Research Guides: HCL Learning Objects Lab: No special software required

LOL Guidelines

About Learning Objects Lab

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Pedagogy: Design Phases

Production and Support

Publication Options

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There is no special software required to build the learning objects featured on this page.

LIVE QUESTION TOOL

Live Question Tool is a web-based service that lets audience members at a presentation post questions for the speaker. As questions are added, other participants can submit comments and cast votes for the questions they hope to see answered first. To build your own, see HELPFUL TIPS, below. Also Try: http://www.tricider.com/ and http://atg.fas.harvard.edu/technology-categories/classroom-participation-and-polling
Example:

Type: Classroom Response System

Learning Goals: Especially recommended to help students anonymously ask questions during class (in hopes that they will receive answers that help them better understand the content), give feedback, and interact with the teacher and one another. Due to its novelty and interactivity, it also has special potential for helping students get excited about or value their learning, among other things. Caveat: Avoid usage when teaching material that requires focus and concentration or serious reflection.

Estimated Production Time: 10-15 min.

Recommended Software: No special software required. To create one, see the Live Question Tool Creation Area. See also: Piazza

Publication Options: N/A

Experts, Consultants, & Collaborators: TBA (For suggestions or questions from other colleagues, check for Comments at the bottom of this box, or add your own.)

HELPFUL TIPS:

Instructional Design Tips
more...less...
To begin, consult Pedagogy: Design Phases.

This learning object is most germane when:
- Checking for student comprehension is important.
- Students are not comfortable speaking up to ask questions.
- Knowledge is distributed unevenly across members of the class and that knowledge needs to be shared efficiently.
- Class content requires neither focused concentration nor deep reflection (due to the risk of divided attention/distraction).
Pedagogical Style Guide:
- Before using, ensure that all students have access to a device, with a keypad, that can access the Internet during class.
- It is most effective when used in a classroom that offers dual projection; one screen for your content and the other for the Live Question Tool backchannel.
- Invite a colleague into your class to monitor questions on the computer, which will free you up to teach.
- When possible, answer questions orally and ask your colleague who is monitoring questions to record the answers.
- Welcome any oral questions heartily, or students may assume they are allowed only to type their questions.
- Time permitting: After class, save the session as a PDF (from within Adobe Acrobat Professional), send a copy to the students, and answer their unanswered questions via e-mail.
- The anonymity of the tool encourages student participation. This is mainly good news, but there can be a dark side if real world "griefers" may be in your class. Thus, it's helpful to integrate it with care.
Resources:
- ELI, 2009. 7 Things You Should Know about Live Question Tool.
- EDUCAUSE, 2010. 7 Things You Should Know About Backchannel Communication .
Technical Development Tips

SLIDE SHOW OF HARVARD COLLECTIONS

A slide show that rotates digital surrogate images from Harvard's collections, such as those in VIA or museums. These slide shows can be embedded in research guides. To build your own, see HELPFUL TIPS, below.
Example:

Type: Slide Show

Learning Goals: Especially recommended to help students value featured collections and serendipitously identify featured images, documents, or objects of scholarly interest.

Estimated Production Time: 2 hours

Recommended Software: No special software required; however, it may be helpful to edit images first in Adobe PhotoShop or Adobe Fireworks.

Publication Options: Can be integrated into HCL LibGuides, FAS course iSites, and most other web pages by simply uploading images and adding a bit of JavaScript code.

Experts, Consultants, & Collaborators: TBA (For suggestions or questions from other colleagues, check for Comments at the bottom of this box, or add your own.)

HELPFUL TIPS:

Instructional Design Tips
more...less...
To begin, consult Pedagogy: Design Phases.

This learning object is most germane when:
- Featured content is eye-catching or intrinsically engaging.
- You'd like to highlight something special in the Harvard collections.
Pedagogical Style Guide:
- Your slide show may be more appealing if you edit the images first, sizing them to equal dimensions (this avoids a "jump cut" transition between slides).
- Consider the time delay between slides. Depending on your objectives, it may be better to go with a slower-moving slide show than one that moves too quickly.
- Use only a handful of images. 3-6 is about right.
Resources:
- Smith, 2009. Adobe Photoshop CS4 digital classroom ("like having a personal instructor" for PhotoShop)
- Adobe Press, 2009. Adobe Fireworks CS4
Technical Development Tips
more...less...
Open these instructions in PDF format for the Java Script code and technical development tips you'll need to create your own slide show.

SLIDE SHOW THAT ROTATES UPON RELOAD

A slide show that rotates images when the web page is refreshed. These slide shows can be embedded in research guides. To build your own, see HELPFUL TIPS, below.

Example:

HELPFUL TIPS:

Instructional Design Tips
more...less...
To begin, consult Pedagogy: Design Phases.

This learning object is most germane when:
- Featured content is eye-catching or intrinsically engaging.
- You'd like to highlight something special in the Harvard collections.
Pedagogical Style Guide:
- Your slide show may be more appealing if you edit the images first, sizing them to equal dimensions (this avoids a "jump cut" transition between slides).
- Use only a handful of images. 2-4 is about right (the above example uses 4).
Resources:
- Smith, 2009. Adobe Photoshop CS4 digital classroom ("like having a personal instructor" for PhotoShop)
- Adobe Press, 2009. Adobe Fireworks CS4
Technical Development Tips
more...less...
Open these instructions in PDF format for the Java Script code and technical development tips you'll need to create your own slide show.