How is Your Content Structured?
Linear
A linear structure indicates that one piece of information follows another piece, follows another piece, etc. If you want your learners to learn step 1 before step 2, this would be the way to structure your content. Examples: slide shows, videotapes, novels, assembly instructions, math problems, chemistry experiments.
Hierarchical
A hierarchical structure is useful if you have categories with subcategories. Examples: org charts, family tree, department stores, file cabinets, the US government.
Spider Web
In a web structure, you jump around from place to place -- sometimes by association, sometimes because of a condition. Examples: games, semantic networks, the internet.
Parallel
A parallel structure is useful if you are presenting two related pieces of information at the same time. Examples: movies with subtitles, close-captioned television.
Matrix
Matrices are good to use when presenting large quantities of data. Examples: tables, charts, graphs, indices.
Overlay
You might use an overlay structure if you wanted your learners to memorize parts of something. Examples: writing labels on transparencies, x-rays.
Spatial Zoom
Spatial zoom structure are used to direct your learner to another source of information. Examples: encyclopedias, dictionaries (gone: see also go), libraries, sidebars in a magazine.
