e-Learning Ecologies MOOC’s Updates
Authoring Tools
In our society, people have laptop computers, desktop computers, tablets, and smartphones, they use each type of device to learn. One problem is that elearning is not always available across all platforms. Now there is responsive eLearning which is the adaption of content across devices. Many authoring tools provide responsive layout as an option. Authoring tools allow a designer to create engaging content without needing to learn how to program. I believe that authoring tools contribute to the ability to learn on many different devices.
I have used authoring tools to develop engaging content which can be consumed on on any device. Not all authoring tools are the same. For a comparison see eLearning authoring tool comparison at https://elearningindustry.com/directory/software-categories/elearning-authoring-tools?gclid=Cj0KCQjwt5zsBRD8ARIsAJfI4BjWtcPdSr9PqhsD3oYyUNmtyJlwsNrJCR_vv0ypF0_RHRAkbAJ7KT0aApJ5EALw_wcB.
Many authoring tools allowing saving of content to DVD, website, or LMS. They can be saved as SCROM compliant zip files to be uploaded into an LMS. This has allowed educational content on an LMS available on any device.
I am most familiar with Articulate Storyline 360. I designed a course to train community researchers. This program was used throughout Arkansas to train people in the communities who were involved in research projects conducted by the universities and non-profits in the state.
The authoring tools make it easier to develop interactive, engaging learning modules. They also make it easier to design for all devices used in our society today, without having to design separately for each device.,
Kathleen Boyle
Posted 3 days ago
Comment
Hi Kathleen. Is your content viewable or an outline of it to see the whole context?
Learning on multiple devices is apart of our culture and I believe will continue to evolve over time as technology continues to progress. Prior to getting into instructional design, I had never considered a college student taking a course completely on their cell phone including writing entire papers. The more time I have spent managing and developing courses the more I see the need to focus on mobile friendly development which has certainly gotten easier to facilitate over the last five years.
Thinking not only of people that needs to switch between devices, but also about users that cannot afford other devices and only has access to a smartphone. One is also more likely to have your phone with you everywhere you go. Availability accross all platforms is essential!
As an instructional designer I've used several authoring tools, but I'm trying to merge a little of my creative process with analog tools, such as post-its, concept maps, mind maps, among other strategies, and only then create something already idealized in some way. authoring tool. My reflection is on how much using just one or two tools can limit the creative process, I'm still thinking a lot about this issue.
I agree it is very important to design for use across all devices. That is how we live now: on the go, switching between devices. So, it's important to use a program that will allow the design to be used across platforms. I like the Articulate program.