[DG: Teaching & Learning] User Experience] Interesting blog post on CMS user interfaces

Tue Nov 3 06:21:06 PST 2009

Funny that this thing has come to a full circle... Anyone remember VirtualU? The default course was a long table organized as a list of event with links to discussions and resources.

I think the goal of that article was not to say that organizing your content in a calendar was the best way to think, but that the defaults are what most faculty will select.

If Sakai 3's default is to present multiple options in terms of course/activity structure, and can support faculty in choosing an appropriate one to start with, half the battle will be won.

Best Regards,

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Mathieu Plourde, MBA
Project Leader, LMS/Instructional Designer
IT-Client Support & Services
mathieu at udel.edu

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TOP LINKS:

Technology Troubleshooting: http://www.udel.edu/help
Sakai at UD Support and Training: http://www.udel.edu/sakai/training

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From: sakai-ux-bounces at collab.sakaiproject.org [mailto:sakai-ux-bounces at collab.sakaiproject.org] On Behalf Of Jacques Raynauld
Sent: Tuesday, November 03, 2009 8:51 AM
To: Sakai UX
Cc: Michael Korcuska; pedagogy at collab.sakaiproject.org Learning
Subject: Re: User Experience] Interesting blog post on CMS user interfaces

I also agree.  It is a very interesting article. I have always been struck by the Moodle first page template that naturally leads to a week or theme interpretation by users.  I think it is one of the important factor that explains Moodle popularity. This is the kind of need we wanted to adress in Sakai/Open Syllabus ... but in a more semantic way than Moodle.

Jacques Raynauld
HEC Montréal

-------- Message original --------
Sujet : Re: [DG: User Experience] Interesting blog post on CMS user    interfaces
De : harriet at caret.cam.ac.uk<mailto:harriet at caret.cam.ac.uk>
Pour : Michael Korcuska <mkorcuska at sakaifoundation.org><mailto:mkorcuska at sakaifoundation.org>
Copie à : "pedagogy at collab.sakaiproject.org Learning"<mailto:pedagogy at collab.sakaiproject.orgLearning> <pedagogy at collab.sakaiproject.org><mailto:pedagogy at collab.sakaiproject.org>, Sakai UX <sakai-ux at collab.sakaiproject.org><mailto:sakai-ux at collab.sakaiproject.org>
Date : 2009-11-03 04:58

Very interesting - thanks Michael!

There were a couple of paras that struck me particularly as relating to the

possibilities for the new Sakai 3:

"The buttons link to pages that simply provide a place to upload a document,

which is exactly what most instructors do: upload word-processed files of their

classroom materials. They are encouraged to "plug in" their content under the

appropriate category instead of envisioning a translation of their individual

pedagogical style into an online environment. Blackboard "tends to encourage a

linear pathway through the content" [3], and its default is to support easy

uploading and text entry to achieve that goal.

The construction of the course syllabus is a familiar beginning point for most

instructors, yet few CMSs consider this. It would be natural and useful for

novice instructors to see a blank schedule into which they could create each

week's or unit's activities, rather than a selection of pre-set buttons or

links. Most professors think in terms of the semester, and how their

pedagogical goals can be achieved within the context of time, rather than

space. Some think in terms of topics they want to cover. Blackboard/WebCT's

default organization accepts neither of these approaches in its initial

interface. It forces the instructor to think in terms of content types instead,

breaking the natural structure of the semester, or of a list of topics. Again,

we know that the setup can be customized with relative ease, by going to the

Control Panel and selecting Manage Course Menu, then using Modify buttons. You

could change all the course menu buttons into "Week 1", "Week 2", or organize

by topic instead of content type. But few professors try that, or they assume

that they can't do it. Blackboard can be highly intimidating to learn, and may

"seriously hinder" choices the faculty member makes while using the tool [4].

Faculty are led by the interface of a CMS not only because they do not

immediately see an alternative, but because the familiar signposts (the

Syllabus button) imply a single way of completing the task (upload a document).

Only the Moodle system provides a default setup that looks like a calendar-style

syllabus ..."

I'd agree very strongly with this statement about pedagogies, and the initial

presentation of potential course structures, rather than tools, to the

lecturer, seems to be something that Sakai 3 has the potential to support

"Although it is an oversimplification, it is useful to separate course

management systems into two types: Opt-In and Opt-Out. In an Opt-Out system

(such as Blackboard) all the features are available by default and must be

excluded to avoid confusing students. Opt-Out systems are most likely to

overwhelm Web novices, because they present an array of tools, and the tendency

is to reduce cognitive load by using the defaults. In an Opt-In system (such as

Moodle), the instructor selects each activity and presentation factor from a

menu list, effectively designing much of the interface for students. Fewer

defaults are pre-set, forcing the instructor to think holistically about the

class structure. Features such as chat, polls, and interactive lessons as

options presented with the same weight as more traditional text-based

resources. Thus there is less of an implication that presentation is key, and

more of an implication that interactivity is important. In an Opt-In

environment, the instructor makes choices about context on a macro level, and

choices about features and tools on a micro level. This makes it possible to

explore pedagogical options more freely"

Again, perhaps a future strength of Sakai 3?

Harriet

Quoting Michael Korcuska <mkorcuska at sakaifoundation.org><mailto:mkorcuska at sakaifoundation.org>:

It's worth a read....

http://firstmonday.org/htbin/cgiwrap/bin/ojs/index.php/fm/article/view/2530/2303

--

Michael Korcuska

Executive Director, Sakai Foundation

mkorcuska at sakaifoundation.org<mailto:mkorcuska at sakaifoundation.org>

phone: +1 510-859-4247 (google voice)

skype: mkorcuska

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