E-learning Course Design

Example online modules in Blackboard

Follow the link below for a number of example modules in Blackboard:

Example modules (available internally only).

British Museum

http://www.thebritishmuseum.ac.uk/education/index.html
Click on the "online learning" link on the right of the page. This site has some excellent examples of course structure and activities. It is aimed largely at Key Stage 2 children, but still has some great ideas for designs for learners of all ages. The Story, Explore, Challenge structure is particularly effective. You'll need a Macromedia Flash player on your computer to see many of the animations and games, but you'll be prompted to download this automatically if you don't have one so you shouldn't have any access problems.

BBC History

http://www.bbc.co.uk/history
A rich source of ideas for multi-media games, assessment and learning structure online. Try some of the simulations and game, e.g build a pyramid by going to the ancient history site and then to Egyptians. Many of these games are Flash movies that have decision points in them. You can produce less graphical decision activities by using Quandary software - to see details go to www.halfbakedsoftware.com/quandary.

Do History

http://www.dohistory.org
A first-class example of e-learning design is at the DoHistory website run by George Mason University in the US. This example is of a history project on a diary kept by a 17th century midwife, Martha Ballard. Some parts of the site require authenticated access, but you can still see quite a bit of the functionality without this. In particular, take a look at the Magic Lens page - a really effective use of technology in learning.

Mars Explorer - NASA

http://www1.nasa.gov/externalflash/m2k4/frameset.html
NASA's Mars Explorer site has some interesting graphics and design ideas for an information site, together with a trivia quiz to test your knowledge of Mars, fact and fiction. Some useful ideas for e-learning design. Again, this site is produced in Macromedia Flash.

British Library

http://www.bl.uk/collections/treasures/digitisation.html
As an example of a great online resource to support teaching, either face to face or distance, take a look at the Turning the Pages activities on the British library website. The Lindesfarne Gospels and Leonardo DaVinci's notebook are terrific examples and, like Marths Ballard's diary, they have a "magic" magnifying glass. In fact, the British Library has digitised a significant number of its treasures such as the Magna Carta and their whole website is a place to lose yourself on a rainy weekend!