Distance Learning Content Creation

We are often put in the position of being over optimistic and this is true in our business of e-Learning and its historical predecessors. For the last five years we have focused on short learning segments or as they're called today learning objects or what I would prefer calling them is learning chunks.

The distance-learning media has a unique latent demand for learning chunks. Of course it would be advantageous for us to design the learning chunks to be utilized with various learning styles.

During a recent visit to Brewster Academy in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire it was demonstrated how each instructor utilizes a Learning Management System to disseminate and manage individual student learning styles. Each student is assigned a laptop computer that assists them in totally managing the overall instructional process that is specifically suited for their particular learning style.

Basically the instructors due to the fact that they are meeting the criteria to teach into various learning styles during their classroom presentations are forced to develop learning chunks that can be reusable and modified for each learning style. Now this is oversimplified, but the fact that reusable learning objects are being produced on a day-to-day basis by the faculty at Brewster Academy to emphasize the various learning styles of their students.

To me this was an excellent example of an institution utilizing their resources to the best of their abilities. In speaking with their academic director Peter Hess, he was in his opinion that they have laid a very substantial foundation over the last five to seven years with this program and are looking forward to enhancing the capabilities for more instructional development.

If any of you are looking for a high school that will provide tremendous academic opportunities there is an institution that is working very hard at providing various learning opportunities to high school students as well as assisting them in learning how to learn.

My son, Tedd Parker is the head hockey coach as well as an instructor at Brewster Academy. If you would like more information I am sure that the academic director Peter Hess, would be more than happy to communicate with you. His phone number is 603-569-1600.

Developing educational materials using chunking formats, which basically means that we are developing learning materials in 12 to 15 minute segments? Some of the research would indicate that it can be as short as five to seven minutes. In my experience is much more difficult to develop within that particular time frame than it is in the 12 to 15 minute learning chunks.

For more information on our Learning Collaboration Suite at eLearning Innovations, Inc. please do not hesitate to contact me. I would be more than happy to provide you with demonstrations.

The learning chunks wish list:

Greater value from your media investment
Coherent reusable strategies to meet various learning styles
Reduce development time
Simplified implementations of e- learning solutions

Thanks—until next time...

Lorne A. Parker
President
eLearning Innovations, Inc.