Creating Different learning paths for a Human Physiology

Creating Different learning paths for a Human Physiology e. Course International Conference on e. Learning for a Knowledge-Based Society Bangkok, Thailand Presenter: Lim Kin Chew 16 – 17 Dec 2009

Agenda Introduction What problems are we trying to solve? Why SCORM 2004 3 rd Edition Specification? Development Schedule Some implementation details Survey What are the next steps? Possible vision for SST

Introduction Part of the Research Project with CFAR Period from Jan 2009 to Dec 2011 Purpose is to apply the SCORM 2004 3 rd Edition Specification to teaching and learning in Uni. SIM Worked with Subject Matter Expert on using the Human Physiology course as the first example. Will roll out to about 55 BME (Biomedical Engineering) students from 27 Jan – 31 Mar 2010.

What problems are we trying to solve? The “shovelware” problem: put up many documents on LMS for students to read and learn. “Page-turning” type of courseware Limited learning paths High dependence on facilitators, especially for basic knowledge Reuse, Accessibility, Interoperability & Durability (RAID) of contents

The Chasm Technology (or solution) adoption process, as described in Geoffrey Moore's book “Crossing the Chasm”

rd 3 Why SCORM 2004 Edition Specification? Specification with reference model, software tools, software systems, example contents, testing tools, certification and support from the US Dept of Defence, academia, vendors and e-learning practitioners, international consortia Contains the sequencing and navigation specifications

Development Schedule S/No. Activity Date 1 Carry out content analysis, design and web page creation Jan – Jun 2009 2 Creating the 5 learning paths using the RELOAD software editor Aug – Nov 2009 3 Testing Dec 2009 4 Delivery to BME students Jan – Mar 2010

Some Implementation Details Contents: No copyright infringement Media – Creative Commons license / self created Reference to text books Work in other SCORM 2004 3 rd Edition compliant systems, e. g. testtrack. scorm. com SCORM engine Use open source software: Ilias 4 Java. Script Have a Live. USB version Need only a programmer to do the sequencing

Survey Students to complete the survey after using the Human Physiology e-Course. Comprises 15 questions (Yes/No and open -ended answers) Questions on their learning paths and patterns Intention is to gather information about the learning habits of our working adult students Survey report should be ready in April 2010

Sample Survey Questions - 1 1. What is the study pattern of the student in any course? 2. How did the student embark on the Human Physiology e-course? 3. Do they go through all the review questions at the end of each unit? 4. Are there any units where they skip the review questions entirely? 5. Were they influenced by their peers? 6. Did they tend to spot topics for the examinations?

Sample Survey Questions - 2 1. Did they find some of the topics too elementary for them? 2. Of all the five given sequencing strategies, which sequencing strategy is the one that the student likes best? 3. Did they think that courseware designed and developed in this way is better than the usual “page turner” type of courseware? 4. Did they find this courseware to be self-contained and they did not need to check with their facilitator on the content itself? 5. Are there any other sequencing strategies which they think should be included in this courseware? 6. Did they encounter any difficulty when they go through the contents? Please explain your difficulty.

What are the next steps? Invite staff members to participate in this project: Need just the web-based contents + quizzes Can select the content sequencing Can complete similar 5 -cu e-courses within 3 months Such a repository-based collection of e-courses can be used by students in any programme at different year of study. Focus is more on getting students to acquire the basic knowledge – self-directed, independent learning

Repository or the LMS? Ilias LMS Repository of SCORM 2004 3 rd Edition or better content packages for use by students in any SST programme

End of Presentation Thank you! Lim Kin Chew, kclim@unisim. edu. sg