So off we go - the last stretch of the year 2012!  What an eventful few months it has been after seeing you all in Cape Town!  Here is the newest addition to our family - our son, Mishan who was born on 27 May.  Already smiling on 10 days!

Still a few things to complete and finalise before we can grab the summer holidays with both hands, Christmas, New Year, friends and family....  Ok, focus...  Our research assignments - well done for those who have already completed their's - but I'm afraid there was too many things i.e. lack of decent sleep that sort off made my days shorter and my nights longer...  I'm aiming for end November!  And then of course this exciting module, e-Learning, yeah!

First things first...  ADDIE.  What is this again, and how can I use this to design my interactive Anatomy e-Learning Intervention (eLI)?  "Let's start at the very beginning, a very good place to start...  When you read you begin with ABC, and when you e-Learn you begin with ADDIE." ;-)  I've found the two websites that you've suggested in the Module outline very useful, thank you JP.

A = Analysis
D = Design
D = Development
I = Implementation
E = Evaluation

ANALYSIS of the Anatomy eLI:

• One of my student groups - BCur and BSLPA, have Anatomy in their first year with mostly no Biology background, no Anatomy background on the "basics" as well as the terminology used, and then need to tackle an Ana-curriculum that do not leave much room for gaining confidence in the basic concepts and terminology of the subject area
• Time constraints set the stage for the need for these "basics" to be learned well, quickly and meaningfully
• Students (especially those from rural areas) seem to be eager when entering university to start working interactively on computers, but because of them being fairly "illiterate" when coming to computers, the Anatomy Introduction program should not be too complicated
• Class time should be allocated for this Anatomy Introduction Program but students should have the opportunity to work on their own time at their own pace as well
• Students have computer labs (with all the required specifications) on campus at their disposal, where they could gain access not only to the Anatomy Introduction Program but also to Blackboard.
• When searching for existing software/programs to address the need i.e. Facilitating learning of the basic concepts and terminology of Anatomy on an adequate level to prepare the BCur & BSLPA group for what is to follow during the rest of the curriculum, I have found that it is 1).expensive to purchase, 2). it is mostly a more complete interactive/3D atlas/textbook/explanation of specific areas, 3). it has unrealistic promises such as you'll know the whole body in detail after 3 days, 4). it is usually limited to what things can be included/excluded.  Therefore a program is needed that is cost-effective, uncomplicated but effectively descriptive for students to understand, that addresses the specific basic knowledge needs of students that will provide a foundation for the rest of the year, that is changeable (meaning that you can add/subtract) as the facilitator of learning deems necessary.
• Students should be able to redo the Anatomy Introduction Program/Test until they receive >75%, after which they will receive then an individual code which they can submit to obtain a mark/or allowed to write the first module test
• The Anatomy Introduction Program should include the following sections:
• Introduction to the Muscular system
• Introduction to the Skeletal system
• Introduction to Histology
• Introduction to the Vascular and Nervous System
• Introduction to Anatomical Terminology

That's all for Analysis for now...  Any thoughts?