Forum Discussion
High-Context Storyline Course Example
Hello Heroes,
I work as part of a tiny two-person safety training team at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. We are wrapping up work on a hazardous waste course for scientists who work at the Lab's Molecular Foundry, and I want to share this course with the community. The course is not quite finalized yet, so its current location may be temporary, but at least for now, you can view the course here: MFD User Hazardous Waste Training.
Could it be better? Sure, in lots of ways. But what I like about it--in spite of its flaws--is that it focuses on two of the most important aspects of a good online course: context and practice. I've been working hard to move past e-learning-as-information-delivery. Instead, to the degree possible, we are trying to simulate the relevant aspects of the researcher's job in order to give him or her the chance to learn by doing. I'm hoping it inspires other course designers to try this approach.
Enjoy!
33 Replies
The original link is not working to see the course. Can this be posted again? I am just about to start the design phase of my Haz Mat Training.
Hi Katie,
The original link was to a temporary build that extracted one branch from a larger course. That build is no longer available, but you can see it in the full course if you choose the right branch.
Go here to view the course: EHS 0604 Hazardous Waste Generator Training.
When you get to this screen...
...choose I am a Molecular Foundry User (Affiliate) who works exclusively at the Foundry.
We have not yet updated the other branch (the one for scientists who work outside the Molecular Foundry), so it is still in an older style.
We ended up having to put a chunk of "telling" in the Introduction module, so I recommend powering through that (just click Next until you reach the end of that module). The interesting stuff starts in Module 1 and even moreso in Module 2.
We are just starting to revise the non-Foundry branch to be more in this high-context style.
Cheers!
-Ray
Hi Ray! I'd love to take a look at your course but the link gives me an error. Is it still available? I know you first shared it a few years ago. Thanks!
Hi Matt,
Thanks for your interest! The current version of the course is here: EHS 0604 Hazardous Waste Generator Training.
Thank you Ray for sharing this course. Great job! It's very interactive, engaging, and even fun! Who thought learning how to properly dispose of hazardous materials could be fun! It's amazing what great instructional design can do to any subject.
As others have mentioned, I think the course could be modernized a bit. Some of the text and graphics seem a bit dated. Other than that, great work!
It has really sparked some inspiration for the hazmat course I'm working on now.Thanks Matt!
