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

Sun Nov 15 15:59:55 PST 2009

Thanks for these links Joanna. I am curious to know more about the Tomorrow's Professor collaboration. It looks like a grass-roots thing, but it could have institutional support... Also, the second link took me to a very interesting student blog "Carolyn Blogs" (http://blog.carolynworks.com). Do you have any coordinated collection of such blogs? It might be interesting to collect them in a fashion similar to Planet Sakai.

Best, John

On 12 Nov 2009, at 22:39, Joanna Proulx wrote:

> Hi Daphne et al,
> 
> As we focus, here at MIT, on the mental models of faculty with respect to their online teaching, there’s a constant effort to remember that any LMS has to be a two-way street. The students are partners in this process and their mental models matter equally to those of the faculty. If they are ignored, true learning is likely to be hampered if not arrested entirely. I have two examples to share by way of inveighling on behalf of the student perspective:
> 
> http://tomprofblog.mit.edu/2009/10/13/974-online-learning-more-than-technical-savvy/
> 
> We posit that readiness for online learning has less to do with students’ knowledge of technology and digital dexterity and more to do with their knowledge of how to learn and their motivation to engage fully in the process. 
> 
> The teacher in the learner-centered class is a designer of learning opportunities, one who sets the stage and then steps aside while the students engage in knowledge constructing activities.
> 
> http://news.slashdot.org/story/09/11/09/2347215/Attack-of-the-PowerPoint-Wielding-Professors
> 
> Cheers,
> joanna
> 
> 
> ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
> Joanna Proulx : Team Lead
> Interaction Development
> Content & Collaboration Services
> ..................................................
> MIT : IS&T : ISDA : CCS : ID
> 
> 
> 
> On 11/3/09 1:16 PM, "Daphne Ogle" <daphne at media.berkeley.edu> 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
> 
> =================================
>  
> 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] 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
> 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
> phone: +1 510-859-4247 (google voice)
> skype: mkorcuska
>  
>  
>  
>  
> _______________________________________________
> sakai-ux mailing list
> sakai-ux at collab.sakaiproject.org
> http://collab.sakaiproject.org/mailman/listinfo/sakai-ux
> 
> TO UNSUBSCRIBE: send email to sakai-ux-unsubscribe at collab.sakaiproject.org
> with a subject of "unsubscribe"
>  
>     
> 
>  
>  
>  
> ----------------------------------------------------------------
> This message was sent using IMP, the Internet Messaging Program.
>  
> _______________________________________________
> sakai-ux mailing list
> sakai-ux at collab.sakaiproject.org
> http://collab.sakaiproject.org/mailman/listinfo/sakai-ux
> 
> TO UNSUBSCRIBE: send email to sakai-ux-unsubscribe at collab.sakaiproject.org with a subject of "unsubscribe"
>  
>   
> 
> _______________________________________________
> pedagogy mailing list
> pedagogy at collab.sakaiproject.org
> http://collab.sakaiproject.org/mailman/listinfo/pedagogy
> 
> TO UNSUBSCRIBE: send email to pedagogy-unsubscribe at collab.sakaiproject.org with a subject of "unsubscribe"
> 
>  
> Daphne Ogle
> Senior Interaction Designer
> University of California, Berkeley
> Educational Technology Services
> daphne at media.berkeley.edu
> cell (925)348-4372
> 
> 
> 
>  
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> sakai-ux mailing list
> sakai-ux at collab.sakaiproject.org
> http://collab.sakaiproject.org/mailman/listinfo/sakai-ux
> 
> TO UNSUBSCRIBE: send email to sakai-ux-unsubscribe at collab.sakaiproject.org with a subject of "unsubscribe"