I recently completed an online First Aid training course followed by a practical session. After learning about e-learning courses, the advantages and disadvantages, and quite recently, how to design e-learning programs, it felt a little weird to actually participate in the course. One of the most significant aspects that i recognised was my ability to procrastinate when it came to completing the course. This was due to knowing that i had the opportunity to complete the course at a time that was convenient to me. And with so many assessments due soon and an overtime work roster, this was often delayed…until a few nights before the practical session of the course was to occur.

In terms of instructional design, the course rated moderately to highly. It used a very simple layout of a main tool bar at the top of the page and a central page containing the topics of the course content. One helpful tool would have been instructions on how to operate the website. Initially i could not find the link to the course material or the assessments. Eventually i found them and it became easier to navigate the site. The colours used on the site were green and white, which were very neutral colours and did not cause the user to go into shock, or visual overload. Later on i made a connection between the choice of colours and the content of the website. The colours of first aid is the white cross on a green background. I found this effective as it helped me to remember the first aid signs. Every time i hear the words first aid, i think of green and white, and the website.

The e-learning course required the participants to complete a series of tests on a range of topics, ranging from the basic aspects of first aid to the tasks of greater diffiulty such as CPR and heart attacks. I found it rather strange that you could only view revision materials, which were the only materaisl available, after completing the quiz. Participants are also able to undertake the tests as many times as possible. During my session, i assume there may have been technical difficulties occuring as i would select an answer, only to be told that it was an incorrect answer. However, they provide you with an explanation of the right answer and why it is the right answer. This greatly affected my scores and reduced my morale.

To make the course more entertaining and to accommodate a range of learning styles, there should have been multimedia incorporated into the course, ranging from simple pictures to high-tech video demonstrations. Reading facts over and over again, but you gain a deeper understanding when you are able to apply the theory into practice. Overall, however, i thoroughly enjoyed the e-learning course but equally enjoyed the practical sessions conducted after completing the online course.