Content Organization in Online Learning Environments

CONTENT ORGANIZATIONIN ONLINE LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS

KATHERINE HEPWORTH, PHD

IN THIS SESSION

• Online course communication

• Content organization

• Performance load

• Student performance load

ANATOMY OF ONLINE COURSE COMMUNICATION

Content

Content organization


Aesthetics


Interaction


Audience


CONTENT ORGANIZATION=STRUCTURE

CONTENT ORGANIZATION

CONTENT HIERARCHY

• TEXTUAL

• VISUAL

INFORMATION ARCHITECTURE

FRONT END

BACK END

STARTING POINT: NO/POOR CONTENT ORGANIZATION

FIRST: INFORMATION ARCHITECTURE

SECOND:VISUAL HIERARCHY

THIRD:TEXTUAL HIERARCHY

ALL THREE STAGESIN DRAFT FORM

WHY?

It helps students learn.

HOW?

By managing students' performance load.

WHAT IS PERFORMANCE LOAD?

PERFORMANCE LOAD

• The greater the effort to accomplish a task, the less likely the task will be accomplished successfully.

• Two parts…

PERFORMANCE LOAD

A student >>

Kinesthetic load(clicks)

Cognitive load(processing)

ZONE OF PROXIMAL DEVELOPMENT

• The range of potential learning.

EFFORT-OMETER

EFFORT-OMETER

PERFORMANCE OVERLOAD!

CONDITIONS INCREASINGPERFORMANCE LOAD

ANATOMICAL STRESSORS:TEENAGE BRAIN DEVELOPMENT

• Circadian shift

• Synaptic pruning

• Developing prefrontal cortex


ENVIRONMENTAL STRESSORS:STUDENT LIVING

• Interaction with peers

• Overexertion & overwork

• Hangovers

• Lack of sleep


SUMMARY:Given optimal conditions, students can barely focus on course content.

TAKE A BREAK!(FIVE MINUTES)

CONTENT ORGANIZATION PART 2MANAGING STUDENT PERFORMANCE LOAD IN YOUR WEBCAMPUS COURSE

1 USE LESS TEXT

1 USE LESS TEXT

COGNITION PRINCIPLESIGNAL TO NOISE RATIO

The ratio of relevant to irrelevant information in any communication.

SIGNAL TO NOISE RATIO

1 USE LESS TEXT

1 USE LESS TEXT

WEBCAMPUS COMMUNICATION STRATEGY

Summarize:

Review all course material.

Then halve it.

2 ORDER TEXT

2 ORDER TEXT

COGNITION PRINCIPLEAESTHETIC USABILITY EFFECT

Attractively presented information is easier to remember.

AESTHETIC USABILITY EFFECT

2 ORDER TEXT


Use lists, tables, and subheadings constantly.

2 ORDER TEXT

3 USE INFOGRAPHICS

COGNITION PRINCIPLEPICTURE SUPERIORITY EFFECT

Pictures are remembered better than words.

3 USE INFOGRAPHICS

PICTURE SUPERIORITY EFFECT

3 USE INFOGRAPHICS

3 USE INFOGRAPHICS


Illustrate points often

4 REVEAL OFTEN

4 REVEAL OFTEN

COGNITION PRINCIPLEPROGRESSIVE DISCLOSURE

Only provide information necessary to complete the current task.

PROGRESSIVE DISCLOSURE

4 REVEAL OFTEN


Staggered release

4 REVEAL OFTEN

STAGGERED RELEASE

4 REVEAL OFTEN

5 DRUM HOME DATES

5 DRUM HOME DATES

COGNITION PRINCIPLELOGICAL REDUNDANCY

The use of more elements than necessary to improve communication effectiveness.

LOGICAL REDUNDANCY

5 DRUM HOME DATES


Repeat due dates and other crucial information often.

5 DRUM HOME DATES

6 OPEN & CLOSE BIG

6 OPEN & CLOSE BIG

COGNITION PRINCIPLESERIAL POSITION EFFECTS

Items presented at the beginning and end of a list are more likely to be recalled.

SERIAL POSITION EFFECTS

6 OPEN & CLOSE BIG


Make beginnings and endings count

in courses, lessons, and lectures.

They will be remembered best.

6 OPEN & CLOSE BIG

LASTLY, REMEMBER:

Bad content organization hinders your students'

learning.

Good content organization contributes to your

students' success.

THANK YOU

Any questions?

Content Organization in Online Learning Environments

Education

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