Web Production Unit

Data Protection
If a website is going to take information from a user for example a blog, images, video, audio, Personal details then you must use the Data Protection act this is due to the website storing other peoples info and it needs to be trusted site.
Cookies
Cookies are ways a website can store data in your computer for examples if a website uses imagery that is quite large or maybe just needs to load as a priority they will use Cookies to store the image so it loads on the website, this also makes the website easier to load in the future. It can also cause problems such as the storage area can get very big file size due to images and other files being stored there constantly. Websites need to make it known that cookies will be stored on their PC if they use it, this is so they are aware what is going to be stored on their PC.
Disability discrimination
It is important that if you create a website it caters for people with disability for example if you have a user who is colour-blind being able to change the colour scheme to make is see able is important. Also setting up Alt text so if a screen reader is reading the text it will read the Alt text out so the user can understand what the image is.

Compatibility
Nowadays websites are accessed from many different devices, this means the browser are going to be different sizes for each device, this where responsive designed websites come in handy. Responsive designs are websites designs to detect the size of the web browser and adapt to the size so that it fits nicely on the page, this is useful for people who multitask but also for people who use mobiles/tablets. Not all websites use this method, some websites detect that you are on a mobile and load a different URL that is sized to fit mobiles, the same applies to tablets.
Browsers
Some browsers offer special features that are exclusive to that browser, this can cause compatibility errors for example if a website takes advantage of a feature only on chrome but the user has Firefox then it will not work, ways to avoid that happening is by having an image/text indicating that you need chrome for this feature to work. 
Possible Issues
An issue that could occur is if you set up a website that does not have responsive assets, this will mean if some is using a monitor with low resolution or tablet/mobile, it wont scale accordingly meaning it may be hard to show certain information as the website will the same size as it would be on web browser. Meaning the text will be small and hard to read for example:

(Mobile image)

Different file types can make work more convent in different ways

For Example in imagery:

•  PNG is medium size but is good quality
•  JPEG is low file size but loses out in quality
•  SVG is high size and high quality

These mean you can use them in different situations for example if the quality is not a much of a concern and you just want to send a

small image to a friend using JPG would be the best approach

Having a load of imagery on a website can mean it loads slow, but if you take advantage of file size it will
make loading a lot faster then if you used the best quality images for all.
This also applies to videos

•  AVI is big file size and high quality
•  MP4 is medium file size good quality
•  3GP is low file size and low quality usually used on mobiles

Using different file types can meaning if you upload it to a website it may take less time to actually upload

I worked with two of my colleagues for the project, we first began by talking on Skype about what the design would look like we decided to try and integrate triangles into the page as it was what the UCB website used, one of my colleagues then suggested using darker style so we did this making it different from the normal colour style.

We then decided what icons we would use in the page as a group so that everyone had a say, having links to social medias was important as it is used a lot nowadays, also having links to important resources sites such as Moodle is important to have on there, I then had the idea of having a twitter feed for the official UCB twitter on one side so that when a user logs on they can get news easily. We then had a meeting about it to discuss more in depth about what icons/feeds we would use which lead to us creating the wire frame.

Wire frame

We grouped up and decided what would go where on the wire frame and we decided we wanted sort of sections of different types of link in there own section, for example having announcements and twitter feeds next to each other keeping the feeds together, and also having things like the weather and traffic together as they work well together. We then decided to have all the social tiles as smaller tiles keeping them all together and easy to access and also having things like Moodle and UNiDAYS bigger as they are used very often within college. All the buttons have been checked and work correctly and link to the correct website that was intended. I think the tiles are easy to navigate and understand just by taking a quick look at it.

 We also changed the colour scheme from the norm to create a more darker feel to the Theme of the website, we also used a dark background that was related to UCB as well as also being dark to fit in.

When creating the images for a our tiles we took into account copyright, so for some of the images in the tiles they are the images that come premade with Myday so have therefore got copyright to Myday and due to being a user of the product it should be royalty free. But for some of the tiles we had to create them manually due to there being no relevant ones for that certain website, for example Moodle / One Drive didn't have a premade icon so we took the logo and made certain modifications for example swapping the colours so it fits.

