Tip #2: Writing for the Web: Chunking and Labeling

Faculty members are sometimes dismayed to find that students will often miss critical information that is displayed on a course web page. For students, sifting through volumes of online text to locate a specific bit information can be both time-consuming and frustrating. Usability studies show that most web pages are scanned for titles or headings, and that much of the content is simply skimmed over until readers find items that simply catch their interest.

To direct student interest toward important text, use the chunking method and abide by the Rule of 7-- Plus or Minus Two. Chunking, a principle of effective communication, stipulates that textual information should be broken up into small, digestible units. Research shows that human beings can remember and retain only 7 plus or minus 2 items of information.

Here are the basics:

• A major topic should be chunked into no more than 7 units of information.
• Each unit of information should contain no more than 6 chunks of information.
• Provide a label or short descriptive tag for each unit and chunk of information.

By chunking information, faculty members can greatly improve the retrieval, retention, and comprehension of online material. This tip is based on information from George A. Miller's article titled "The Magical Number Seven, Plus or Minus Two."

Distance Courses: Total Credit Hours (FTE) for Semester-Based Courses

• FY00 Total: 10,347 credit hours (366.6 FTE)
  - Summer I: 1,123
  - Summer II: 60
  - Fall: 3,729
  - Spring: 5,435

• FY01: 12,876 credit hours (464.3 FTE)
  - Summer I: 2,440
  - Summer II: 378
  - Fall: 4,904
  - Spring: 5,154
  

• FY02 (YTD): 9,716 credit hours (353.2 FTE)
  - Summer I: 2,052
  - Summer II: 1,014
  - Fall: 6,650

DegreeLink:

• Student Participation
  - FY99: 112 students
  - FY00: 376 students
  - FY01: 454 students
  - FY02 (YTD): 408 students

• Number of Graduates: 109 students; 81 have applied for graduation

To register for these free workshops, contact Julie Lee at extension 2603 or julia@fcrc.indstate.edu

If a scheduling conflict prevents you from attending a session, or if you prefer more individualized training, contact Julie Lee to arrange a one-on-one session with the presenter.

WebCT Institute
An intensive three-day introductory workshop on WebCT for advanced graduates of the CTA. This workshop is for faculty who are familiar with the pedagogy and design of distance and online learning but who want to learn WebCT or who wish to begin migrating their courses from CourseInfo to WebCT.

• Dates:
  January 2-4, 2002
  9:00 am - 4:00 pm

For more information or to register, contact Melissa Hughes at ext 2027 or m-hughes@indstate.edu Or, complete our online form at: http://indstate.edu/lifelong/workshops.html

The third edition of Sketches of Innovators of Education was published in July 2001. Over 600 copies were distributed at the August 2001 International Distance Learning Conference sponsored by the University of Wisconsin. In addition, this publication has been cataloged for inclusion in the Cunningham Memorial Library (catalog number: L11.S68) and will be included in the ERIC/IT database.

Contributors include:

• Faye Bradshaw
  ISU Instructional Designer

• Betsy Frank
  Professor of Nursing

• David Gilman
  Professor of Education

• Veda Gregory
  Assistant Professor of Nursing

• Sharon Guan
  Manager of Instructional Design

• Georgia Hambrecht
  Professor of Communication Disorders

• David Malooley
  Associate Professor of Electronics and Computer Science

• Susan Moncada
  Associate Professor of Accounting

• Jeffrey McNabb
  Associate Professor Manufacturing

• Christine Salmon
  ISU Instructional Designer

• Tom Sawyer
  Professor of Physical Education and Recreation and Sport Management

• James Schellenberg
  Professor of Sociology

• Ann Tomey
  Professor of Nursing