To all IDs, CDs: Check and comment

Write objectives for a course on how to make a telephone call from a cellphone:

• List methods to find a number from a directory or the cellphone.
• How to find a number from the directory
• How to find a number saved in contact list of the cellphone.
• List the ways to find the required country code and state code of the number.
• How to search for the country code of a number from the telephone directory.
• How to find the state code of a number from the telephone directory.
• Describe steps to check the cellphone for its battery charge and locked keypad state.
• Describe steps to dial the number.

Instructional Graphics

We come across visual instructions quiet frequently in our life. With the coming of net and digital mediums for communication, graphics have evolved with them. Maps, training manuals, textbooks, architectural plans, web sites, newspapers, scientific papers, and street signs all use visual diagrams to communicate instructions.
To reach an informative graphic solution, designers require, filtering information from data, establishing relationship between variables, deciding on patterns that are evolving from the data and then represent them so that the user can grasp it as knowledge.
In the E-learning industry, instructional graphics make an important ingredient to the stuff we cook everyday. In following pages we will look into:

1. What is Instructional Graphics?
• Relation between Instructional Graphics and Information Design
• Role of Instructional Design


2. What are the considerations during creation of Instructional graphics?
• Visual Strategy
• Points to consider while Information Visualization
• LATCH- location, alphabet, time, category, hierarchy
• Gestalt Theories
• Components
• Representating styles- Decorative, representational, mnemonic, Organizational, relational, transformational, Interpretive
• Shapes and their characteristics, representation, function and application of Circle, Square with right angle corners, Square with round corners, Triangle, Line, Point, Fuzz, Combinations
• Icons, symbols, metaphors


• Psychological function of Graphics
• Affordances in Instructional Graphics

What is Instructional Graphics?
Information Design:
According to Nathan Shedroff, User Experience designer-Information Design is a field to designing clear, understandable communications by giving care to structure, context, and presentation of data and information. As a field, its principles relate to all communications products and experiences, regardless of medium (print, broadcast, digital, online, etc.). Information Design is, primarily, concerned with clarity (instead of simplicity) and understanding.
Instructional Design:
As per www.wikipedia.com-
Instructional design, also known as instructional systems design, is the analysis of learning needs and systematic development of instruction. Instructional designers often use Instructional technology as a method for developing instruction. Instructional design models typically specify a method, that if followed will facilitate the transfer of knowledge, skills and attitude to the recipient or acquirer of the instruction.

Instructional Graphics can be defined as pictorial information of content designed to promote learning and improve performance in work settings.

Defining Web 2.0

Web 2.0

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what you need to become web 2.0


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Am Confused abt Layout

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RIA (Elearning 2.0 Part 2)

Rich Internet Applications are web applications that transfer necessary processing to the internet and keep the bulk of data on application server. The user and the server interact through client engines. Let us not confuse RIAs with widgets. Widgets are small chunk of scripts that can be used with any HTML coding without compilation. They are mostly written in DHTML, Flash and are chunks of information. Whereas RIAs provide user interfaces with richer interactivities that were not possible in HTML coded applications. The look and feel of interfaces have become more appealing. They save up web server resources freeing up web server space. The network traffic is significantly reduced because an application-specific client engine can be more smarter than a standard Web browser when deciding what data needs to be exchanged with servers.
How are RIAs different from other web applications?

• The interactions involved by the user are more. The simulation of environment is creatively applied. Metaphors can be more closely related to their real life counterparts. The user can drag, pan, zoom as required and is a cognitively appropriate action .
• Only part of page is updated rather than the whole page being reloaded.
• User can reach or explore detailed information on the same page rather than going to another window.
• User can see more information like feedbacks, instructions, help on the same page.

What usability issues need to be kept in mind while designing the RIAs in the times of Web2.0?Few points/heuristics searched from different resources are given under.

• The system should always keep users informed about what is going on, through appropriate feedback within reasonable time.
• The system should speak the users’ language, with words, phrases and concepts familiar to the user, rather than system-oriented terms. Follow real-world conventions, making information appear in a natural and logical order.
• Support undo and redo
• Maintaining consistency in features, including terminology, layout, color, and behavior.
• Make objects, actions, and options visible. The user should not have to remember information from one part of the dialogue to another. Instructions for use of the system should be visible or easily retrievable whenever appropriate.
• Accelerators—unseen by the novice user—may often speed up the interaction for the expert user such that the system can cater to both inexperienced and experienced users. Allow users to tailor frequent actions.
• Dialogues should not contain information which is irrelevant or rarely needed. Every extra unit of information in a dialogue competes with the relevant units of information and diminishes their relative visibility.
• Error messages should be expressed in plain language (no codes), precisely indicate the problem, and constructively suggest a solution.
• Even though it is better if the system can be used without documentation, it may be necessary to provide help and documentation. Any such information should be easy to search, focused on the user’s task, list concrete steps to be carried out, and not be too large.

Ref:
http://www.boxesandarrows.com/view/usability_heuristics_for_rich_internet_applications

While going through usability guidelines for RIAs I came across a method of storyboarding wireframe that is self explainatory. The designer calls it Guided Wireframe. You can take a look at http://www.boxesandarrows.com/view/the_guided_wire#comment_5428. The designer explains how in a wireframe, not just the graphic element placement can be shown but also interactivities. The method makes comprehension of techies and clients easier. This can be used to explain concepts of RIAs.