Above is the original icons we were going to use that were directly from google but we changed them to accord with copyright by changing them to what they are below.

First we decided where the tiles would be placed we did this by referring back to our wireframe, and placing the according tiles onto the page we then setup all the icon images, A few things we then did then was setup the theme style(on right) I thought of the colour scheme from working on previous designs and thought it would look nice, we then added the background that a colleague designed. We then went into the settings and enabled the theme for that part of Myday, keeping it consistent to that page.

Storyboard p2

When it came to working with teachers it is important to get certain info from the client for example in the image below there is a section specifically for the clients requests. This is a section where notes will be made regarding maybe a specific page or an interactive requirement that needs to be used in the ELP.

 

It is important to gather information from the client regarding the target audience for the ELP, this is so when you are creating the ELP you can think about how it is relevant to that specific audience, this means you wont put information that could be confusing the audience reading it, for example if a younger member is reading the ELP if you use words images that maybe are not appropriate it will make the ELP irrelevant.

When speaking with the client I asked what the purpose of the product would be, this is so I can create it to suite that need from asking I found out it is going to be used in class to present to the students, he will use the interactive options on a whiteboard so he can show them all what will happen. So I created it in a way where he can easily navigate to show certain information to the students while up front.

Key features were written down from the client for example one of them being an Interactive Tank and a Quiz, this was written down and sent to me by the level 4 handling the project seen here:



Due to it being used as sort of a presentation it means I cannot make it, somewhat like a student interactivity so I cannot add features such as being able to add student name as it will not be relevant to a product that would be presented. 

Also establishing the target audience for the ELP is important so therefore there is a section for what audience is being targeted in the ELP, this is so you can aim your content towards what is needed and will avoid problems when the client needs to present it. Here is the one I did for the aquarium project I arm working on at the moment.

 

 

When designing the page for the ELP I used a graphics tablet and drew what I thought was needed in the ELP, I considered the template that most products produced by elephant designs look like, for example the logo at the top left, I then thought about a spot for the buttons which the user will navigate with. I also wrote on the side to elaborate what has been drawn, this is also where I would put what the client wants/requests.

 

I worked with my team to decide what icons will go where and we produced the page above together based of the storyboard we created.This is what the design looks like after planning the storyboard:

You can see that we changed the way the icons look compared to within the storyboard as we decided to not do the actual design until we was actually within the program designing and we stopped upon this design.

Storyboarding

 

There are quite a few different ways to make a storyboard I will run through some of these and the advantages and disadvantages to them:

Handwritten
The first example is just of a hand drawn storyboard, this can also be done on pc. The advantages of doing this allows you to have a more visual idea of what the final product will actually look like, it also means you can work more accurately towards your final aim. Disadvantages of this include not having text to support the storyboard meaning information can be missed out. It also means if the client requires special items/visuals within the ELP it will be hard to take note of this,

Powerpoint
I think PowerPoint is one of the best ways to storyboard an ELP due to being able to add text shapes and many other things, but the biggest thing is that it is very similar to captivate meaning you can get an accurate representation of what the product will actually look like. Disadvantages include things such as not everyone has Office so not everyone will be able to actually view the storyboard if they to. As well not being able to draw right into Powerpoint effectively which you can do with handwritten.

 Text/word
You can use a word editor for a storyboard and although not as visual it does allow you to see the information very easily and wont take as much space as a visual representation would. Disadvantages include it not being a visual therefore limiting you if doing design work, I wouldn't personally use this as ELP's are all visual so being able to plan the visual side is important.

Prezi
Prezi is an online slide editor that can also be used very easily to create different kinds of storyboards for example it can be used to create a sort storyboard that shows all the information needed. Advantages for Prezi is that it can be done online but can be exported into an offline format allowing you to use it anywhere. Disadvantages include that it is a paid so it isn't ideal for example a student who wont be earning much of a income, it is also a monthly pay so therefore it can be very expensive to use.

Sway
Sway is an online editor developed by Microsoft, it is mostly used to develop slides/presented with a different style, it can also be used to create a storyboard due to integration of having picture chooser on the left it makes it easy to browse for images. Advantages include that it is a free product to use so it is efficient for students, it also created by Microsoft so you know its pretty reliable. Disadvantages include that it isn't really optimised for the creation of storyboards so it can be hard to create the boards as easily. There is also not as much freedom when it comes customising the storyboard how you feel.

