Subject: RE: [IFETS-Discuss] FLASH
hhemphill@netg.com
Date: Sat 17 Jun 2000 - 04:11:14 MEST
From: hhemphill@netg.com Subject: RE: [IFETS-Discuss] FLASH Date: Fri, 16 Jun 2000 19:11:14 -0700
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Details of current discussion: http://ifets.ieee.org/discussions/discuss.html
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I agree. The situation with online learning reminds me of the initial phase
of desktop publishing. People would add special fonts styles and graphics
just to show they could do it. Sometimes bells and whistles distract from
the actual instruction rather than reinforce it or elaborate on it. We know
from Richard Clark and others that using a different (e.g., more
technologically complex)medium doesn't necessarily affect the learning
outcome, or it affects it in the opposite direction we expect.
Learners are not very tolerant of long download times. Also, many
governmental and corporate institutions are not enthusiastic about their
employess downloading plugins. Many even prevent individuals from doing so.
New technologies give us new opportunities for communication and
instruction. We just need to be sure these opportunities are instructionally
justified and warrant the additional resources on the development and
learning sides of the instructional transaction.
Hoyet Hemphill
-----Original Message-----
I think any time you increase the complexity of an online course you are
raising another barrier to the average learner. If you want to use it you
need to incorporate a unit or tutorial on how to down load FLASH (or REAL
AUDIO or Acrobat Reader etc).
I think you have to be very careful about why you are using it. FLASH has
some terrific uses but if people have to wait, make sure you are giving them
something worth waiting for, not just a pretty picture.
It is also worth using thumbnails or descriptions and giving people the
option of viewing.
Cameron
Flexible Learning System Project Coordinator
Human Resources
St.Vincent's Hospital Melbourne
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