Creating Web-Based CoursePacks that Move with You

ITC eLearning, 2/22/10
Rhonda Ficek, Director, Instructional Technology Services,
Minnesota State University Moorhead
http://www.mnstate.edu/home/

Rhonda Ficek will describe software that allows users to create their own Web-based instructional materials, packaged professionally as a course pack, that can be uploaded to any course management system or Web site. Emerging applications make it easy to create standards-compliant units of instruction that are interactive and media-rich – content instructors can package with embedded audio and video, interactive learning activities, headers and navigation areas. Instructors no longer need to depend on textbook publishers or Web specialists – these applications are easy and userfriendly. Ficek will compare the software applications — Adobe Acrobat, SoftChalk, Wimba Create, uDuTu, and exeLearning.

Notes:
eXeLearning (free)
- XHTML Editor
- Export as a SCORM and import into any LMS
- Self-contained web pages
- iDevices – templates of screens available for creating content (ex: Image Gallery)
- Use the outline tool to create content and organize within an outline hierarchy
- Ability to embed audio using an HTML design view and toolbar, adds a player interface for media
- Once you complete your lesson design, choose export
- Using SCORM Quiz iDevice, this integrates with LMS gradebook

Using iDevices with eXeLearning
1. Add Pages
2. Drag iDevices onto pages
3. Export lesson as .zip and upload to CMS/LMS

Adobe Acrobat 9 Pro: PDF Portfolios ($20 for Pro version)
- Integrates multiple files into single PDF
- Many Layout Grids with File Preview (to see what’s in your portfolio)
- Create your own nav bar a
- Works with version 8 reader
- List with file preview
- This is truly an incredible feature creating learning modules that can exist outside of your LMS

Softchalk ($)
- offers a new media serch feature that pulls in content from open source web resources
- Merlot, YouTube, Creative Commons
- Publish as a SCORM, zip, self contained website

Udutu (free)
- Web based ($1 per page per month if you use their server
- Self contained webpages (.zip)
- Publish and export content
- Authoring library

Create content that is mobile between various delivery options
(Web, CMS, CD, Mobile Devices)

Links:
http://exelearning.org
Open Source authoring application to assist teachers and academics in the publishing of web content

http://mnstate.edu/instrtech/SCModules/
Learning resources by Rhonda Ficek

http://www.radiojames.com/ObjectivesBuilder/
Uses Bloom’s Taxonomy and provides all the verbs for creating your learning objectives

http://softchalk.com/
Authoring Tool For Easy Content Creation

http://www.udutu.com/
Online learning simulations made easy

Terms:
Widgets – windowed objects