simplify.

Stanford Guidelines for Web Credibility
Comment: Translates well to online learning.