Developer Center Article

Accessibility
This is a broad concept, but in e-learning it refers to the availability of learning assets, including interfaces, images, sounds, multimedia elements, and all other forms of information, to be used by anyone, regardless of disability. (Definition from the glossary in Macromedia MX eLearning: Advanced Training from the Source.)

Guidelines

U.S. Section 508 Guidelines www.section508.gov *
Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) www.w3.org/WAI/Resources/ *
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/adahom1.htm *

Macromedia accessibility resources

Macromedia Accessibility www.macromedia.com/macromedia/accessibility/ *
Macromedia Accessibility Extensions www.macromedia.com/exchange/dreamweaver/ *

• Check Page for Accessibility (a simple analysis and feedback tool)
• 508 Accessibility Suite (A slightly more sophisticated analysis and feedback tool)
• Accessible Image Object (prompts user for alt and longdesc attributes)
• Insert HTML Doctypes (inserts appropriate doctypes for valid markup)
• Set Image Title (facilitates the creation of titles for images)
• Title Attribute Panel (facilitates the creation of title attributes)

Macromedia Flash MX Accessibility www.macromedia.com/macromedia/accessibility/features/flash/ *
Macromedia Flash Player 6 Accessibility www.macromedia.com/macromedia/accessibility/features/flash/overview/player.html

Other accessibility resources

WebAIM (Web Accessibility in Mind) www.webaim.org
Bobby Worldwide http://bobby.watchfire.com/bobby/html/en/index.jsp
Accessibility Forum www.accessibilityforum.org
Microsoft Accessibility www.microsoft.com/enable
Microsoft PowerPoint WWW Publishing Accessibility Wizard cmos-eng.rehab.uiuc.edu/ppt/
IBM Accessibility Center www-3.ibm.com/able/

E-learning and training conferences
Conferences on e-learning and training offer workshops, seminars, keynotes, information sessions, showcases, and in-depth forums. They provide an environment where educators, trainers, developers, administrators, and managers can exchange information and learn from each other:

Macromedia E-Learning Conference at Macromedia DevCon 2002 (Oct 27, 2002)*
www.macromedia.com/v1/conference/ConferenceProgram.cfm
American Society for Training and Learning Development (ASTD)
www.astd.org/virtual_community/conferences/ *
Syllabus Magazine syllabus.com *
Online Learning Conference and Expo www.onlinelearningconference.com *
EDUCAUSE Annual Conference www.educause.edu/conference
Association for Educational Communications and Technology (AECT) International Conference www.aect.org
American Educational Research Association (AERA) Annual Meetings www.aera.net/meeting
Annual Conference on Distance Teaching and Learning www.uwex.edu/disted/conference/
eLearning 2003 show.elearningexpos.com/elearningexpo/V31/index.cvn
E-Learn: World Conference on E-Learning in Corporate, Government, Healthcare, and Higher Education www.aace.org/conf/eLearn/
The Sloan-C International Conference on Asynchronous Learning Networks (ALN) dce.ucf.edu/aln2002/
Training2003 www.vnulearning.com/ourevents.htm#2003
The Conference Database of the Distance Education Clearinghouse www.uwex.edu/disted/conf/

Distance learning journals and magazines
Academic journals and trade magazines on e-learning provide up-to-date resources on technology integration with instruction and e-learning issues in higher education and the corporate world. In most cases, readers receive information regarding e-learning trends and news in the area of instructional design, usability, accessibility, online community, assessment, and other issues. In addition, development tools are also introduced and evaluated.

Trade magazines and online resources

eLearning Post www.elearningpost.com *
Syllabus Magazine www.syllabus.com *
Technology and Learning www.techlearning.com
e-Learning Magazine www.elearningmag.com
The Technology Source ts.mivu.org
Distance Educator www.distance-educator.com

Academic journals

American Journal of Distance Education www.ajde.com *
Distance Learning Resource Network Electronic Journal www.wested.org/tie/dlrn/dlrn-j1.html
Journal of Distance Learning Administration www.westga.edu/%7Edistance/jmain11.html
Journal of Asynchronous Learning Networks www.aln.org/alnweb/journal/jaln.htm
Journal of Library Services for Distance Education www.westga.edu/%7Elibrary/jlsde/
Journal of Interactive Multimedia in Education www-jime.open.ac.uk
T.H.E Journal www.thejournal.com
International Review of Research in Open and Distance Education www.irrodl.org
Journal of Distance Education www.lib.unb.ca/Texts/JDE/homepgENG.html

