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Use of Xerte Toolkits to repurpose CAL materials

Use of Xerte Toolkits to repurpose CAL materials. Andy Meal & Heather Wharrad. Background. Set of CAL packages written 10 - 15 years ago using Authorware . 14 CAL packages – cell biology for nursing degree students

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Use of Xerte Toolkits to repurpose CAL materials

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  1. Use of Xerte Toolkits to repurpose CAL materials Andy Meal & Heather Wharrad

  2. Background • Set of CAL packages written 10 - 15 years ago using Authorware. • 14 CAL packages – cell biology for nursing degree students • Originally only delivered via University intranet Authorware plug in has allowed some availability on internet • up to 2 hours student learning each • Still used on undergraduate Masters nursing course

  3. Workshop CAL Wharrad, Kent, Allcock & Wood, (2000)

  4. Early lessons (students)……… • ‘Can do it at own pace and in your own time- can go back if unclear about anything, good for revision.’(cohort 1997) • ‘CAL good presentation as lectures took a long time and concentration is lost.’(cohort 1995) • ‘It’s hard staring at a screen for so long’(cohort 1997) • ‘CAL packages in moderation are good because you have to find the answers yourself.’(cohort 1997) Flexibility, in moderation, short, interactive, self-directed, not totally replacing FTF

  5. Early lessons (lecturers) • Developing large packages – time, cost, updating • Wanted to use some elements of CAL (diversity - range of courses; types of students; specialisms) • Based on educational need not technology led (areas of difficulty - maths; science; statistics) • Added value (visualisation of scientific processes; linking theory to clinical practice)

  6. Repurposing project • Needed updating, and re-packaging due to impending obsolescence of Authorware locally • make the material more widely available/reusable • Students prefer small chunks; more portable/flexible • University learning team repurposing other university CAL materials

  7. Xerte Toolkits • Part of Xerte Project - University learning team • Open source • set of templates that are accessible via a web browser • Lecturer works with learning team developer to design and produce a template • Template from this project available for others • Allows for integration of text, graphics and sound. Various interactivity templates e.gquizzes • Once template produced requires little technical or programming knowledge.

  8. Process • Uses a simple form to populate and customise the template • Copy and paste material into the form – always available for editing (fits in with lecturers busy schedule ) • Results are rapid: previews can be seen immediately after changes are made. • simple graphics can be produced in the toolkits, but best results are from imported graphics then add labels • Animations, sound and video are supported.

  9. Demo of toolkit templates

  10. Advantages • Rapid • Easy to use • Use existing materials • Accessible via a web browser. Simple interface. • Rigid nature of the templates ensures some consistency in design? • Minimal technologist input required?

  11. Disadvantages • Early teething problems, due to the rigidity of the templates • More complex animations require developer • unusual or bespoke presentations or interactivity require specialist help. • Currently some incompatibility with Flash versions • Inflexible in some areas eg italics, bulleted lists, have to be generated by adding html commands.

  12. In short... • If you work within its parameters Xerte template offers a quick and easy authoring environment for non-technicians. • Student feedback required to determine satisfaction with design and effectiveness overall • Xerte toolkit potentially very useful – needs more templates • Download from http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/xerte/ • Acknowledgements: University of Nottingham Learning Team

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