Before looking at the individual LEO tools to help you create high quality online learning materials it is useful to consider the work of Oliver and Herrington. These researchers offer a model of how three important elements need to work together to maximise student engagement in online learning environments.
These three elements are:
| Learning Materials | Content and information can be provided from a multitude of sources. It is recognised that the unit content should be considered a resource for learning rather than the focus of learning. |
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Learning activities |
Learning activities determine how the learners will engage with unit resources (materials) and its key purpose is to provide content to deal with the content. They must be active and engaging, engender cooperative and collaborative activities among the students and to provide opportunities for reflection. |
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Learning support (Critical but often over looked in the overall design) |
Online learning environments need learning supports to be designed as integral parts of the learning process.This support is necessary to guide learners and to provide a feedback mechanism which is responsive and sensitive to their individual needs. |