Student-Driven Content Creation for e-Learning

Abstract

In this paper we describe the content creation for e-learning called SNOWBALLS® which stands for Self Navigation Web-based Literacy Learning System and its usability as a platform of OCW contents. The SNOWBALLS® e-learning platform was originally conceived to teach Japanese undergraduate engineering students technical English vocabulary as we presented at the OCWC 2010. We are now at the stage of content creation and started two seminar style courses where students took the lead. One of the major challenges was to find the appropriate quality materials that students could exploit when creating the content. The creation of content for this e-learning system is still work in progress, with the final objective of offering a wide variety of language courses for the education of both Japanese and international students. Course A focused on creating content for Japanese students to learn technical English, while course B focused on content to help international students start their academic lives in Japan. Students brainstormed and selected the topics they wanted to investigate and about which they wanted to create content. Additionally, they discussed about what form the content should take to make the courseware both informative and appealing.