[DG: Teaching & Learning] [DG: User Experience] User Experience] Interesting blog post on CMS user interfaces
Michael S Elledge
elledge at msu.edu
Tue Nov 3 10:24:48 PST 2009
You may also want to look at the approach aTutor uses for creating
course content which as I recall uses the syllabus as the starting
point...promotes accessible content, too. :^)
http://www.atutor.ca/atutor/demo.php
Mike
michael feldstein wrote:
> Moodle provides a number of different structures. The time/topic
> structure is the default and by far the most popular (and the most
> polished), but it's not the only one. It might make sense for some
> folks to spend some time looking at what they've done.
>
> - m
>
>
> On 11/3/2009 1:16 PM, Daphne Ogle wrote:
>> Yes, thanks for sharing Michael. Mathieu's post makes me wonder if
>> we have a good understanding of the multiple types of course/activity
>> structures we need to support in Sakai 3? It seems Moodle handles
>> the syllabus/time-based and topic-based structures which make sense.
>> Are there others? Understanding these will be key to creating the
>> right context, cues, flows to help faculty build there course space
>> in ways that match their mental models and then represent the course
>> in ways that make sense to students.
>>
>> -Daphne
>>
>> On Nov 3, 2009, at 6:21 AM, Plourde, Mathieu wrote:
>>
>>> 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,
>>>
>>> =================================
>>>
>>> Mathieu Plourde, MBA
>>> Project Leader, LMS/Instructional Designer
>>> IT-Client Support & Services
>>> mathieu at udel.edu <mailto:mathieu at udel.edu>
>>>
>>> =================================
>>>
>>> TOP LINKS:
>>>
>>> Technology Troubleshooting: http://www.udel.edu/help
>>> Sakai at UD Support and Training: http://www.udel.edu/sakai/training
>>>
>>> =================================
>>>
>>> *From:* sakai-ux-bounces at collab.sakaiproject.org
>>> <mailto: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
>>> <mailto: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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>>
>> Daphne Ogle
>> Senior Interaction Designer
>> University of California, Berkeley
>> Educational Technology Services
>> daphne at media.berkeley.edu <mailto:daphne at media.berkeley.edu>
>> cell (925)348-4372
>>
>>
>>
>>
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>
> --
>
>
> Oracle <http://www.oracle.com>
> Michael Feldstein | Principal Product Manager | +1.818.817.2925
> Oracle Academic Enterprise Solutions Group
> 23A Glendale Road, Glendale, MA 01229
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