Jason Rhode, Ph.D.

During Module 3, we focus on the connection between learning theories and the practical design of instructional activities. Cognitive Load Theory is one of the learning theories to consider when designing effective learning activities. In this video clip, John Sweller discusses cognitive load and recommendations for reducing cognitive load.

As you proceed through this module, consider how one designing e-learning might reduce and/or manage the cognitive load for learners. What suggestions can you offer for managing cognitive load in an E-learning experience? What role can learning technology play in helping manage cognitive load?

This new video by CommonCraft explains how Twitter search creates new opportunities for business feedback, tracking news in real time and discovering trends. As a follow-up to Twitter in Plain English, it further illustrates the power of this microblogging technology in bringing people together in new ways.

How might Twitter search be useful for an educational activity? Leave a comment with your ideas!

ADDIE is a process that instructional designers use to Analyze, Design, Develop, Implement, and Evaluate a learning situation and improve upon it. This movie demonstrates the ADDIE Model, by showing a nerd how to get a date.

David Merrill has become one of the most influential names in educational technology theory. Since receiving his PhD from the University of Illinois in 1964, he has developed an extensive body of research dedicated to instructional material, and more recently instructional design and technology, including developing and co-developing several instructional design theories. This video provides a brief introduction to his current thoughts on web-based instructional design.

Do you ever struggle to remember the link to that recent website, blog, our YouTube video clip is located? Then you need start storing your bookmarks online rather than simply in the favorites of your browser on your computer.

Watch this 3 minute video that explains what online bookmarking, also referred to as “social bookmarking” is and why you should sign-up for a free account today!

I personally have a delicious account, available at delicious.com/jrhode and have found the activity of bookmarking my favorites to have totally revolutionized how I use the Internet. I encourage you to give delicious a try. If you already have a social bookmarking account, leave a comment sharing what service you use and why.

On a side note, a secondary bookmarking service that I use specifically for bookmarking academic research articles that I find is CiteULike. My CiteULike library is at citeulike.org/user/jrhode

If you are using Google Reader like I am to read all our course blogs, you may want to create a folder for our class and add all your subscriptions our classmates’ blogs into the folder to keep them organized. Rather than create a video tutorial on how to do this, I found this great little video on YouTube that explains how to organize your feeds using Google Reader.

I personally have a folder for our class where I’ve added everyone’s blog subscriptions, so I can easily focus on just the new contributions from our class. If you are a Google Reader user, give folders a try!

During Module 1 as we are considering what comprises “good design” here are clip of a few attempts at defining design…it’s a bit more difficult than one might originally expect…

Here’s another short clip of the process often encountered when seeking a good design…

So, what is your definition of design?

This new video by CommonCraft explains how Twitter search creates new opportunities for business feedback, tracking news in real time and discovering trends. As a follow-up to Twitter in Plain English, it further illustrates the power of this microblogging technology in bringing people together in new ways.

How might Twitter search be useful for an educational activity? Leave a comment with your ideas!

One of the foremost concerns of online instructors is that teaching online requires more time than the traditional face-to-face classroom setting. The Strategies for Managing the Online Workload (SMOW) video podcast offers a collection of short descriptions, tips, techniques, and methods developed and used by experienced online educators to manage their time more effectively in the online teaching environment. *Note – The free iTunes software is required in order to download and view the video podcast episodes.

Here’s a video introduction to the podcast by Larry Regan, Director of Instructional Design and Development, Penn State University World Campus:

Additional contributions to this collection are welcomed. If you have an idea of how to save time when teaching online, contact Larry Ragan at Penn State University at lcr1@psu.edu for additional information on how to add your idea to this collection. The PDF report that is mentioned is available here.

This video by Wendy Drexler was inspired by CCK08, a course on “Connectivism” offered by George Siemens and Stephen Downes during fall 2008. The video depicts an actual project completed by Wendy Drexler’s high school students and seeks to help colleagues, parents, and students understand networked learning in the 21st century.

What are your thoughts on embracing networked learning experiences in e-learning?