Module 4

Tools for E-Content Development

Dr. Maitreyee Dutta
Professor & Head
Computer Science & Engineering Department,
National Institute of Technical Teachers Training & Research, Sector-26, Chandigarh (India)

Learning Outcomes:

After reading the learning material, you will be able to:

 Explain the steps for creating e-content

 State the standards of e-content
 Explain and use various tools for creating e content

1. Introduction:

E-content is getting to be mainstream as a result of technology advancement in learning. E-

content incorporates a wide range of content created and published through different
electronic media. It tends to be utilized by wide assortment students with various necessities,
diverse foundations, and past experience and ability levels. It can be published and shared
effectively and instantly with boundless number of clients in the globe. Students, faculty, and
others get profited by well designed and developed e-content. It is favourable to all academic
institutions to create and develop e content to make their program open to the teachers and
students of their own institute, home and other community learning or resource centres. E-
content is defined as the digital content delivered over network based electronics devices
through internet. Tools for creating e-content are useful for developing self learning material.

2. Steps for creating e-content

In designing the e-content it is necessary to define the learning objectives, framing the
content logically, defining the strategies for delivery of instruction and evaluation, and
preparing the visual and technical design.

1. Learning objectives of the content has to be explained in clear, sensible and

quantifiable terms. Learning objectives are the explanations that depict what the
student will have the capacity to do toward the finish of the course or program.
Learning targets ought to determine execution and impart their motivations. Contents
have to be structured very logically with much clarity.

2. Instructional strategies are to be expressed obviously. Depending upon the learning

style and nature of the substance we need to choose the proper instructional
 methodology. Combination of sound, video, designs, texts, animations, simulations
and so on are to be included.

3. Learner evaluation strategies such as practice task, Multiple choice questions,

assignments, assessment tests, pre-test, post-test, remedial tests etc are to be specified.
We need to choose about the formative and summative evaluations. Before
developing the content for the selected course review the proposed learning
objectives. Make sure that content, assessment tests and exercises match the
objectives stated. Provide the information and knowledge required to meet the
learning objectives.

In developing e-content, creation of story board, implementation and evaluation are

necessary.

 Creation of Story Board: Based on the objectives and instructional strategies, the
story board is created. Content assets, learning objects, learning units are
created. Asset may be images, text or animation, Learning objects combined in
pedagogical aspects are known as learning module. Programming and
integration of all media elements into a cohesive multimedia package are the part of
this phase.
 Implement: Instructional materials produced are distributed to learners by hosting
them in a web site. The document covering course curricula, learning objectives,
learning material delivery methods and testing procedures is developed and published
in the web.
 Evaluation: In evaluation phase, formative and summative evaluation are very
important. Formative evaluation is present in each stage Summative evaluation
determines the achievement of the course objectives with the learning material. At all
stage, depending on the feedback received, learning material is to be revised.

3. Standards of e-content

Formal standards bodies such as the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), International
Organization for Standardization (ISO), World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), etc. release
the electronic standards. W3C is international standards organization for World Wide Web.

There are several standards available today for e-content integration and interoperability.
International bodies generally design, develop and publish the standards.

According to International Organization for Standardization(ISO) standards can be defined

as “documented agreements containing technical specialization or other precise criteria to be
used consistently as rules, guidelines or definitions of characteristics to ensure that materials,
products, processes and services are fit for their purpose.”
Share-able Content Object Reference Model (SCORM): It is a well known standard and a
powerful tool. If content is created in this standard that content can be used in many different
systems and in many situations without modification.

Aviation Industry CBT Committee (AICC): This is the standard actively used in the
aviation industry. It was the first standard to be adopted by the e-learning industry.

Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) IMS Standards: This standard
enables to create high quality accessible and affordable learning experiences. This standard is
mainly used in government institutions, universities, schools and colleges.

Instructional Management System Global Learning Consortium (IMS) is a organization

which is non-profit and global organization that strives in developing interoperability and
adoption practice standards. Their main activity is to develop interoperability standards and
adoption practice standards for distributed learning,

E content can be developed in three ways

1. Text dominance:

Plan the Presentation

 Text Dominance

 Write the law or

hypothesis or
theorems

2. Animation Dominance

Plan the Presentation

 Animation Write the law or

Dominance hypothesis or
theorems
 3. Speaker Dominance

Plan the Presentation

 Speaker Write the law or

Dominance hypothesis or
theorems

4. Various tools for creating e content:

Tools or software for creating e content commonly be broadly categorized as
1. Freeware tools: These tools are free to download but no source code is available to
modify or append
2. Open Source Software tools: These tools are free to download as well as source
code is available to modify or append
3. Proprietary Tools: These tools are commercial tools. These have to be purchased
from specific firms.

4.1 Graphics Tools

1. DRAWPAD

DrawPad is a software used to draw graphics. It is easy-to-use. For any graphics

composition and manipulation this software is used.

2. PHOTOSHOP

PhotoShop is well accepted graphic editing software. It is used for drawing as well as
in image editing. Layer concept is the main concept in photoshop which allows us to
create graphics quickly with ease.
3. MYPAINT

MyPaint is a graphics editor which is used for digital painting. It is an user-friendly

painting program. It is compatible with Wacom graphics tablets and other similar devices.