Storyboard That
Storyboard that allows users to create storyboard that are basically comics, I feel like this is very good to storyboard a play/act as you can have characters representing a certain actor and you can storyboard who says what, but I feel like when using it with design it may not be quite as effective as it wouldn't give you the ideal tools needed to do so. The product is free so its nice for use at work/school, the biggest disadvantage being its not ideal for a designer due to not having the necessary tools.

Slide Rocket
Slide Rocket is a more interactive way of creating a storyboard, although the tool isn't created for storyboarding, the tools it provides makes it very much possible to create a storyboard. The product allows users to create slides and add lots of interactive elements for example a live updating twitter feed and graphs that adapt but also tools needed in storyboarding such as shape and text tool which are key when storyboarding a design/e-learning package. Disadvantages for this product is that it is a paid service meaning it is not ideal for students, it also isn't quite created to storyboard even though it is possible; this could cause difficulties if you are in need of a certain tool.

 

Summary
I think overall the best way to storyboard for making an ELP is using Powerpoint due to it being the most similar to Captivate meaning you can tools appropriate for it, one disadvantage of doing this is that not every PC has Office meaning if I for example wanted to collaborate with someone and they didn't have Powerpoint It would make it impossible for them to collaborate within Powerpoint. If this is the case I think the best course of action would be to make it handwritten as this hold advantages such as it being portable and very easy to edit. But there is also disadvantages to this for example if you wanted to get the document onto PC you would have to rely on having a scanner and this isn't always available to some.

 

Importance of planning

Planning is very important before starting your storyboard as it means you can prepare what exactly you are going to use, for example preparing basic information about the subject such as Aim and objectives, Questions and ideas for some sort of interaction. This will make it much more easier when it comes down to visually drawing the storyboard.




Digital Learning Enviroment

What is a Digital Learning Environment?
A virtual learning environment is a Web-based platform for the digital aspects of courses of study.

A digital learning environment is an area in which students can work online and get all the resources they need i will go through some of the aspects that go into a Digital Learning Environment including the advantages and disadvantages.

Advantages

Share files
One big advantage of working in a digital learning environment is that you can easily upload and share your work with other learners or even your teacher allowing them to easily mark the work. It also easily allows you to share with other learners in your class so you can ask for help or how to improve all done online.

Easy Communication
It is extremely easy to communicate online due to there not being a limit of distance like there is in face to face situations, programs such as Skype allow for you to voice and video chat with your fellow workers so you can show work and other means of communication

Lots of resources
If you need information on any subject the Internet is most likely the best form or resource out there, this means that just about every single subject is within the Internet, but in a face to face situation you could struggle with a certain question you have as all you will have is books and the teacher, this could slow down work.

Static Content
Moodle allows incorporation of static content such as videos, images and other embeddable static content this means that users wont have to go out of the course/Moodle page if they don't want to, it makes it more professional and more accessible. It works with websites such as YouTube and planet stream which means that videos can be uploaded privately and then embedded upon the Moodle page.


Disadvantages 

Not always reliable
Problems can occur such as the power going out that can basically completely stop work due to there not being able to use the digital aspect of the learning environment. Other problems revolve around the network that the company will use, if there is a problem with the network and it goes down there is again  problem and it will stop the workers from being able to operate in that network.

No face to face interaction
Depending on how the company operates using technology all the time can mean that you don't get much time to have actual face to face interactions like you would in a normal learning environment.

Disabilities
If there is worker who has a disability such as being blind which can be a very big problem when working with digital technology due to you not being able to look at a screen and read what work has to be done, the same for being deaf and although you can still read, not being able to listen or talk to workers makes it really hard to work.
IT Skills
Work can be affected if the user who sets the work is lacking in IT Skills due to Moodle not being as straight forward this can affect the work that the students get therefore maybe not allowing to do as well as they should. Also lacking these skills mean that they wont know they can do certain things that will make easier and more effective therefore limiting there selves and other using there courses
Services similar to Moodle

Docebo
Docebo is a modern product that gives the user a lot of options that Moodle does not offer, the service is $89 per month per 25 users the tiers go up ranging to $690 for 2000 users. The services offers many ranges of features such as testing and tracking work, features such as Gamifacation which gives the user the choice to make rewards such as badges for doing work and other tasks.

