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I began my career in e-learning at The Wellington Institute of Technology (WelTec), as a librarian.
I studied part time at Victoria University of Wellington, and enrolled in a Masters in Library and Information Studies (MLIS). Information literacy and online learning were at the forefront of education and libraries. I enjoyed learning about the information society, online search, databases, and the principles of web design and usability.
A new online learning management system was established in 2004 called Learn Zone to deliver course material online. The library needed to find new ways to interact library content where students were learning - online.
In 2009 I took up an opportunity to become the Information Literacy and E-learning Coordinator at UWA, in Western Australia, and then returned to NZ to work at CWA New Media and Learning Media. I later helped the WelTec EdTech team develop content and manage the system as the EdTech administrator, when they moved to Moodle. It was a great development curve.
I became the Information Literacy and E-learning Coodinator at the University of Western Australia, Perth, in 2009, across 7 subject libraries. It was an eye-opening experience, learning about the relationships and cross overs between library and web and e-learning.
I did a lot of research into the nature of e-learning around the world, and researched the top 100 ranking World universities. I provided a report to UWA and eventually to the New Zealand Ministry of Education. I also wrote a couple of white papers on e-learning.
I researched into the topic of Usability, and how people read online.
I discovered some interesting information by Jakob Nielson about the core principles of design, and "F pattern readability", how people scan content from left to right (in the English speaking world).
Essentially, to grab a reader's attention, put important content top left and shape in an "F" pattern to direct the reading eye.
Avoid long pages of text (scroll of death), put carrier words and action words at the beginning of short phrases. Use imagery and visual images to create excitement on a page.
Font size and styles are important. Colour is important. Make things easier to read with simplicity, and use fonts and colours that are easy to read.
