Design principles for online tutorials

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. What is an online tutorial?
3. Why create online tutorials?
4. Demonstration - Two approaches
5. Principles for creating effective tutorials
6. Applying the principles - some examples
7. The process of creating tutorials
8. Practical Hints and Tips
   1. Pedagogy
   2. Design
   3. Structure and flow
   4. Images and Video
   5. General tips
9. Summary
10. References

General tips

Consider using Wimba Create box text and Panel text styles to break up text.

Students will have different preferred learning styles. Some students will still want to print things off. It is good to make sure certain pages (for example summary pages) are text only and printable. Alternatively you can provide a separate text only version.

Always refer to your learning outcomes when designing content. With technology there can be a compulsion to use the all functionalities of a system or the most up to date or on trend delivery. The prescribed learning outcomes should always drive content rather than the use of a particular.

There is no one size fits all approach to tutorial design. Just like in face to face teaching online tutorial strategies vary by audience and preferred outcome.