4. INKSCAPE

Inkscape is used for drawing and editing. It is a free and open source software. It is used
in line Art.

5. GIMP

GIMP is a robust 2D image editor. It is free open source software. It is a good

alternative to Adobe PhotoShop and has most of the characteristics of PhotoShop. It is
used to modify 2D image and create brochure, Logos, pamphlets etc.

6. GOOGLE SKETCHUP

Google Sketch up is an open source graphic editor for 3D images. It is used for 3 D
Modelling. It is easy to learn and incredibly fun to useIt is used mainly in architecture
application.

7. KRITA

Krita is used for digital graphics and animation. It is a free and open-source raster
graphics editor.
4.2 Audio editing software for e-content development

1. WAVEPAD

Wavepad is an audio editing software. It is an audio and music editing software for
Windows and Mac.

2. SOUND FORGE

Sound forge is also an audio editing software. It is a very strong software to work with music
and sound.

3. AUDACITY

Audacity is free open source software. It is a easy to use multi track audio editor and recorder
for Windows, Mac, GNU / Linux and so many other operating systems.

4.3 Video editing software for e-content development

1. MAGISTO

Magisto is also a video editor. Upload the video, then choose any one of the premade
editing styles, add a sound track, add a title and the video will be ready for upload or
for sharing on the social media.

2. OPENSHOT
 Openshot is a video editor for Linux operating system. It is a free, simple open
source software. It is very user friendly which everyone can use and get great results.

3. VIDEOSHOT

VideoPad is a powerful and easy-to-use video editor that lets you import videos, add
music and effects, then burn to DVD. You can edit video from any camcorder Capture
video from a DV camcorder, webcam, or import most the video file format.

4. FINAL CUT PRO

Final Cut Pro is a powerful tool for non linear editing. It is an Applemake software.
It is compatible with Mac operating system. With Final Cut Pro video edting like
color composition, adding and deleting video clips, audio, motion graphics etc. It is
360 degree video editing software.

5. VEGAS

Vegas is also a video editing tool. It is a professional video and audio editor. It is a
Windows based software

4.4 Animation tools for e-content development

1. FLASH
 Flash is an animation software but it is not free. Flash is a multimedia software
platform used for production of animations.

ART OF ILLUSION

Art of Illusion is a free open source software for creating animation. Art of
Illusion is a full featured 3D modelling, rendering, and animation studio.

2. BLENDER

Blender is a perfect replacement of Flash. It is a strong open source tool for creating
animation

4.5 Authoring tools for e-content development

3. EXE LEARNING

eXe Learning is a free software tool that can be used to create educational interactive
web contents. eXe learning can generate interactive content and it allows one to create
easily navigable web pages including text, images, interactive activities, image
galleries or multimedia clips.

4. XERTE

The Xerte is a free and open source authoring tool which provides a full suite of open
source tools for e-Learning developers and content authors producing interactive
learning materials. This project is funded by Nottingham University.
 5. ADOBE CAPTIVATE

Adobe Captivate is proprietary software. It is a rapid responsive authoring tool that is

used for creating e-learning contents such as software demonstrations, software
simulations, branched scenarios, and randomized quizzes in Small Web Formats
(.swf) and HTML5 formats.

6. GLO MAKER

GLO Maker is an open source and free for educational use authoring software for
creating interactive learning resources. It builds on the Reusable Learning objects.

LAMS, the Learning Activity Management System, is an open source Learning

Design system for designing, managing and delivering online collaborative learning.

7. TOOLBOOK

TOOLBOOK is a software for creating e content. You can create e-content and
quizzes with this tool.

5. Other Open Source Tools for e-content development

• Camstudio

• Camtasia studio
• Virtual dub

• Open broadcaster software

• Avidemux

• Lightworks

• Ispring

• Open Shot
Practice tasks

1. Name the open source tools for Animation.

2. State the three ways of developing e content.

3. Write the correct answer: Tool book is LMS or LCMS.

4. Name the various open source tools for e content generation.

5. Adobe Captivate is: proprietary or open source software.

Feedback/Self-evaluation to Practice task

1. Flash, Art of Illusion, Blender.
2. E content can be developed in three ways: Text dominance; Animation Dominance; and
Speaker Dominance.
3. It is LMS.
4. Camstudio; Camtasia studio; Virtual dub; Avidemux etc.
5. A Proprietary Software
References:

1. https://sourceforge.net › Browse › Graphics › Graphics › 3D Modeling

Web Resources:

2. Video film on ‘Tools for e-content development – Part I’ developed/recorded by Professor

(Dr.) Maitreyee Dutta, NITTTR, Chandigarh.
3. Video film on ‘Tools for e-content development – Part II’ developed/recorded by Professor
(Dr.) Maitreyee Dutta, NITTTR, Chandigarh
4. Video film on ‘Demonstration of Tool Book software’ developed/recorded by Professor
(Dr.) Maitreyee Dutta, NITTTR, Chandigarh
5. https://ecreators.com.au/9-great-e-learning-content-development-tools/
6. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sAuFac1wWCU
7. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vsvj94Y0uks
8. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L61z56CtZDQ
9. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fIu2S53Otro
10. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=giaUGWpllq0