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Developing Strong Content for an Lms
Author: Vishwanath ShankarThe role of content in an LMS
Content, being the foundation of an LMS, needs to be the nucleus of all activities associated with its implementation, including the proper configuration of your IT infrastructure to training the production staff and end users. The development of content for an LMS, therefore, must essentially involve much legwork. The content needs to be rich in its pedagogic worth apart from being precise, instead of beating around the bush. But, better content development is not only about including worthy instructive material in it. The following points are worth pondering when implementing an LMS.
Consider your options
Almost all LMSs can deliver content in any format. It is necessary that you exploit this opportunity to make use of well-liked formats such as word, power point and PDF apart from the conventional XML format. You can go a step further by including audio, video, graphics, and interactive simulations in your content. After deciding upon the formats to deliver content, check for any discrepancies in the quality of delivery.
Make a provision for improvement
Any content would need up gradation over a specific period of time. The sooner you understand this fact, the better. The quality of content depends upon its didactic merit, its layout, formatting, compatibility and technical accuracy. Though the content seems to be alright at the time of its upload, actual glitches may crop up only after learners have started using it. Hence, making a provision to improve the content in any or each of the above mentioned areas is almost like saving for a rainy day. While it is better to rid the content of all its snags before uploading, some reasonable business concerns need it to be uploaded without delays. In such a case, it is advisable to undertake fixing up only terribly flawed content while leaving trivial snags to be sorted out in the next round of updates. This is known as phasing, wherein the content is updated, but in convenient phases.
Use web friendly formats for data distribution
It is common knowledge that content developers use legal content from diverse sources to develop their own. All this content might not necessarily be web based, but will need conversion to this format if you are deciding upon web based delivery of content. Converting all old executables to new formats is essential. Try converting them into a more user friendly format that is compatible with browser based delivery. If some formats cannot be converted, the learners can be asked to download them to insert them locally. Be mindful of using consistent file formats throughout, such as XML, HTML, PDF, etc.
Check for reusability and interchange
Reusability forms an necessary aspect of any LMS. Reusability includes not only the measure to which the content can be reused for any change in the system, but also for its interchangeability with other LMSs. Categorizing the content into parts called learning objects is the best way to increase its reusability. This helps in the creation of new material and courses by allowing the implementer or the users to pick up a single learning object and team it up with any other. Well defined learning objects also provide a value addition by making your content more precise and communicative. Making your content SCORM (Sharable Content Object Reference Model) compliant will standardize your learning objects so that it can be interchanged with any other system.
Keep it a low maintenance model
A maintenance protocol needs to be followed to make the task easier. Resources that can be used in a number of circumstances are a worthy option, since they do not require reloading. Also, during an update, selection of the best option will flash the modified version of the asset, wherever used.
Interface
If you are looking at interchangeability of your content, it is necessary to see if it fits into varied framesets, because it is definitely possible that your content will be used for other LMS platforms. One of the considerations could be minimizing the dimensions of graphics to allow the content fit into different layouts.
Bottomline
Taking all the above mentioned points into consideration, developing and managing the content of an LMS seems to be a daunting task. But, all said and done, these suggestions are sure to make your ride less bumpy, if not a cakewalk.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/e-learning-articles/developing-strong-content-for-an-lms-107068.html
About the Author:Viswanath Shankar has been managing and maintaining various e-learning softwares for the past decade and a half. A storehouse of knowledge about LMS (Learning Management Systems), He has been working in close co-ordination with web development experts to develop user friendly distance learning programs. It takes a professional like him to declare the enormous time arrival of e learning as a worthy substitute to conventional learning techniques.
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