Navigation can be defined as the act of going from one location to another. In multimedia this would generally mean clicking on links to move through various screens or documents. After all, one of the benefits of multimedia is allowing users easy access to a wide variety of information. However, without an effective navigational layout that information can be impossible to find.
In instructional situations navigation allows users to move through the information you have provided for them. There are many different types of navigation options that can be presented to learners, from sequential to hierarchical to search-based. How you set up this navigation determines what information they encounter, the sequence in which they encounter it, and the pace at which they go through it. The elements that make up your instructional program can be orchestrated in such a way that they are presented to the user in a linear fashion, or they can be set up in such a way that the user can choose to navigate through the content in a nonlinear fashion. In other words, the navigation structure helps determine the amount of control afforded to the learners over their own learning.
For example, if you create a simple slide show in which the user progresses in a linear fashion, with no option to select what they want to view, then they don't really have much control over the content or the sequence. On the other hand, if they are presented with a comprehensive menu and allowed to choose what materials they encounter then they have more control over the content and the sequence.
For this competency we'd like for you to play around with your authoring program's various ways of creating navigation. Depending on the authoring software you are using, here are some LinkedIn Learning tutorials we recommend that you go through. These tutorials may cover more than just navigation, so don't worry if you pick up extra skills along the way. Once again, keep in mind that the names of the tutorials may differ slightly depending on which set of tutorials you are using.
PowerPoint | Introduction: Templates and the Slide Master Advanced: Creating Hyperlinks |
Dreamweaver | Creating Links and Anchors Using Image Maps Creating a Frameset Web Pages in Framesets Frame Link Destinations |
Flash | Transforming and Grouping Vector Shapes Importing Artwork and Working with Bitmaps Converting an Object to a Graphic Symbol Creating Button Symbols Creating a Movie Clip Symbol |
Other programs | Creating interactivity with interactions |
When you've explored your authoring program's various ways of creating navigation, we'd like you to demonstrate your ability to create different navigation options for users. How you accomplish this will differ depending on the program you are using.
To start with, create a main screen with some sort of title and introductory text. Below that there should be a main menu that allows users to choose between several different courses of action. It's up to you how you create this menu. However, keep in mind the following limitations:
Each of the options available on the main menu should lead users to a new page or screen. These separate screens should contain the following:
Finally, include your name somewhere on the main screen.
Save this activity in your program's native file format. Name the file "navigation". Depending on the program you are using, you will end up with one of the following types of files:
After you have saved the file, go to the student interface and submit your assignment for grading. Click here if you need additional information regarding submission of your assignment.
Assignment: Navigation Activity Grading Criteria:
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