EELD Post

Having missed quite a few classes of EELD recently due to sickness and other issues, catching up to speed on the class work has been quite easy, and I think this is again due to the benefits of e-learning.

All the course documents and such are posted up on OLE BB, and as a result, despite missing classes, I have no problems at all knowing what to submit for the final project, and how to do these assignments like quizzes and such in Flash.

This is yet another benefit of elearning, to be able to access such important information so quickly and easily really shows me how much technology has progressed, where in the past we would have to actually look for the teacher and find out how to do work in the event of sickness, now all we have do is simply turn our computers on and get up to speed by ourselves online.

However, I have realised that maybe, at times, there is simply no substitute for the expert guidance of an experienced and skilled teacher. At times in trying to reproduce the flash projects we are given in the exercises, I had difficulty in certain steps, and had no avenue to turn to for help. However, in classes, all we have to do for help is simply ask the teacher what the problem is. After trying to re-do the exercises, I eventually figured my way out of the troubles, but it was time-consuming and inefficient, and perhaps the hand of a teacher could have been helpful in these kind of situations.

All in all, e-learning is a double edged sword and while I don't think it should entirely replace traditional forms of learning, it is definitely an important tool that should work in tandem with traditional learning for the eventual benefits of the students. I personally feel that a right balance between these two types of learning would produce the best results, and I count my blessings that TP uses things like vBus and OLE BB to assist the lecturers and teachers.

Research Reflections

Doing all the research for the assignment that we just handed up, I realised that both style and substance are equally important for the elearning package to succeed.
A package could have extremely thorough and well-researched information, but if it is completely lacking in any visual appeal whatsoever no one will be interested enough to take a look at the contents. Similarly, a package could be extremely stylised and instantly draw viewers in, but if there isn't any content inside the users would be turned off immediately at the empty vessel.
I think there needs to be an equal balance, too many times I stumbled across initially exciting e-learning packages only to discover a complete lack of content. Also, I sometimes overlooked and didn't bother seeing a package that looked plain and boring, only to go back to it later and discover a trove of information just waiting for the user willing to plunder its depths.
This lesson I've learnt has helped me develop a focus on what I want for my final project. I will strive to attain this delicate balance in my final product to create a package that will not only draw viewers in, but also keep them sucked in to discover the content that lies inside.