The Resource Development Process
Introduction
Students and faculty at the University of Kansas have the unique opportunity to develop instructional resources that will be posted on the world wide web. Once posted on the web, these resources will be available for educators to integrate into their classrooms. The following is a detailed explanation of the specifications and process that students and faculty should follow when developing these resources.
Resource Requirements
- Educational Orientation - Each resource should be oriented to a specific educational objective
- Document Specifications - Each resource should be a "stand-alone" document, meaning that the inclusion of external links is not permissable (except for "Links" resources). Internal links (links to other instructional resources within the Learning Generation directory) are acceptable. All resource documents should be created using a format similar to the Learning Generation resource prototypes. To utilize these prototypes as a reference, 1) link to the Learning Generation's Resource page, 2) click on the desired Learning Generation prototype, and 3) click on View > Source to access the HTML code for the chosen prototype.
- HTML Coded - Each resource should be created using HTML, short for HyperText Markup Language. HTML documents are text files that can be written in simple text editors (i.e. - Notepad, Word Pad, Text Pad).
- Assessibility - Each resource will be submitted to Learning Generation for review. Upon approval, the resource will be posted on the web, and become assessible to educators for instructional use.
Resource Types
- Organizer - a "main page" that links related documents into a document "family" - EXAMPLE
- Tutorial - a document that provides step-by-step instructions for accomplishing specific tasks EXAMPLE
- Links - a document that provides web links to online resources related to a specific software program or topic. Individual links should be ordered according to degree of usefulness and reliability. No more than 10 links should be included on this type of document - EXAMPLE
- Assignment - a document that provides an assignment related to a specific software program or task. Each assignment must include at least one level of task difficulty (i.e. - basic, intermediate, advanced), with multiple levels being preferred - EXAMPLE
- Sample - a document that provides an example of a successfully completed assignment - EXAMPLE
Naming Convention
Each resource will be identified according to a "Naming Convention"; a naming system that utilizes numeric and alphabetic code for document and file identification. Once resource documents have been received and tested, they will be renamed according to the naming convention, and then posted on the world-wide-web for educators to use. The following is an example of the naming convention code that will be used to identify resources accepted by Learning Generation:
* lg0001ta.html *
- lg = Learning Generation
- 0001 = document family number
- t = document type (t = tutorial, a = assignment, etc.)
- a = unique identifier
- .html = file extension (or .jpg, or .gif, or .jpg, or .rn, etc.)
Folder Rule
Resource folders will utilize the same name as individual resource documents, but without the use of a document extension (i.e. - .html or .jpg).
File Placement
Individual directories will be used for each document type (5 resource types = 5 individual directories). Resource documents submitted to Learning Generation will be handled via the following file sharing process:
- A public accessible folder will be available at the Learning Generation home page.
- Students and faculty will upload "family" folders into this public folder.
- Learning Generation personnel will rename and move submitted documents into a "testing folder".
- The documents will be tested, and either a) accepted with no revisions, b) edited with minor revisions, or c) sent back to the original creator for major revisions.
- Accepted documents will be stored in a server-based directory, and also uploaded to E-SOLID to become available for educators to use.
Procedure for Handling
- Who will create the resource documents? - Undergraduate students in KU's School of Education, Learning Generation personnel, and KU faculty who serve as members of LearnGen cohorts will develop instructional resources.
- Who will test the resource documents? - A testing protocol (checklist) will be used by Learning Generation personnel, KU undergraduate students, and KU faculty to test submitted resources.
- Where will the resource documents be stored? - The resources will be stored on the Learning Generation web site in the Cohorts/Objects section. The Learning Generation instructional media creator will update the online resource directory on a regular basis.