There are 6 assets available for creating your course:
Text Box: Inserts a placeholder text onto the page, which can be replaced with your own content and repositioned as needed.
Video Frame: Embeds a placeholder video onto the page. Click on it to add your video URL from the Edit menu.
Audio File: Inserts an audio player onto the page. Click on it to upload an audio file from the Edit menu.
Image: Place a placeholder image onto the page. Simply click on it to upload your own image from the Edit menu.
Table: Places a table onto the page, which can be formatted using the options in the Edit menu.
Tabs: Segmenting the course material into smaller sections.
Text Box
Text Box
A variety of different types of assets for presenting course material are available. A paragraph asset contains written text and is one the most important types of media available for communicating course content.
Great attention should be given to its graphic display and integration with images. Display on-screen text to provide the best readability and clarity. For example, consider word and row spacing to improve text readability.
There are six main types of course content that can be included in a paragraph:
Facts refer to specific information that answers questions, such as who, where, how and when? Facts can be shown, exhibited or indicated in course material. Examples include: data, lists and historical events.
Procedures are a series of clearly defined steps, aimed at performing tasks. Procedures answer the question: "How to...?"
Concepts are a group of objects, entities or ideas that are defined by a single word. They require definition. Concepts answer the question: "What is...?"
A principle (or rule), describes a relationship between concepts. For example: "Price increases, as supply decreases". Some principles can be translated into strategic guidelines, which can guide decisions and tasks. For example, what are the guidelines for dealing with price volatility?
Interpersonal skills are verbal and non-verbal skills that are useful for interacting with people.
Attitudes are a predisposition for certain behaviours. For example, course content may be included that relates to promoting "the urgency to adopt attitudes for limiting the effects of climate change", if this is the intended outcome.
Video Frame
Video Frame
A video asset can be inserted by clicking on the image icon in the Assets panel of the publishing tool:
Video is a very effective type of media that makes it possible to reproduce behaviour, processes or procedures the way they appear in real life. It can also be used to present a case study and is especially effective in role plays to illustrate interpersonal communication situations.
Guidelines for using Videos:
Format: Preferred format is MP4.
Video Codec: Preferred H.264, Apple ProRes 422 (HQ) or H.265 (HEVC).
Compression ratio 1:1/square.
Minimum for HD (preferred format) 720p 1280 × 720 16:9 aspect ratio.
Standard Definition (SD) 4:3 aspect ratio 640 × 480.
Standard Definition (SD) 16:9 aspect ratio 640 × 360.
Duration: Videos can range from 15 seconds to 20 minutes, depending on the nature of content.
Audio File
Audio File
An Audio File can be inserted by clicking on the Audio icon in the Assets panel of the publishing tool:
Correct use of audio greatly increases the effectiveness of a course. Audio can be used in combination with on-screen text to summarise or expand key points or to accompany video sequences.
Guidelines for using Audio assets:
Audio should be used in mp3 format only.
Quality (64 kbps @ 44.1 lHz).
Duration (audio clips can range from 15 seconds to 15 minutes).
All audios to be compressed to the format.
Image
Image
An image asset can be inserted by clicking on the image icon in the Assets panel of the publishing tool:
Table
Table
You can insert a list by clicking on the Table icon in the Assets panel of the publishing tool:
Like lists you can use tables to organise the information and complex data you are presenting to learners.
Tabs
Tabs
A Tab Asset can be inserted by clicking on the Tabs icon in the Assets panel of the publishing tool:
Tab assets promote effective learning by segmenting the course material into smaller sections. The Alison Publisher tool has different types of tabs: Horizontal tabs | Vertical tabs | Accordion tabs and Modals.
Modals add interactivity to pages, making it easier for users to engage with additional details and break content into manageable sections. This creates a familiar, website-like experience that enhances the learning process.
To insert a modal asset into a course page, first click on the “Add Tabs” asset from the assets panel and select Modal. Once the modal appears on the page, click the modal icon to edit the content within it. You'll also need to include a caption for the modal when it’s in its closed state.