Fons Nouwens (f.nouwens@cqu.edu.au)
Thu, 14 Jan 1999 15:40:26 +1000
Date: Thu, 14 Jan 1999 15:40:26 +1000 From: Fons Nouwens <f.nouwens@cqu.edu.au> Subject: [ifets] Development time
Responding to John Martin & John Spiers
How long does it take to develop materials for resource-based learning?
Our research in developing Australian-style print-based distance education
materials (67 writers) found:
About 1/3 of writers spend less than 200 hours on the task
About 1/3 spend 200 tp 300 hours
About 1/3 spend more than 300 hours.
These times do not include the time spent on the project by reviewers,
editors (70 hrs), instructional designers (70 hrs), desktop processing (100
hrs)
Many factors influence the author's time, eg.
* are they familiar with the topic or is substantial research required?
* have they taught the topic before?
* have they written materials before?
* how much time is available?
* is there only one author or is there a team?
* what is the level (complexity) of the content?
* what skills and experience are students expected to have?
* what resources are available for development?
* what is the expected life of the materials?
* how many students are expected to use the resources?
* what media may be used?
* what existing resources can be used?
* what opportunities will there be for interaction with learners?
* what will be the balance between resources directed at developing
resources for learners and resources directed to supporting individual
learners as they study?
* what will be the balance between resources directed at initial
development of resources and resources directed at ongoing maintenance and
enhancement of the program?
CAN YOU THINK OF OTHERS???
JohnS suggests that face-to-face preparation takes substantial time and
that his 15 years of teaching experience is also a time contribution that
is hard to define quantitatively.
Many of the factors listed above will apply to face-to-face preparation.
Unfortunately teachers have only a tacit understanding of much of this,
they find it difficult to articulate the problem to administrators and
media specialists. These are not 2 minute sound bites, we are talking about
preparing a coherent presentation equivalent to 30 to 50 hours of face to
face teaching. Thats equivalent in delivery time to 40 major TV
documentaries.
The media corporations know that 'content' is the key to promoting their
digital webs. What skills are needed to produce the right stuff? What
conditions encourage development of quality teaching programs? What do
authors need?
Does anyone know?
Is anyone out here interested in studying the production problem.
Fons Nouwens, Head, Instructional Design and Interactive Multimedia Unit,
Central Queensland University, Yaamba Rd, North Rockhampton.
Phone: 07 4930 9577 Fax: 07 4930 9792
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