You are also able to have web conferences and create your own API's so the service is just how you want it.
OpenClass(Free)
OpenClass is a free alternative to other services it also gives a lot of nice features but may not be the best for a big company, the product offers features such as easy creation of assessment groups, share videos with your group, access to other services within the website such as g-mail.

Feathercap
Feathercap is a modern nicely designed service that again like all the other services offers a lot of benefits to the users, the service is free for one user but costs when using multiple users, one of the features I like about it is its incorporation with Adobe Captivate it allows the teacher to track the progress of the user such as score and how far they got through it allowing them to understand more about there student.

Latitude Learning (Free)
Similar to Feathercap but is a free version except for that Latitude is based more around training the user rather than assigning them work like all the other, one of the features I like is that the service comes with a image library built in so that it allows the users to use images that are copyright free and just makes it easy to access.

Litmos
Litmos is a service that is paid and offers features such as being able to add reports regarding work and such this allows the teacher to give students on things such as there behaviour/work. The cost is $49 per month for every 5 users that are using the service.

Kornukopia(Free)
Kornukopia is a free cloud based service that offers features such as being able to message other users privately this allows for users to do things such as ask a teacher for help in a certain area or message other students so you can collaborate with work.


Why does Barnsley college use Moodle?
Moodle is used in Barnsley college due to the service being free and very versatile in the features it has, it has all the basic options but also contains ways to customize it yourself. The only cost is from hosting the domain and site but other than that, Moodle is the number 1 free service. The service is open source which means there isn't really any restrictions and you can code it and make it how you want it to look, the service also has plugins that you can add to give users more access to other forms of service.

4.1 - 4.2 - 4.4

Limitations
Limits in Moodle are not so many due to it being an open source service allowing the user to somewhat use a template and add things to it with things such as plugins and your own ability to create content. This brings me to my first limitation which can be if you want to feature and it is not available within the service or plug-ins then it is down to you to create your own features which can be a problem if you have no experience working with the code/service. It skills can limit the user as if they don't know enough about the service and general IT can limit how much work they do and how informative it will be, this can limit the quality of what the work the students are doing. Also if they come across an error it can be very difficult sorting out the error as they wont have the experience to understand a fix.
Improvements
I think Moodle can be improved in its reliability, there are always issues with servers and such but the way Moodle handles in can be improved such as adding messages giving information to the user why the servers are down and how long until they are back up, also I think adding a wider range of customisation to the Moodle template would be good, such as being able to upload your own buttons/images would make it more professional and appropriate to the user. Having information in a logistical flow will allow users to understand the work in the correct order such as giving them the information at the beginning and the end following a quiz, Moodle also allows you to only show for a example a quiz if they have completed the work before hand. Also Moodle is being used as sort of a repository so therefore teachers are just piling up work, I think this can be improved by adding a storage area for their files so therefore the course pages don't get full and messy.
Benefits compared to traditional methods
Moodle offers a lot of benefits compared to traditional methods such as face to face courses, as Moodle allows you to upload work to assignment posts which will allow your teacher or boss to see it and mark it accordingly this removes the risk of losing the paper with it on. It also allows you ask questions to your teachers over Moodle rather than having to use things such as a phone or asking them face to face, it also means you can get instant feedback rather than waiting for them maybe the next day to read it on paper. More benefits for the other side of the argument include being able to talk to the student one to one/face to face allowing for somewhat better communication, also being able to give physical work can sometimes be a lot more helpful as they can inspect it physically.
Conclusion
I think overall Moodle is a good service mostly due to it being an open source service therefore allowing the user to customize it to their own needs, it allows for versatility to compensate for the different kinds of work that the companies using it will have, although it does have its problems like most services will do such as reliability which I imagine is a very common problem for most course services. I think it can be very easily improved but not necessarily as a service but instead how it is pushed to use a different form of service when it comes to teachers working with their students for example when accessing work it should be more user friendly when using the marking/report system as it is necessarily easy to set it up and I think making it easier for teacher to check how their students are doing. When compared to using a traditional service I think it can work very well hand in hand together with Moodle as they both provide benefits when compared to each other.

