Evaluating Multimedia Features in an E-Learning Website - Ebnu Etheris

This paper has been organised into 3 parts.

The 1^st part that will detail the development of the web site and the multimedia features therein

1. Use of the Yahoo portal to showcase a website for free
2. Using the software Front page 2000 to create web pages and how elements of multimedia inherent in this software was used in creating the website

The 2^nd part of this paper will detail

1. A systematic approach to designing a multimedia project

The last part will critique the website that has been created and the problems associated in using multimedia features in e- learning

Adventure education that is synonymous with experiential learning was used as a project focus to develop this website that has been posted on the World Wide Web. Front page 2000 was the software that was used to create this website. The programs and features available in this software were used to create the limited multimedia features you would have seen. This website that has been created will feature my learning preferences when reading a website.

The contents of this website were referenced against books written by Project Adventure and the journals written by renowned outdoor educators. My experience as a practitioner developing outdoor based team building curriculum and designing the outdoor elements for National Leadership Training Institute was tapped on. Likewise I have also attended an outdoor educators program and the standard 21 days program conducted by Singapore Outward Bound school. I have since trained the Training Managers working for the Copthorne Hotel chain in Singapore, assisting them to implement their own 1 day team building program in their respective Hotels.

The website content relies on my experience in the area of adventure learning. However, I had roped in Susan Ng to critique and review this website as a learner and identify opportunities to improve this site with possible features that can help a learner trying to bridge his knowledge in adventure learning. I have developed a website before using Netscape composer, but this is a first time I am using the software Front-page 2000 to create the website that you have just perused. The website created will remain as a resource site that will feature training related initiatives such as organisational development and skills training in the future.

This site was created to allow trainers to access information and knowledge with regards to adventure learning. Training initiatives that taps on adventure learning requires competent facilitation to transfer skills to the work place. The proliferation of the World Wide Web has allowed the creation and sharing of knowledge across boundaries. Practically any single subject can be searched and knowledge acquired through the use of the Internet. In is with this same spirit this website was created to share information specifically Adventure learning and my experiences as a practitioner.

Yahoo portal was used to register a website domain name. In this instance a total of 5 MB of space was given free for use in hosting the website http://www.geocities.com/ebnuarabi

The software front page 2000 was used in developing this website. The features in this software do allow the use of multi media features to enhance the interactivity element of a website. These features were tapped on to develop this site. As the user follows each hyper link the pages will transition such that they either wipe down or up. Like wise, use of the dynamic HTML (hypertext markup language) effects allows interactive play of subject captions and images placed within each page. Use of this feature is seen on both the 1^st page and the 4^th of the website as the subject heading moves into the page from the right and my name swirls like a wave for the last page. The pictures in the last page also comes one after other to create an element of surprise.

However, my opinion will concur with Susan that the website can be enhanced further using perhaps video and audio files. It was my intention to load a video file showing a debrief conducted by me after a team building session. I had no access to a digital video and this option that was supported in the Front-page 2000 software was not tapped on. For this site, "a talking head" was not used. Given my past experience, use of this feature is annoying as it takes quite a while to down load the files and sound. In some instance the sound is inaudible with the words heard not synchronising with the movements. Multimedia features available in Microsoft PowerPoint were tapped on. When the PowerPoint files for the 3 topics were converted to HTML, a linear approach was taken to allow users to go through each slide one after the other. However buttons were available for learners to return back to the main page or fast forward to the last slide.

Recommended good software to use in authoring multimedia features in an e-learning platform will be Hyperstudio and Macromedia. Both software which I hand no access to. Authoring tools must allow these 3 fundamental features:

• Learners have a non linear access to information instead of pre-determined sequences to follow
• Learners to make real time decisions on what information to access
• Learners can use multiple information formats other then just text, such graphics, animation, video and sound

The main page developed allowed learners to choose the topics the learner was interested in. The introductory page briefly captures the essence of adventure learning and provided a brief history and credentials of the author to capture his interest to peruse the 3 topics available on the site. As this site was available on the World Wide Web, it also allowed the learner to make real time decisions on what information he wanted to access.

Colour scheme for the web page design also plays an integral part on how appealing a site can be. Colours used were subtle and not more then 3 different types of colour scheme were used in developing this web site. The colour purple stands out as it is subtle and has a calming effect on the learner using it. Purple was also the choice of colours for polar adventurer's as it is not aggressive. Like wise blue and grey textures were also used in developing the pages.

Special considerations were also given to the fonts used for the website. Use of Fonts will fall into 2 broad categories, i.e. Serif and San Serif. For this site, I incorporated the use of Times New Roman which is a part of Serif Fonts. However, to capture the interest of the web browser, you may want to incorporate at least 2 different types of fonts. As you would have seen the captions below the photographs are in italics and bold. Use of different font size was also capitalised.

The introductory page also showcases the other pages available on this site. Each hyper link provided a non linear approach towards navigating this website. A hyper link page that opens for each topic, was sequential as the learner is required to navigate one Power Point slide after another. However, there are navigational buttons available for the learner to return to the main page if he chooses to discontinue the learning process.

It is obvious that had video and audio files were used, the site will have been more interactive. Real time interaction with the author will have enhanced the learning experience of the learner. Use of animation in this site has also been very limited. Only 2 different animation files were used. This had been intentional, as I did not want the images to distract the learner; this would have been biased to my own learning preferences when I am using the Internet. I will prefer, to down load the page as fast as I can and read the information presented in an Andregogy fashion. If is for this reason, very few animated images were used. However, to capture the imagination of the learner, photographic images on jpeg format were used to show relevance to the subject the learner is reading.

Use of audio and video files will definitely enhance the learning experience, however it can sometimes be a hindrance to the total learning experience of the learner on the web. Website browser's will be prompted to download specific file formats such as Quicktime and Realplayer before he can access the video or audio information. Computer hardware specification of the user and modem's speed will play an integral role on whether, the learner is going to be frustrated by the whole experience. However, with the use of the Broadband networking system, such problems will be minimised. Unfortunately it is presumptuous to assume a computer user has access to such a connection.

The website development project had been an excellent opportunity to learn the use of multimedia features in an e-learning environment. To have an experienced training practitioner such as Susan to evaluate this website from the learner's perspective has been enriching. It has shown the obvious features the website lack and considerations to take note of when I implement e-learning strategies in my organisation.

This website has been created as resource site for training practitioners. I intend to update this site constantly to feature elements of training and education such as OD.

1. Website: http://www.iste.org/L&L/archive/vol27/no5/feature/index.html

2. Website: http://scis.nova.edu/~henkeh/story2.htm

3. The Internet for dummies, John R Levine, Carol Baroudi and Margaret Levine Young, IDG Books world wide Inc

4. Quicksilver, Adventure Games, Initiative Problems, Trust activities and a Guide to effective leadership, Kendall/Hunt Publishing, Steve Butler, 1995 Project adventure,

Section 1- The basics Pg 1-14

Core Leadership functions Pg 22

Facilitate or Recreate Pg 31-36

The Leaders Bags of Tricks Pg 58-72

5. Adventure Education, Venture Publishing Inc State College, PA 16801, John C Miles and Simon Priest,

Project adventure: A brief History Pg 97,Transfer of Learning in Adventure Education, Michael Gass Pg 199