A free-standing module from Lancaster University's Advanced Learning Technology (ALT) Programme requiring 60 hours of study time. Some of this time will be spent on-line communicating with other course participants and tutors. Most of the time will be spent reading and preparing a course assignment off-line.
The course will run from 1 February to 30 June 1997 for the MECPOL user trials. The last date for starting study on this course is 30 April 1997.
We will need two weeks notice in order to dispatch course material to you.
A good command of English is required. Much of the work on the module requires on-line discussion and the writing of an assignment. The on-line discussion is NOT real-time, and therefore you will have the chance to prepare your contributions before going on-line.
Centre for Studies in Advanced Learning Technology (C SALT), Department of Educational Research, Lancaster University, UK.
INSTITUTION COURSE CODE: ITL04
This module provides an introduction to languages and systems for authoring courseware. The module is intended to support course members in the development of their personal knowledge about authoring.
The readings for this module fall roughly into three sets, plus two additional readings.
The first set of readings contain reviews of several authoring systems. The readings in the second set discuss authoring needs, and provide ways of evaluating the features and the performance of authoring systems. Overall, these readings will provide course members with a broad perspective on what is and isn't offered by the numerous tools which claim to support courseware authoring, and with useful ways of selecting from among those tools the ones which best meet their own needs.
The third set of readings move away from "the facts" about authoring and authoring systems into the realms of current research in this area. Topics covered include authoring systems which support courseware design as well as development, and the application of AI techniques to the authoring process. We would recommend that while reading each paper, you continually question the work described. For example, are the research goals well founded, and are they worthwhile? Did the researchers actually achieve what they set out to do? Research results are not automatically "true" and "right" just because they have been published!
Two additional readings are aimed at course members who are unfamiliar with the basic programming concepts often used in authoring systems, such as variables and iterative loops. Even those students who think they know all of this might find the articles useful!
The Lancaster University Advanced Learning Technology (ALT) Programme has been designed to support the continuing professional development of people working with computer-based learning technologies.
This module is open to people who are currently involved in the design, development, use or evaluation of ALT systems. It is open to those involved in training and to staff working in higher, further or adult education who want to learn more about ALT. It is not oriented towards the needs of those who are primarily concerned with the use of computers in schools.
ALT is broadly defined, to include such things as the use of electronic communications and groupware, multimedia systems, electronic books, on-line help and performance support systems, simulations and exploratory learning tools, as well as more mainstream elements of technology-based training.
You will need access to a computer and the Internet using a World-Wide Web browser such as Netscape (version 2.x or above) or MS Internet Explorer (version 2.x or above). You will be accessing Lotus Notes discussion databases (conferences) via your Web browser.
A participant pack will be provided on request. This pack includes readings for this module. Alternatively, you may choose to find the readings yourself from a reading list which we will supply.
Other learning resources are provided on the module's Web pages, ALTLinks V1 and ALT Links V2.
The assessment task is meant to act as the motor for your learning on the module. It provides a focus for your studying and reflecting on the readings. It is the vehicle through which you can
The exact nature of the assessment task can be negotiated with the tutors. The following suggestions may give you some ideas for your assessment task:
a) Comparison between two authoring systems. This might focus on a variety of aspects, such as usability, functionality, power, efficiency, ease of learning etc.
b) An evaluation of a single authoring system’s suitability for a particular authoring task.
c) Implementation of a small sample of courseware and a critique on the authoring system used.
d) An investigation of the authoring facilities and features that practising authors really want / need / use.
The scope of the materials available in this unit is very broad and hence it will be essential for course members to clarify their specific needs quite early. One useful way to do this is by specifying your assessment task at a relatively early stage in the unit.
Consult the tutors electronically to discuss ideas that you could explore for your own assessment task.
In assessing your work we will be expecting you:
Assignments should be 2500 -3000 words, or an equivalent.
This module has a 6 CATS points credit
rating in the UK.
(A full masters course = 120 CATS points)
You will be assigned to one tutor who will discuss an appropriate assessment task with you and will provide tutorial support for an agreed period. The normal means of communication will be computer-based conferencing, email or fax, with telephone by arrangement. You will be expected to communicate regularly with the tutor.
The period between your official start date on the module and the submission date for your assignment will not normally be less than four weeks or more than twenty weeks.
Tutors are:
Dr. Karen Valley and Mr Patrick Hynes from Lancaster University, UK.
£100 for the participant pack for MECPOL partner students, otherwise £450.00 (pounds sterling). Please allow up to two weeks to receive your pack from the time of ordering. Packs will be dispatched by surface mail within one week. If you wish to receive your pack by courier there would be an additional charge.
MECPOL partner students may wish to acquire the readings for themselves, in which case no fees will be payable.
If you already have access to the Internet via a Web browser there is no additional cost. If you pay telephone charges related to your use of the Internet, then you will have additional call charges.
If you would like to register for this module, or you have any other queries, please contact:
ALT Programme Organiser- Alice Jesmont
C SALT (Centre for Studies in Advanced Learning Technology)Further details regarding the ALT programme may be found on:
http://www.lancs.ac.uk/users/edres/research/altprog.html