Professional Development

SWOT

Strengths
Using different design styles with in the elearner package to make it different from the norm such as different styles of quizzes, using a style of simplicity in the packages making it look nice while also giving the information need

Doing different styles of design within programs I am new to learning such as a simplistic 3d design which can be used in learner packages when I learn more. One of these programs is Adobe illustrator where I practiced combine colours and using the 3d option to create things such has hands, weapons this can be used to create assets for elearner packages in the future.

I also used programs such as Adobe Effects and tested making things like intros possibly for packages I already have some experience in the program but I learnt new things regarding intros and such.

One of my other strengths include creativity, because I am working in design it means I can I need to use creativity quite a lot and I feel like I have a good creativity in deciding how something should look and establishing a plan before hand.

A strength I have is that I am the same age as both the students I am creating packages for, meaning that I can somewhat make it more appropriate towards that age, this also applies to my co-workers as they are also the same age.

Weaknesses
One of my weaknesses is that I don't contribute to the meetings as much, this is usually due to not knowing what to say this can be caused by someone saying what I was thinking, and also just general confidence.

Trying to get here early can sometimes be hard due to me having to use public transport it is very varied on what times the bus will arrive and living near a popular school makes it difficult.

I'm not as skilled in programs such as Captivate this can mean that I can get stuck and will have to ask for assistance if I'm not entirely sure how to do something.


I struggle working for a very long amounts of time this means I get distracted and somewhat have a break from the work I am doing to it working me out too much, this is usually solved after a break but it can slow down work.


I also need to work on how I arrange my information when creating packages as from feedback I have seen that I arrange them not quite correctly sometimes, so this is easily improved upon.


Opportunities

Using the programs I am using gives me a lot of opportunities in working with in design and even other areas of creative media work, such as using programs like After Effects gives me experience in jobs such as video editing/video production.

Working in this specific job means that I can possibly if I choose to progress onto level 4 which means I will take on a role that makes me more of a teacher model which means I can improve on that.

Due to this being my first proper job it means it is an  experience I can use for possible other jobs in the future, such as talking to customers and working as a team.

Websites such as Youtube/Pinterest offer opportunities for inspiration in work this is super useful when you want an idea but cant think about what you want exactly

Threats

Threats include things such as if the server go down at work then we are pretty much left in the dark due to all our work being online, this is a threat that can not always be avoided.

Another is if the client you have created a package for isn't happy with your work by the deadline, it could mean they wont repeat asking you for products if there last one was unsatisfactory.

Being distracted can be a big threat to slowing down work when at a tight deadline, this can be avoided quiet easily but it is still a risk when working long hours.

Not arriving on time can also impact work due to if your team has a meeting but because you are late you miss it and it means you lose out on maybe very important information.

Request for work

 

Development Plan

 

This is used to keep track of targets and to keep an idea of what I need to improve/develop on when working.

 

Using this document keeps everything in order and avoids running into problems such as not knowing a deadline or what additional requirements there are for the work. It keeps all the information needed all together meaning its not hard to find and avoids having to look through emails. I think taking one of these to a meeting is very helpful as you can filling in the blanks as they speak can help you not miss anything out, I think a good way to set out your work is to use a storyboard.

Storyboard

Another method that helps is the use of storyboards which also an easy way to avoid certain problems such as not knowing what will go n what slide, what additional info will be needed on a certain part of work. It also makes it easy when you are working in groups as it makes it easy to assign who will do what such as when I worked in a group of 3 on a project we made a storyboard and assigned who was doing what on the actual storyboard.

ADDIE model

The ADDIE model is an sequence is which work can be done in it usually starts at Design which is generally where all the planning will coming in and you will get a good idea of what it will be like, you will then move on to Develop where you actually create what you have designed which will usually be if you are creating some sort of product either as a object/online product. Implement will usually be when you try and get your product some sort of audience, this can usually done by some means of advertising, but not only this it can also be done in a learning environment such as in an designing environment as when you have designed and developed the product you can implement it and show it to others this is where another element of the evaluation comes into play. Analyse is when you take your product that you have designed/developed/implemented and analyse it for potential problems or for ways it can be improved, back to my previous point a way this can be done is by showing it to other colleges so they can give there opinions and therefore allowing you to create as good product as you can.

