Sitting down with Ed and Ben for our first crack at using the web based Learn by Design tool was a good experience. Transfering our placemat into the learning element format made us realise that we had left a fair few gaps in our planning. This was made really evident through the linear overview display that CGLearner has.
It is great to be able to drag components of the element and change the order of them from that linear overview. Unfortunately when we tried to do this a couple of times it would freeze and not allow us to drop the section where we wanted it.
Normally in the past when writing out an element I have been reliant on someone else, in most cases Ed, to do the documentation and make sure it is written and formatted correctly. With CG Learner I was able to take more control of the input. And effectively that’s all it is. Just inputting the information you need and the formatting is automatic. Saves a lot of time.
We ran into some obstacles. The ability to put in tables and pictures wasn’t impossible, but not the most user-friendly way of doing things. With experience and knowing how to access the features you need, especially with tables, will come.
When pasting into CG Learner from other programs, web pages or word, we had issues getting the formatting how we wanted it. It would always paste at a much smaller font and within a text box which made it tricky to use.
All in all The CG Learner is a great advance into the freedom of documenting using the Learning by Design model. It was easier to use and more accessible to the average joe. I can only assume it will get better and easier still.
