Tools for Creating Learning

Creating content for learning within an online learning environment is somewhat constrained by the tools you have available, much the same as traditional teaching. But there we no longer think hard about our choices and just take for granted how we will work in classrooms and labs, on whiteboards, through  presentations, textbooks and handouts, and so on. The environments and tools of face-to-face "traditional" learning have always constrained us into specific modes of teaching, which we assume are just the ways things are. What online learning environments have done is shone a spotlight on all methods, venues and tools for teaching. 

It takes a good learning design and a certain amount of ingenuity and creative flair to create engaging and dynamic online learning, and we will discuss the pedagogical aspects of learning design in more depth later in the course. Here, however, is an introduction to the tools at your disposal.

The tools available in different learning environments will vary, and the tools that you choose to use will also vary between different programmes and modules according to your aims. That said. most learning environments will have a common core set of tools that can be used to support learning, communication, and collaboration. Some examples of these tools include:

Resources 

Resources might be simple web-links, embedded videos, audio, and PDF files as well as downloadable Word, PowerPoint or Excel files. Sometimes more sophisticated resources such as interactive e-learning packages may be launched from within the learning environment.

Forums

Forums allow students to answer questions, ask questions and post replies and comments. They are usually connected to email accounts so that messages are sent to all subscribers.

Communication

In addition to forums, some learning environments have separate messaging tools and these can be used for one-to-one or group communication.

Assessment

These tools might be assignment upload and marking tools, interactive quizzes and other graded activities. There may even be options for peer assessment and grading. There will also be plagiarism checking (more on this later).

Collaboration

Some learning environments may have tools that allow students to work with each other to edit and build shared resources collaboratively. For example, in Moodle there is a Wiki and a Glossary tool that allow students to author shared content.

Achievement & Progress 

Some systems will indicate when students have completed a task (e.g. with a tick). Other systems may reward students with micro-accreditation such as an digital badge or certificate of completion. 

Preferences 

The individual user may be able to adjust, edit, and tweak the settings within the learning environment to change how information is displayed, such as editor features and options.