How I use ADDIE model

 

I just recently used the ADDIE model when working in a group we made a storyboard such as above and assigned roles to each person for that particular page of the ELP this avoids people getting confused what they should be doing

 

Screencast review

Screencast Review

Once i completed my Captivate product i spell checked it (F7) checking that there were no errors, this is to ensure everything is correct and giving the correct information while also making it look professional. There were only a few errors which have now been fixed and everything is correct as seen below:

3.1 / 3.4

Use of images

When using images in my e learner package i wanted to have nice simple icons that are not too detailed/over the top, but for some parts of the package it was necessary to use image of people in suits and such, so that the user understands what i mean when i talk about business suits and such. I use these images because it makes the package more interesting to look at, because using to much text can be overpowering to the user and therefore cause them to lose interest in the package

Role of Image
The role of an image can be very important as it is useful for people who don't find text very interesting it makes the text much more interesting as they can use the image to compare to the text, keeping them intrigued. It is also extremely useful when you use it when working with visual impaired users as it can be used to express information quickly.

Use of Colour

When using colour i wanted to stick a colour scheme of blue and white, i did this because i wanted to keep a consistent look to my work therefore making it look more professional. The two colours flow nicely together and throughout the package it keeps this consistency this includes some of the images going with this consistency.

Use of Text
When using text it is important to take your target audience into consideration, this is so the text is much more understandable for the reader it will also mean it is very consistent in how it is presented. Also being mindful of what text I use when creating products is important for example using copyrighted text which could cause problems in the future.

Using Images and Text
When making a product it is important to keep the text and images consistent and also so they flow together well for example if I was making an ELP on Food I would use images of food to follow together with the text. This makes the text more interesting as they can look to the images to get more of an insight to what something may look like.

Storyboard

When story-boarding we wanted to keep a consistent flow of work so in the storyboard i drew up the design of the package and this i what we went with when actually creating the package. We also planned the order in which the panels would appear and whether they would have interactive aspects. This is also where we planned on who would create what when actually creating the package.


Copyright

Copyright is a legal right created by the law of a country that grants the creator of an original work exclusive rights for its use and distribution. You get copyright protection automatically, you don’t have to apply or pay a fee. There isn’t a register of copyright works in the UK.

Just about all the images in the package are from Flaticon which a website that supplies copyright free images that use the style that i want in my package, the website is really useful and provides other options such as color changing which is super useful for when you are making work according to a colour scheme. This is the same for the text I used in my work, all of it was from i have learnt myself and from understanding the subject so therefore there is no issue in text copyright.

Using Copyright in work

Here at Elephant Designs using copyright in my working space means I cant use all the images I see, I must have right to the images before using them, this is to avoid problems for the company and myself. One way to avoid this is to use websites that allow you to rights of the images for example I use E-learning Brothers, Flaticon, Pixabay. Another alternative which I use a lot is to actually just create the graphics I need in the ELPS myself, this means it is completely copyright free and will avoid issues for myself and the company, this also applies to text as it means I cant just copy and paste text I find into the ELP they need to be reworded so that it doesn't breach copyright. If I fail to use copyright free images/text/sound then if the original owner or company that licensed the media sees this and takes action I will be asked to pay a fine this could also apply to the company, also this would jeopardize the companies reputation as it could get out that they don't create their own content

Principles of Effective Communication

Principles of Effective Communication

  Visual

    Visuals can provide a foundation for discussion and keeps the audience more interested in what they are looking at. They are helpful to people who maybe have an hearing impairment and therefore avoids problems

    Conciseness

    Get to the point and make your words count so that the listener does not loose interest in what you are saying, similar to preparation but it is just being aware that you do not get side tracked and begin talking off subject, this can cause problems.

    Relate

    Use personal experiences to strengthen the bridge for your first meeting this allows the conversation to be more personal and interesting, this will also make it hard not to think of things to talk about as it is easy to think of past experiences.

