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Interaction model
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<h2 id="variables-of-interactivity">Variables of interactivity</h2> <p>There are two variables describing the interactivity of a given lesson: technology affordance and user freedom. Technology affordance, also known as manual operators,<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:2" href="#fn:2"><sup>2</sup></a> is the richness of the communication between the <a href="/facts/Student/zJY5rdvh">student</a> and the <a href="/facts/Teacher/5zkjcWo8">instructor</a>, usually expressed in terms of the input and output channels.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:3" href="#fn:3"><sup>3</sup></a> User freedom, on the other hand, is a function of the degree of freedom the learning system grants the student in influencing the presentation of the lesson. </p> <h3>Technology affordance</h3> <p><a href="/facts/Technology/9Uav5WVR">Technology</a> affordance in the e-Learning is a function of the capabilities of available computer <a href="/facts/I%2fO_device/WQTE8Jas">I/O devices</a>, having a tendency to evolve as new <a href="/facts/Input_(computer_science)/CulgMb3T">input</a> and <a href="/facts/Output_(computing)/WQTE8Jas">output</a> devices become obtainable.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:4" href="#fn:4"><sup>4</sup></a> There are five levels of technology affordance interactivity: </p> <ol><li><i>Immersion</i>: full sensory immersion commonly called <a href="/facts/Virtual_reality/0psDGsxT">virtual reality</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:5" href="#fn:5"><sup>5</sup></a> <a href="/facts/Video_game/vmTdNASJ">Video games</a> are the closest approximation we have to immersion today.</li> <li><i>Text</i>: allowing the student to communicate through arbitrary textual input and output. A <a href="/facts/Google/GT9Sugza">Google</a> <a href="/facts/Search_box/X4p79tha">search box</a> or a <a href="/facts/Discussion_board/bRuqfQfN">discussion board</a> interaction are examples of text level interactivity.</li> <li><i>Voice</i>: the same as text, except <a href="/facts/Emotion/kvAr22wa">emotion</a> and <a href="/facts/Body_language/dp6pluqa">body language</a> are used as <a href="/facts/Communication_channel/MtlxEShV">communication channels</a>. A <a href="/facts/Telephone/P7uEgWQX">phone</a> conversation is an example of voice level interactivity.</li> <li><i>Menu select</i>: providing the learner the capability to "select an answer among <a href="/facts/Multiple_choice_question/4g9eSdET">multiple choice questions</a> [or] pulling down a <a href="/facts/Menu_(computing)/zdKCgPGq">menu</a> and selecting a menu item".<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:6" href="#fn:6"><sup>6</sup></a> Clicking on a <a href="/facts/Hyperlink/LqNsa84e">hyperlink</a> in a <a href="/facts/Web_page/5JK7xQLe">web page</a> is an example of menu-select interactivity.</li> <li><i>Toggle select</i>: the ability to "click a button or press a key".<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:7" href="#fn:7"><sup>7</sup></a> A <a href="/facts/Pinball_machine/woBqmMfo">pinball machine</a>, for example, exhibits toggle-select interactivity.</li></ol> <h2 id="notes">Notes</h2> <h2 id="references">References</h2> <ol> <li id="fn:1"><p>Sims, R. (1997), "Interactivity: A forgotten art?" in Computers in Human Behavior <a href="http://www2.gsu.edu/~wwwitr/docs/interact/" target="_blank">http://www2.gsu.edu/~wwwitr/docs/interact/</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:2"><p>Chen, M. (1995), "A methodology for characterizing computer-based learning environments" in Instructional Science <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:3"><p>Helfrich, J.; Moulton, S. (2009), "Leveraging interactivity to increase e-learning effectiveness" in Proceedings of World Conference on E-Learning in Corporate, Government, Healthcare, and Higher Education 2009 <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:4"><p>Jonassen, D. (1988), Instructional Designs for Microcomputer Courseware <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:5"><p>Sims, 1997 <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:6"><p>Schwier, 1992 <a href="#fnref:6" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:7"><p>Schwier, R.A. (1992), "A taxonomy of interaction for instructional multimedia" in Annual Conference of the Association for Media and Technology in Education in Canada <a href="#fnref:7" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> </ol>