Content Packaging Tools: Moving and Packaging Resources
RELOAD is a freely available software tool that allows you to store your learning resources as compressed 'content packages'. These packages can be transported and reused across any online learning environment which is standard compliant. Content packages are important for tutors who don't have the time to build a complete course from individual components and who prefer to work with a series of aggregated resources. However, there is still a potential problem with the use of content packages, in that they may steer tutors towards planning courses in terms of content rather than student activity. This effect can be reduced by using storyboards, since the content is thereby linked to an activity; constructing a lesson which allows for student interaction requires integration of these content packages into an online learning environment, where they may be linked to online activities, discussions, chat, assessments etc.
The figure below illustrates packaging content from Intralibrary using the RELOAD content packaging tool (image used with kind permission from Intrallect and RELOAD)
Tutors have found Reload easy to use and user-friendly.