Online training and certification organizations
Technologies evolve quickly, so you need constant training to keep up. If you have been keeping up, you need to be able to prove it. The links in this category show some places to get training and certification:

Macromedia Training www.macromedia.com/support/training/ *
Macromedia eLearning Tutorials www.macromedia.com/resources/elearning/tutorials/ *
Macromedia Support Center (useful tutorials and TechNotes) www.macromedia.com/support/ *
DigitalThink www.digitalthink.com/catalog/curricula/all_courses.html
NetG www.netg.com
Brainbench www.brainbench.com/xml/bb/homepage.xml
Element K Learning Center www.elementkcenter.com

Articles on best practices in e-learning
The articles in this category cover the theory of online pedagogy. Each strives to help bridge the gap between theory and actual practice, showing ways to make learning more active, meaningful, and likely to be retained:

Macromedia eLearning White Papers www.macromedia.com/resources/elearning/whitepapers.html *
Implementing the Seven Principles: Technology as Lever www.tltgroup.org/programs/seven.html
ASTD e-Learning White Papers www.astd.org/virtual_community/Comm_elrng_rdmap/whitepapers.html
Emerging Set of Guiding Principles and Practices for the Design and Development of Distance Education www.outreach.psu.edu/de/ide/guiding_principles/
Principles of Online Design (Florida Gulf Coast University) www.fgcu.edu/onlinedesign/

CMS, LMS, LCMS: introduction and applications
Many academic institutions, training organizations, and organizations use sophisticated applications to manage both the publication of learning content and the tracking of student progress. A trio of acronyms—often confused—tend to come up in this context: CMS, LMS, and LCMS. They are defined as follows:

• Content Management System (CMS): A computer system that enables authors to add, modify, and remove content to or from the system.
• Learning Management System (LMS): A LMS simplifies the administration of learning/training programs by tracking a host of student statistics, including test scores, progress, and other information about the learning process.
• Learning Content Management System (LCMS): A computer system that both manages learning (by tracking progress, scores, and so on) and manages content (by enabling course authors to add, modify, and remove content to or from a course).

LCMS = LMS + CMS www.elearningpost.com/features/archives/001022.asp *
Selecting a Learning Management System www.e-learninghub.com/articles/learning_management_system.html *
How to Evaluate a Content Management System www.steptwo.com.au/papers/kmc_evaluate/ *
Evolution of the Learning Content Management System www.learningcircuits.org/2002/apr2002/robbins.html
Learning Management System and Authorware www.macromedia.com/support/authorware/ts/documents/lms_aw.htm
Microsoft Content Management www.microsoft.com/technet/treeview/default.asp?url=/technet/itsolutions/ecommerce/maintain/operate/contmgt.asp
Basics of CMS Implementation www.learningcircuits.com/2002/may2002/mayberry.html
LCMS Roundup www.learningcircuits.org/2001/aug2001/ttools.html
WebCT www.webct.com
Blackboard www.blackboard.com
Angel by CyberLearning Labs cyberlearninglabs.com

Macromedia eLearning authoring tools
The following Macromedia software applications facilitate the development and implementation of learning and training assets:

Macromedia eLearning Suite www.macromedia.com/software/elearningsuite/ *
Note: See the Macromedia eLearning Brochure and Product Matrix www.macromedia.com/resources/elearning/getting_started.html for information about the specific products included in the suite.
Macromedia Dreamweaver MX Learning Extensions www.macromedia.com/resources/elearning/extensions/dw_ud/ *
Macromedia Flash MX Learning Interactions www.macromedia.com/software/elearningsuite/productinfo/extensions/ *
Macromedia Flash Communication Server MX www.macromedia.com/software/flashcom/
Macromedia Authorware www.macromedia.com/software/authorware/
Macromedia Director www.macromedia.com/resources/elearning/extensions/director

Reusable learning objects (RLOs)
RLO stands for Reusable Learning Object. The Learning Object Metadata Working Group of the IEEE Learning Technology Standards Committee (LTSC) defines RLO as "any entity, digital or non-digital, which can be used, re-used or referenced during technology supported learning." ASTD Learning Circuits defines learning object as "a reusable, media-independent chunk of information used as a modular building block for e-learning content."

