UNIT 8

Document Architecture and Content Management

8.1 Content Design and Development

All the content that is present can help to exploit the full benefits of digital learning content.

Specialists and full-time content designers play an invaluable role, digital content design and development is a core competency for all learning professionals.

The digital learning designer’s programme:

Designed for learning professionals and subject specialists, this programme provides you with the skills you need to create engaging and effective digital learning content in all its forms, from simple slides, PDFs, podcasts and screencasts, through to videos, quizzes, tutorials and scenarios.

Compelling content:

A backstage pass is provided to take a look at how we have applied the six characteristics of compelling content. These principles are based on the latest research and the experience of great content designers from across the world.

Digital learning content – a designer’s guide:

This guide, available in paperback or as an e-book, is for anyone with an interest in helping others to learn. You may be a teacher, trainer, lecturer or coach. You may be a subject expert with knowledge you want to share or an experienced practitioner who wants to pass on their tips. You may already be a creator of learning content, looking to update their skills. Whatever your interest, this 220-page guide will help you to design learning materials that really make a difference.

Designs on Learning: 

It provides an insight into the careers and work of five leading designers of digital learning content.

8.2 General Design Principles

1. Purpose

• There needs to be a reason of creating content.
• The fact that someone has asked to produce something is not enough. Digging a little deep is important.
• When content designers are brought in too late to a project there is often a lot of groundwork to do in order to catch up on what’s already been discovered.
• When designing content, the purpose is always kept in mind.

2. Context

• Something has to happen before they see your content, and something will happen afterwards.
• Take some time to understand the routes in and out to your content. Sketch them out. And if you can, look at the content your user will have seen before they get to your content.
• You need to ensure brand consistency and consistency of message.
• Also think about the context your work will be consumed in.
• User research will help you to understand the context more.

3. Accessibility

• Content design means creating something that is functional and usable for everyone. The format your content takes is vital.
• Content doesn’t always have to be words or large chunks of copy. It can be diagrams or visuals.
• Techniques such progressive disclosure can really help.

4. Clarity

• Use plain English and avoiding jargons at all costs.
• Thinking about everyday words and sticking to those.
• Keeping call to action labels simple by using verbs and not passive language.
• It’s also important to be clear when a user needs to do something.
• ‘You’ll need to send us an email’ is much more instructional than ‘When we get an email’.

5. Brevity

• Any content that isn’t relevant at the point of the journey should be removed. If you can replace copy with visuals then do so — this is where content and design collaboration really helps.
• It’s also good to take out unnecessary words at a sentence level, and try to keep them below 25 words.

6. Relevance

• Conversational design can help to make sure you get the right content in the appropriate place, in an appropriate order.
• Chunk up your content into logical groups. It will create the copy.
• The format of your content can help shape your whole digital product experience.

7. Flexibility

References:

Multimedia : Computing, Communications & Applications by Ralf Steinmetz and Klara Nahrstedt, Pearson Ed.

Multimedia Systems Design by Prabhat K. Andleigh & Kiran Thakrar, PHI.

Principles of Multimedia by Parekh, TMH.