Online Education Sources;
1. http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/bitesize//
This website offers multiple ways of learning. Firstly, there are the simple fact-file type pages on each subject, divided into sections. The user would read this and take in the information. Then or instead of, there are tests for each section in order to check whether the user fully understands the key concepts and facts about that particular subject. Furthermore, within some subjects, for example languages, they have voice clips in order to aid the user in learning how native people from that language pronounce words etc. They also offer educational games in which the user must answer questions relating to a chosen subject. I think that this website is a good education source as it provides a variety of different methods in which the user can learn - if one method does not work, another method is likely. The site targets all three learning styles - visual, auditory and kinetic. Visual is the display of information in text or image form, auditary takes form in examples such as voice clips and kinetic involves the user actually doing something - for example, tests and games. Furthermore, if the user completes all three of these, it is more likely that the information learnt will stick for longer and they are more likely to achieve more from it.
2. http://www.lynda.com/home/DisplayCourse.aspx?lpk2=113
This website offers a video and voice clip in order to explain to users about blogs. This is effective as it is likely to interest many users and keep their attention throughout. Also, by having both video and voice over, it targets two of the three learning styles stated above, which will therefore make the information more evident and more likely to be remembered at a later date.
3. http://www.bayhouselearning.co.uk/
This site uses SCORM. This is Sharable Content Object Reference Model - a selection of principles and conditions used in e-learning. The SCORM method allows access from both home and school computers. Teachers can set homework and other tasks from this and students can complete this at home or at school and then upload them onto the VLE. This saves time and money – students do not have to use ink printing out certain documents etc and also there is no time wasted in handing documents over. Also, this method can be used as an alternative to book work.
http://www.lynda.com/home/DisplayCourse.aspx?lpk2=113
I used this website to use and research Flash learning. It is an online demonstration in which a voice over explains what needs to be done in order to create and manage a blog. The video is of the screen, displaying what the voice over explains. I found this very effective as it offers a way of visual and auditory learning as opposed to the conventional merely visual learning online via e-learning etc. Also, by having two of these learning techniques used within the Flash demonstration, I believe that it would be easier to pick up and understand almost instantaneously - it offers a double effect when learning. People usually re-read peices of text anyway when trying to learn and this gives them the effect of the additional read. However, by using computers to explain and teach, it means that if you do not understand, it will require you to send an email or something similar in order to recieve feedback for this - however, this does take time. Furthermore, some may argue that by just being shown the correct method and the way to get there, you don't really learn anything - many believe that humans need to make errors and correct themselves in order to learn appropiately. Overall, however, I think this is an effective way to learn - it will appeal to a wide range of users and also I believe it is a good teaching method as it uses two of the three possible learning styles.
http://frog.edschool.virginia.edu/Frog2/Dissection/Incisions/muscle1_first.html
This website prepares students for a frog disection. It explains the theory step-by-step and then uses simulations of a frog so that you get it correct at each stage. By doing this, it prepares students so that they have more of a chance of getting the practical correct and therefore improving skills. Also, computers interest younger children more - they are more willing to learn via a computer. Also, schools can use this as an alternative to using actual frogs as this may cause controversy within a class - some may not feel it is right to cut up a real frog. Furthermore, if this happens and an alternative is suggested like learning from the book, this appeals more as you can still actually do the disection but with a virtual frog instead of a real one.
Advantages to using e-learning
- Lessons can be attended wherever you are - as long as there is a computer and connection to the internet, it is possible to learn.
- Learning is available at any time - there are no timetables or specific time rules to abide by. This allows people to learn around previous commitments etc, for example work.
- Courses are liable to be cheaper to sign up to - if you had to go somewhere specific to learn, a teacher would be required and therefore you would have to cover the cost of the course and the educator.
- Any course can be taken as long as it is on the online courses list.
Disadvantages of using e-learning
- Help cannot be retrieved immediately - if the user does not understand something, they will have to submit a question and wait for a reply. This would take longer than usual classroom situations.
- Completing the course could prove to be a challenge for some users - they might use excuses not to log on and learn at times and therefore get into habits and take a very long time to complete or not at all. In a classroom situation, there are times to abide by and educators to ensure you learn and complete the course.
- Some people learn in different ways - often e-learning will be displayed as text - some people find it easier to learn by listening or doing, instead of reading etc.
This webpage informs users about a numerous amount of different subjects. It is aimed at A-level and vocational students who wish to further their knowledge online. The site uses numerous pictures in order to engage the reader - these relate to the subject(s) in which the user chooses to look at. The site has been well designed for its target audience as it has a reasonable amount of text and a of a medium sized font - this is particularly well suited to A-level students etc as they will not get bored reading it and find it easier to read smaller sized fonts than older users. The site uses navigation techniques such as buttons and hyperlinks and simple layout in order to aid the user in finding the area they wish to visit. There is also an additional search box function in which the user can type in the particular subject they are searching for. This produces a list of hyperlinks in which they may find what they were looking for, meaning minimal effort and time wasted in searching for a particular subject.
The site is very effective as a teaching tool - the user can easily find what they are looking for and study it carefully. However, there are some disadvantages. Firstly, the user must be connected to the internet to learn - this could prove costly. Also, some students may not be computer literate - this means that if they wish to learn from the site, it could become significantly more difficult (finding subjects etc). Furthermore, understanding the key concepts and language of the information on the site can be an issue. There are no tools in which aid users to understand better - e.g. there is no help, unlike a real classroom situation. Overall, however, the site appears to be a very useful object to aid further education.
- On the Virginia Library version of the ebook, the contents page has a list of hyperlinks to take the user to different sections of the book. This is useful as it helps navigate around the book. However, the link takes the user to that specific act/scene and from there, you can seemingly only read that act/scene. You then have to return to the contents page to select another act or scene. The Ebooks Cube version is fairly similar in respect to the use of a contents page for initial navigation, however, once one is clicked from there, there is a helpful navigation tool at the bottom of the page that allows the user to read on a page, go back a page, go back to the contents, etc.
- The text on the Virginia Library copy of the book is displayed via blocks of text on one page for one certain scene or act. The user must then return in order to view other pages. For the Ebooks Cube version, the structure is much more like a traditional book with pages that hold a set amount of text and the user can "turn" the page to read more.
The Ebooks Cube version of Hamlet is considerably better than the Virginia Library one as it is easier to use through navigation and much easier to read.