Creating Learning Objects with Macromedia Flash MX www.macromedia.com/resources/elearning/whitepapers.html *
Cisco Reusable Learning Object Strategy (PDF format) www.cisco.com/warp/public/10/wwtraining/elearning/implement/rlo_strategy_v3-1.pdf *
Reusable Learning Objects www.elearningmag.com/elearning/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=5043 *
A Primer on Learning Objects www.learningcircuits.org/mar2000/primer.html
Learning Object Pioneers www.learningcircuits.org/mar2000/barron.html
Learning Objects Tutorial www.eduworks.com/LOTT/tutorial/index.html
Instructional Use of Learning Objects reusability.org/read/
Objects of Interest www.fastrak-consulting.co.uk/tactix/features/objects/objects.htm

SCORM (Sharable Content Object Reference Model)
The Shareable Content Object Reference Model (SCORM) refers to a set of standards that, when applied to course content, produces small, reusable learning objects. A result of the Department of Defense's Advance Distributed Learning (ADL) initiative, SCORM-compliant courseware elements can be easily merged with other compliant elements to produce a highly modular repository of training materials. (Definition from ASTD's eLearning Glossary.)

Sharable Content Object Reference Model www.adlnet.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=scormabt *
Shareable Content Object Reference Model Runtime Interface (SCORM RTI) Extension for Dreamweaver MX www.macromedia.com/exchange/ *
Macromedia Manifest Maker Extension for ADL SCORM www.macromedia.com/exchange/ *
Advanced Distributed Learning www.adlnet.org/index.cfm?flashplugin=1&fuseaction=home

Learning Technology Standards: overview, organizations, and specifications
These standards refer to criteria provided by ADL, AICC, IEEE, and IMS that allow content interoperability, metadata tagging, and data tracking:

Macromedia Getting Started with eLearning Standards (PDF format) download.macromedia.com/pub/solutions/downloads/elearning/standards.pdf *
Macromedia Support for Key Standards: www.macromedia.com/resources/elearning/standards.html*
Aviation Industry Computer-Based Training Committee (AICC) www.aicc.org *
IEEE Learning Technology Standards Committee ltsc.ieee.org *
IMS Global Learning Consortium www.imsproject.org
Advanced Distributed Learning www.adlnet.org
Making Sense of Learning Specifications and Standards (PDF format) www.masie.com/standards/S3_Guide.pdf
Learning Technology Standards: An Overview www.cetis.ac.uk/static/standards.html
Standards: The Vision and the Hype www.learningcircuits.org/nov2000/standards_index.html
Demystifying Learning Technology Standards: Part I www.syllabus.com/syllabusmagazine/article.asp?id=6134
Demystifying Learning Technology Standards: Part II www.syllabus.com/syllabusmagazine/article.asp?id=6230

Assessment and evaluation
These terms refer to any systematic process for gathering information about the impact and effectiveness of a learning event. In general, there are four levels of evaluation: reaction, knowledge, performance, and impact. The results can be used to improve learning. There are also online evaluation tools that help educators and organizations assess the effectiveness of their learning offerings:

An Assessment of the Effectiveness of E-learning in Corporate Training Programs www.irrodl.org/content/v3.1/strother.html
Flashlight Program www.tltgroup.org/programs/flashlight.html

Usability: overview, organization, newsletters, and conferences
This term refers to a site's compatibility with users' cognitive needs. Usability is concerned with how well users are able to access content and accomplish the tasks that they came to the site to do. (Definition from the glossary in Macromedia MX eLearning: Advanced Training from the Source.)

Macromedia Flash Usability www.macromedia.com/software/flash/productinfo/usability/ *
UseIt: Jakob Nielsen's Website www.useit.com *
Usable Web usableweb.com *
Research-Based Web Design and Usability Guidelines usability.gov/guidelines/
User Interface Engineering www.uie.com
Usability.gov usability.gov
Usability Professionals' Association www.upassoc.org
Association for Computing Machinery Special Interest Group on Computer-Human Interaction www.acm.org/sigchi/
Usability First www.usabilityfirst.com/index.txl
WebWorld: Usability Consulting www.webword.com
Usability News psychology.wichita.edu/surl/usability_news.html
Usability Methods Toolbox jthom.best.vwh.net/usability/

Knowledge management
Commonly abbreviated as KM, knowledge management refers to an approach to keeping professional knowledge in teams, rather than in individuals. KM often includes centralized knowledge bases, into which all members of a team or organization can contribute their knowledge and access the learning of others. (Definition from the glossary in Macromedia MX eLearning: Advanced Training from the Source.)

