Introduction to Creating interactive content

The section ‘Content creation’ on your E-Guides USB memory stick contains step-by-step guides showing how to create resources using a range of software applications. The following list indicates the choice of guides available.

To assist you, some video animations have been created to show certain steps in the guides. In addition, each set of instructions indicates suggestions for use and web links indicating examples of created resources.

Microsoft® Word

Microsoft Word can be used to create a variety of learning resources including interactive elements such as drag and drop or multiple-choice activities.

The instructions will help you create:

• Drag and drop
• Text form fields
• Drop-down form fields
• Check box form fields
• Comment boxes.

To help you, there are the following video animations which you can watch showing some of the steps to create:

• Text-form fields
• Drop-down form fields.

These links are also available in the relevant step-by-step guides.

Microsoft® PowerPoint®

Microsoft PowerPoint can be used to create and deliver interactive learning resources. Each slide may contain text, graphics, animation, internal and external hyperlinks, and audio and video clips.

The instructions will help you create:

• Hyperlinks – internal and external
• Using audio and video
• Interactive text boxes.

To help you, there is the following video animation which you can watch showing some of the steps to create:

• Using audio clips.

This link is also available in the relevant step-by-step guide.

Microsoft®  Excel®

Microsoft® Excel® drop down boxes allow teachers to create simple multiple-choice exercises that can provide instant feedback.

The instructions will help you create:

• Drop-down boxes.

To help you, there is the following video animation which you can watch showing some of the steps to create:

• Drop-down boxes.

This link is also available in the relevant step-by-step guide.

Hot Potatoes™

The Hot Potatoes™ software suite is a set of six authoring tools enabling the creation of interactive activities in a variety of styles that can run smoothly in any web browser.

The instructions will help you create:

• JCloze: used to create gap-fill (cloze) exercises.

• JQuiz: used to create question-based exercises consisting of an unlimited number of questions. Multiple choice, short answer, hybrid and multi-select are the four basic types of question.

• JCross: used to create crossword exercises. It is possible to create a crossword of up to 20 x 20 letters.

• JMatch: used to create matching or ordering exercises. JMatch contains three types of output format – standard, drag-and-drop, flashcard.

• JMix: used to create jumbled word or sentence exercises. Letters of a single word may be jumbled, or the words of a sentence.

• The Masher: used to build linked units of resources. A unit created with the Masher can share the same appearance settings and be linked automatically by navigation buttons, and it includes an automatically created index page.

There are also instructions for incorporating images and sounds into Hot Potatoes™ activities

• Hot Potatoes™ - images and sounds

To help you, there are the following video animations which you can watch showing some of the steps to create:

• JCross
• JQuiz
• JCloze

These links are also available in the relevant step-by-step guides.

Microsoft® Photo Story for Windows®

Microsoft® Photo Story allows you to create slideshows showing images with the added advantage of text, recorded narration to each slide and inserted music.

The instructions will help you create:

• A Photo Story slide show.
  

eXe learning introduction

open-source XHTML editor, is a web based authoring tool that allows you to create impressive, well designed web-based teaching and learning materials without the need to understand HTML or XML code.

The instructions will help you create:

• A three page web object including nine i-Devices.

To help you, there are the following video animations which you can watch showing some of the steps to create:

• Exporting as a web object
• Exporting as a SCORM object into a Moodle course.

These links are also available in the relevant step-by-step guides.

Audacity®

Audacity is free, open source software for recording and editing sounds. It is an easy tool to use to produce narrations to accompany a learning resource or to create realistic language tasks. 

The instructions will help you:

• create a recording
• edit a recording
  
• export a recording as an MP3 file.

How to improve your handouts

By following a few steps and considering some best practice guidelines you can ensure your handouts support your learners, regardless of their needs. The instructions consider paper-based handouts and electronic documents.

Screen capture

A screen capture is the act of copying what is currently displayed on a screen as a still image or as a moving image. The copied scene can be pasted into a document or web object.

The instructions will help you create:

• a still image capture using the keyboard and Snippy software
• a moving screen animation using CamStudio and Wink software.