  Listen

    Find out the experience level of your audience so that you don't use words or phrases that the listener may not understand due to not having experience in what you are talking about, understanding early the level of experience of the other talker helps and makes it easier to communicate effectively.

  Basics

    Use basic/standard English this avoids any confusion to people whose first language may not be English/language spoken, but not only this if you use slang words that the listener may not have experience in.

  Preparation

    Stay one step ahead of your audience so that the conversation does not draw to a halt making it difficult to continue communicating so preparing, preparing for all the above is also really helpful as it makes it much easier rather than doing it on the spot when talking to someone,



Communication Barriers

There are many different barriers when communicating, which can effect the way you communicate making it more difficult. An example of a possible barrier is when you are talking to someone who uses jargon, this basically means when they use words which are over complicated and make it much harder to communicate effectively. 

Emotional Barriers

There are barriers that occur when someone is at an emotional time, therefore preventing them from communicating and expressing their self. An emotional barrier is usually caused by subjects not do with the subject or the person talking and is a barrier that is very hard to avoid if it happens while communicating.

Lack of attention

If the audience isn't interested in what you are saying then it is likely they will lose attention and not begin to listen to what you are saying, meaning if you were to for example ask them a question they wont know the answer due to not paying attention previously. Another occurrence that is caused from lack of attention is when there is a distraction near by such as a loud noises that distract your audience therefore causing them not to listen completely.

Differences in perception and viewpoint 

A very common problem when communicating is people having different views from each other therefore causing conflict between the two causing them to not really get anywhere as they are just arguing between each other.

Physical Disabilities

This can be a problem if the audience has a speech or hearing disability causing them not either be able to understand what you are saying therefore making it hard to express, or if they have a problem speaking causing you to not being able to understand completely what they are saying.

Language Barriers

Another problem is communicating with someone from a different country due to the different languages it can become very difficult to communicate exactly what you mean to the audience, way around this can be difficult such as needing a translator.

Expectations

It is common that people will have certain expectations when coming into a conversation but when it is different to what is expected it can stagger communication a bit and make it more difficult to express what maybe you were expecting to before the conversation began.

Cultural differences

Communication will be very different in different cultures this can make it difficult if you communicate with someone who is from a different culture as expressing different emotions can be taken differently from other cultures.

Methods to avoid problems
A way you can avoid problems with people who having a hearing impairment include doing things such as writing down the information you want to convey this will help them understand much easier, also if you know sign language this will help a lot and make it easy to communicate with someone who struggles to hear, if you don't have any experience with sign language then you can hire an interpreter to explain to them.

You can also use interactive aspects to make work easier for people who may have problems with vision such as have the normal size text but have a button of some kind to enhance the size of the text so that it is much easier to see, also for people with problems with colour blindness they could have a button to turn on a colour blind mode this would avoid problems with the colour being hard to see. Keeping ahead of the problem is important too such as not using fast flickering images this should avoid problems with people who have epilepsy.

Elephant Design Standards include:
Readable font - I make sure to use basic fonts such as Arial that is very clear to see
Header and footer - Using header and footers to mark that I have made the file/product as well as using the footer to add copyright and other.
Elephant on the front page - Having an elephant on every slide of the ELP is very important as it keeps it consistent and adds a brand to the product
Aims and objectives - Having aims and objectives at the beginning of the ELP is important and I use to this to inform the user what the product is about
Variety of interactions - I try to use different styles of interaction to keep the ELP's fresh and different for example using drag and drops
Instant Feedback - Instant feedback includes having a survey at the end of each ELP so that I can find out thoughts on the ELP
Show me try me quiz -  I always try having a quiz near the end so that I can test the user if they have been reading the ELP 
Introduction video -  I use the Elephant Designs intro at the beginning of all my ELP's so that when users use that ELP they know who made it adding a branding to the ELP.
Learning theories -  I try to use different styles of learning so that it is fresh and can adapt to different interests people have when it comes to learning. For example using audio sometimes and video to make it interesting to different audiences.
Spelling and grammar - I use F7 spell check on all my ELP's as well as asking for feedback so I can get ones the spell check does not catch
Consistent Design -  Keeping consistent colour is important for me as it looks very professional.