Knowledge Management Consortium International www.kmci.org *
Knowledge Management Research Center www.cio.com/research/knowledge/ *
Knowledge Management Puzzle: Human and Social Factors in Knowledge Management www.research.ibm.com/journal/sj/404/thomas.html *
Virtual Library on Knowledge Management km.brint.com
Knowledge Management Forum www.km-forum.org
Knowledge Management Resource Center www.kmresource.com/welcome_msg.htm
Knowledge Management Publications www.bus.utexas.edu/kman/pubs.htm
Knowledge Management and Information Technology www.svifsi.ch/revue/pages/issues/n021/in021.html

Online community and forums
People with common interests and needs can collaborate, interact, and share information in these virtual meeting places:

Macromedia eLearning Resource Center www.macromedia.com/resources/elearning/
Macromedia Community www.macromedia.com/support/community/
Macromedia Design and Developer Center Community Resources www.macromedia.com/devnet/community/
Macromedia Online Forum www.macromedia.com/support/forums/
Inquiry Learning Forum ilf.crlt.indiana.edu
ASTD E-learning Community www.astd.org/virtual_community/Comm_elrng_rdmap/e_lrng_comm.html

Collaborative tools
These tools enable users to stay connected regardless of location. The most common collaborative tools are e-mail, listservs (mailing lists), and newsgroups. More full-featured collaborative tools (that is, with graphical user interface, archiving, calendars, scheduling, threaded discussion, search engine, co-browsing, etc.) run the gamut from audio, video (including desktop video), and web conferencing to live chat, online discussion, i-Phone (Internet telephone), instant messenger, and MUDs (primarily text-based Multi-User Dimensions) and MOOs (MUDs Object-Oriented):

Macromedia Flash Communications Server MX www.macromedia.com/software/flashcom/ *
Electronic Collaboration: A Practical Guide for Educators www.lab.brown.edu/public/ocsc/collaboration.guide/ *
Basic Support for Cooperative Work (BSCU) bscw.gmd.de *
SiteScape Enterprise Forum www.sitescape.com/next/forum.html
PolyCom World Wide www.polycom.com/home/
Latitude Meeting Place www.latitude.com/
ICQ www.icq.com
Educational Use of MUDs/MOOs tecfa.unige.ch/edu-comp/WWW-VL/eduVR-page.html
WebEx webex.com
Topica Groups www.topica.com
Buyer's Guide: Real-Time Conferencing Products and Online Services www.infoworld.com/cgi-bin/displayTC.pl?/990823sb2-analysis.htm

Showcases
The following websites and learning assets demonstrate what can be done with e-learning:

Macromedia eLearning Innovation Award Winners:
www.macromedia.com/resources/elearning/eliap/winners/q2_2002/*
Macromedia Education and Training Showcase*
http://dynamic.macromedia.com/bin/MM/showcase/scripts/showcase_cs_listing_by_query.jsp?industry=Education/Training
Macromedia Showcase www.macromedia.com/showcase/*
ExploreMath and ExploreScience by ExploreLearning www.explorelearning.com/websites/ *
Mysterious World of Mummies (Discovery Channel) www.discovery.com/highspeed/tlc/mummies/ *
What's Asthma All About? www.whatsasthma.org *
CNN Interactive Website www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/1999/millennium/
Building America: Online Exhibit from National Building Museum www.nbm.org/home.html
New York Philharmonic Insights Series www.newyorkphilharmonic.org/kostelanetz/
Fungal Infections Virtual Grand Rounds by MIT www.figrandrounds.org/fi/
Reconstructors reconstructors.rice.edu/game1.html

About the authors
Shaowen Bardzell is Director of Instructional Consulting and Technology Services (ICTS) at the School of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation at Indiana University Bloomington (IUB). She consults with faculty on instructional design as well as web and multimedia development, provides software training and support, and manages the websites for the school and two of its academic departments. She has taken a leadership position within the school on the implementation of distributed education and the integration of technology and instruction. Shaowen is a Ph.D. candidate in Comparative Literature. She has taught at IUB, Ignatius University, and the Hess Language Institute of Taipei. You can reach her at selu@indiana.edu.

Hyo-Jeong So is an instructional consultant and developer at ICTS in the School of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation at IUB. Her academic focus includes accessible web-based instruction, universal design, and human computer interactions. Hyo-Jeong is a Ph.D. student in the department of Instructional Systems Technology at IUB. You can reach her at hyso@indiana.edu.