Summary
The standard way to create an online application goes through the following processes. First of all the content is created, then the necessary graphics are prepared. When this is done the interactions are defined. The rapid development service will allow the user (subject matter expert) to see each screen and hence interaction that is to be created. This will allow them to modify the content or the interaction if necessary. Furthermore the content and interaction can be saved ready for building the book (online application).
The rapid development service will allow the user to
work another way. It is possible to create content by entering it directly
into the input application. Please note that the graphics required still
need to be created.
There are three parts to the suite of programs that allow the
rapid development service:
When creating online learning applications many of the input pages are standard, whether they are simple text graphic pages or have more complex interactions such as drag & drop. The key to rapid building of online applications is the creation of a series of templates which have the necessary functionality already built in. Template pages are the screens that form the basis of online learning applications. The page design will be such that it is consistent with the customer’s corporate image. |
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• Input application
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The templates must be populated with the correct information. Simple forms are used to add text content. Complex interactions such as drag and drop can be created by moving the moveable objects to their start and end positions and then saving these positions. The graphics used in an application must be created before the content is entered. The graphics are stored in a particular directory or folder. To add a graphic to the online learning application, it is selected from this folder. Once the content has been entered,the user can see the interactive page that he or she has been creating.Once the user is satisfied, the content is saved to text files on the user’s PC or on the network. The text files store both the text content and the names of any graphic used in the online application. The text files and copies of the graphic files used are stored in separate directories that are created by the input application. |
• Publish Applications
Once the content for an entire application has been entered and stored, the online learning application must be created. This is done with the publish book. The publish book could be on the same PC as the input application or on a completely separate PC. If the latter is the case, the two directories created by the input application, one containing the text files and the other the copies of the graphics are zipped up and sent to the PC with the publish application. The content and the appropriate template pages are combined; and if questions are embedded in the application appropriate feedback pages are added. Once the online application is built, the application is tidied up and published to a form that can be shown in a browser. The resultant files are then uploaded to a server. At present this service is provided by Interactive Presentations. |
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Learning Objects
Content is kept separate from the program. The content for each page or
screen is kept as a separate file. Each page can be treated as a learning
object. Therefore, it will be possible to use these learning objects in
different applications. A “PowerPoint” type interface is being developed
for the content entering application. This will have interface allowing
users to reorder pages, copy pages, delete pages or to add pages. The
user will be able to import content from other applications and incorporate
this into the present application.