Frequently Asked Questions - Authoring
This is the list of frequently asked questions related to authoring courses. There is also a general FAQ available.
How can I create my own SpacedEd courses? Show answer
Anyone can create their own SpacedEd course! Click on the create course button on your dashboard and use the full suite of authoring tools available on SpacedEd.
What topics are good for SpacedEd courses? Show answer
There is no limit to topics on which excellent SpacedEd courses can be created. The spaced education methodology is content-neutral and thus can be utilized to learn most anything. Potential applications range from teaching geography to school children to documenting competence in accounting skills among small business owners. While it might be a challenge to teach creative writing using the question-answer format, a whole range of topics work extremely well in this format: test preparation, language learning with embedded audio files, gardening skills with embedded YouTube videos, etc. The full multimedia capabilities of the Internet can be harnessed to create a rich and effective learning experience.
What is the best question format to use for a SpacedEd course? Show answer
Due to the limitations of the initial Harvard spaced education delivery system, the randomized trials conducted to date have only utilized the multiple-choice question (MCQ) format with one correct answer. Course authors should use the question format which best meets their needs. Each question format has its strengths and weaknesses:
- Multiple choice questions (MCQ) – Well-constructed MCQ questions with one correct answer are effective assessment tools and, due to their strong psychometric properties, have become gold-standard in educational assessment. Good MCQ questions can be very challenging to construct. Some testing organizations like the American Board of Urology spend thousands of dollars constructing each of the MCQs used on their board examinations.
- Multiple correct answer (MCA) questions – MCA questions are often less effective than MCQs as evaluation tools, but they can be more effective as educational tools. MCA questions are generally easier to write than MCQs. Another name for this type of question is ‘multiple true-false’ because the learner is forced to determine if each possible answer choice for a MCA question is correct or not. If you find yourself writing MCQs with "select all of the following, except" in the question stem or with "all of the above" as a answer choice, you might find the MCA format to be more effective.
- Fill-in-the-blank (FIB) questions – The FIB question format demands that learners perform "free recall" of the answers, unlike the cued recall needed to answer the MCQ and MCA formats. Psychology research indicates the FIB format is more effective than MCQs in generating long-term retention of learning. FIB questions are relatively quick-and-easy to write, and they can be quite challenging for the learner to answer correctly. When writing an FIB question, the course author can choose the correct answer and several alternative correct answers. One weakness of this question format is that the learner must type in one of these answers exactly in order to correctly answer the FIB question.
Are the fill-in-the-blanks (FIB) answers case-sensitive? Show answer
No FIB answers are not case sensitive so learners do not have to match the capitalization of your answer exactly in order to get the question right. For example, if the correct answer you have specified is "Paris" both "paris" and "Paris" will be marked as correct if entered by the learner.
How can I put a hyperlink in a question or answer? Show answer
- Highlight a word which will act as the link
- Click the chain icon in the course editor
- Insert the target web address (http:// is needed before the address)
- We recommend that you select the option to have the link opened in a new window
- The "title" is what will appear when users roll-over the link
- Hit ‘save’ at the bottom of the question page
- To see how the link works, use the preview function.
How do I insert a course icon (the "album art" displayed in the catalog and on the dashboard to represent the course)? Show answer
Insert a picture into the course description page. SpacedEd uses the first picture which appears on this page as the course icon. If no picture is inserted here, SpacedEd uses the course author’s picture as the course icon. The icon will appear as a square, so it is best to choose a picture that will look good when compressed into this shape.
How do I change a course icon? Show answer
SpacedEd uses the first picture which appears on the course description page as the course icon. To change the course icon, insert a new picture on the course description page. You can delete any prior pictures if you wish.
What Are "Tags"? Show answer
Tags are one-word descriptors that you can assign to your courses, photos, and profile. Tags are a keywords you choose to help organize your stuff on this site. You can assign as many tags as you like and rename or delete them later.
How do I embed images and flash using the course editor? Show answer
You can add images or flash media to your profile and your courses by using the image
and media
buttons on the rich text editor.
and media
buttons on the rich text editor.
