EDITOR'S NOTE:

The Modality Principle

The other day I walked into our living room where my husband was watching a movie with sub-titles. I stopped and watched over his shoulder for a few minutes. However, I soon tired of having to concentrate on reading the text while simultaneously trying to figure out what was going on in the scene. I left to do something else.

This experience reminded me of the “Modality Principle” presented by Clark and Mayer in numerous studies on cognitive learning. They postulate that when it comes to cognitive learning, especially in an eLearning environment, it is best to stick to the use of audio narration to explain a visual presentation because it enhances understanding and related problem solving.

When graphics are presented along with explanatory text, both are competing for the same limited visual channel of the learner. Basically, the viewer cannot look at the written description and the graphic at the same time. Using a verbal explanation instead of text reduces the demand on the visual channel.

Keep this principle in mind when designing your next course. Visual overload can be detrimental to the overall success of your course.

Have a wonderful month.

Laureen

EXPERT'S CORNER:

NEW FEATURE: Home Page
We have just added a new feature to myUdutu - the "Home Page" option. This feature allows you to create a home page, complete with links, using any screen template in myUdutu. Watch this Udututorial to see how to create yours.

Udututorial 19 - How to Create a Home Page in myUdutu

TIPS, TECHIQUES AND IDEAS:

eLearning Development Tools: Tips on keeping the learner in mind
Excerpt from: "162 Tips and Tricks for Working with e-Learning Tools"
ELearning Guild eBooks

• The user's experience is more important than the content. Always develop with the user in mind, and make sure the navigation is intuitive. An advanced user may want to move ahead quickly, while a novice user may want more hand holding. While it takes more resources to develop a package that users can control, it will truly benefit the users if you do.
  
• Whatever tool you use, it is important to engage students from the start. Immediate success builds self-esteem, and gives the courage to go ahead. Most learners, and especially adult learners, are afraid of failure, so present them with a short, and very clearly formulated, test or learning activity that they cannot fail at. Following this up with immediate, positive feedback will fill the students with excitement, and motivate them to go ahead with the more challenging material and tools.
  
• Tap into the Power of Emotions: Recent advances in brain research in the last fifteen years have revealed the extraordinary complexities and fundamental effects of emotions on learning. This research highlights the DOMINANT power of emotions on learning. As a result, it is important to find design strategies that tap into emotions, especially in situations where you expect learners to be more self-directed and independent.
  
  To view more tips, download the free ebook!

FEATURED ARTICLE:

Recession, Education and Income: Thinking outside the box

Recession! The word can strike terror in the heart. When they hear that word, many people imagine struggle, become fearful or lose hope of ever achieving their dreams. But it doesn't have to be that way. In this month's article I want to throw out some money making ideas for you to consider. It may be just the thing you need to stimulate your creativity as we face uncertain times.

Read more ...

RAVE REVIEWS:
WorkSafeBC
By Randy Schisler: Senior Manager, Education & Development Services

"When WorkSafeBC undertook to provide its first online course to its community of professional decision makers located in Vancouver and its 13 area offices, the project faced a number of challenges. Foremost amongst these was the need to create engaging and pedagogically sound learning materials for a complex subject area (weighing evidence and making decisions) and to make the course relevant and useful to 800 very experienced officers in six different job groups as well as to new employees in core training. Another challenge was a lack of experienced staff to develop online courses. We were pleased to work with the Udutu Online Learning Systems team and their innovative authoring system to create this course, which turned out to be highly successful. Officers found the course interesting and easy to navigate. The support received from the Udutu team was excellent."