case study: MacEwan College eLearning

:: flash design, concept, development ::

MacEwan College in Edmonton, Alberta offers an ever-expanding number of courses and course aids online. We have developed several eLearning solutions for them, including an interactive image-based knowledge tester (ctViewTester) and a game show-like quiz (ctQuiz). Both use game-like interaction and immediate reward to reinforce the knowledge the student has just acquired.

• create an image-based knowledge reinforcement tool
• flexible enough to be used in a variety of ways (images, lists, flash animations)
• include style layout options (color, size) so it would match page contents
• make it possible to insert the items into ordinary html web pages

• we combined a visual drag-drop solution that let course producers upload an image or flash movie, then create as many label hotspots as they wish. Each hotspot includes a label and description
• the administrator lets course producers create a course group, then adds as many of the image quizzes as they wish. Each can be colored and sized in a wide variety of ways
• a simple snippet of javascript code is generated for each item and can be inserted into any web page. Multiple items on a single page are also possible

• create a knowledge testing tool with immediate feedback based upon a trivia/game show concept
• include as many accessibility/keyboard interactions as possible
• make it possible to insert the tests into ordinary html web pages

• based upon a game-show format, course producers first create a course category and then add as many games as they like
• each 'game' can contain an unlimited number of categories and questions. If there are more categories or questions than can be displayed, the program automatically randomizes the results (though this can be controlled as well)
• upon completion, a review of each question and the right/wrong answers is available to the student
• a simple snippet of javascript code is generated for each item and can be inserted into any web page. Multiple items on a single page are also possible

the eLearning items help reinforce learned information, as well as provide a more interesting distraction than simple text-based quizzes would. Because of their flexibility, they have been used in a variety of creative ways.