Basic principles of online learning design
Below is a handy list of dos and don'ts for online learning development by :
| Do | Don't |
|---|
| Invest time in planning | Let the technology define the learning |
| Use colours with high contrast eg black text on white background | Use colours that are difficult to read eg red or yellow for text |
| Use colours like white or shades of grey for backgrounds | Don't use images for background of text areas |
| Use good quality images | Use colours that could have particular meanings, eg orange = cheap, red = anger |
| Follow web standards and accessibility guidelines | Use images that have nothing to do with the subject matter |
| Check minimum standards required with the client or multimedia designer | Deep link |
| Limit the amount of text on a page | Make the online resource simply a series of links to PDF versions of a printed resource |
| Functionality test your resource | Use tables to format content |
| Validate HTML and CSS | Use inappropriate language and jargon |
| Limit scrolling down and eliminate scrolling across | Put important information on the right hand side of the page, or '‘below the fold' |
| Make lines of text wrap after 15 words | Use clip art |
Oliver, R. (1999). Exploring strategies for on-line teaching and learning. Distance Education, 20(2), 240-254.
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