My Reading 02/12/2009

• » Here’s How I Built That PowerPoint E-Learning Template The Rapid eLearning Blog

  tags: PowerPoint, Rapid elearning, Word 2007, Graphics

  • What I am saying is that you might find that you can build most of what you need for your course right inside PowerPoint.
  • And that can be a big time saver, which kind of fits into the whole rapid part of rapid elearning.
  • Step-By-Step Instructions on Building the Branched Template
  • PowerPoint color themes.
  • color schemes
  • master slides
  • On large projects I create two PowerPoint files. One I use just to build my graphics and then I save those as images. And the other I use to build my course. This saves time in the long run and makes publishing a lot faster.

Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.

My Reading 02/07/2009

• Use of Narrative in Interactive Design - Boxes and Arrows: The design behind the design

  tags: Instructional design, Meaningful learning, narrative

  • Beyond the conceptual, there are practical applications of narrative in web design that many of us already use in our practice. Even large, business-focused projects can be approached within a holistic narrative framework, benefiting both the usability and design process.
  • We found the idea of writing a “script” for our projects very powerful. Similar to a conceptual model or creative brief, the script not only captures the business and user requirements it also synthesizes them into the project’s “story.” Story in hand, everyone on a project has a clearer understanding of what they are working toward and can speak about it using the same language.
  • Because of the long relationship with our client, it was determined that it was the right time to step outside of our standard process and push the boundaries of our approach. The make-up of the team was also extremely conducive to the creative nature of narrative-driven design.
  • Not only were we able to communicate critical information, but it was fun. It had such an impact that the account manager requested an encore for all account managers on that account, even those not involved on the engagement. The persona baseball cards were so well received by the client that they asked us to create sets for every agency with which they work.

Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.

My Reading 02/05/2009

• Bus Drivers Are Honing Their Skills with E-Learning - 2004 - ASTD

  TransSim

  tags: Bus driver, Training, Workforce, e-learning

  • But once individuals have experienced the drag-and-drop simplicity of the courseware, resistance invariably disappears, he claims. Younger drivers and new entrants always accept the technology
  • Once this target audience sits down, looks at the screen and moves the mouse, they learn that all they have to do is click and type in their name,”
  • For starters, it lowers training costs for the usual reasons. Transportation companies are also appreciating e-learning’s well-known ability to document every learning experience, enabling them to demonstrate compliance with safety and other regulations.

Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.

My Reading 01/28/2009

• Bus Drivers Are Honing Their Skills with E-Learning - 2004 - ASTD

  TransSim

  tags: Bus driver, Training, Workforce, e-learning

• Professional Truck Driver from National Safety Council - nscptd.com

  tags: Training, Workforce, Animation, Graphics

Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.

My Reading 01/20/2009

• Breakthrough eLearning: Time = Money: The Driver for Rapid eLearning

  tags: Rapid elearning

  • shorter product life cycles,very quick and frequent business process changes, time-mandated compliance in a number of areas
  • tools
  • people
  • processes
    
  • Development cycles can be compressed significantly when you have the right people on the job, with the right skills, with streamlined processes that allow decisions to be made quickly and sign-offs to occur infrequently
  • I also think it is important not to rely too heavily on SMEs to produce eLearning content
  • Remember also that eLearning does not have to be a course. Sometimes a timely job aid or electronic performance support system (EPSS) can be produced much more quickly, and will be much more effective
  • The field needs more leaders who know how to orchestrate tools, people and processes to meet organizational training needs at the speed of business.

Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.

• How long does it take to select an LMS? : eLearning Technology

  tags: Strategical training, LMS

Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.

• Flash Tutorial: Making an AutoRun CD

  tags: Autorun, CD-Rom

Sometimes, we are engaged in computer-based education, but as a matter or fact, the organizations may not be able to provide technologically rich and facilitating environment. Take my company for an example. We have not decided what kind LMS to use, and employees have not been comfortable with learning online. Therefore, my manager and I decided to present the training program with CD-Rom format. This article teaches us how to make autorun CD-Rom. It is very easy and practical.

Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.

My Reading 01/11/2009

• Rapid e-learning development

  tags: Rapid elearning, Elearning development

Since I have been working for my company for half an year, I have realized the way they work and the result that they expect. I was graduated last May, and hoped to applied what I had learned in real situation, but this approach did not work out in my company. ADDIE is an ideal model for instructional design, and this is also something that I would like to try out in my job. However, it terms of execution, I feel it is so difficult for my coming project.
My manager gave me a copy of Georgia Commercial Driver's License Manual, and I guess what they want is just to systematically have the content presented online; moreover, they would like to see something very interesting and interactive. She has not given me much direction to do it. The manual has 136 pages, and is supposed to be done in the short time. At this moment, I am thinking how I could have the task done rapidly. Therefore, I did some search for Rapid-Elearning and got some ideas and tips. Not to mention how I will design this instruction, this opportunity helps me really get into the concept of rapid elearning and why it happnes in business. I think I got a great lesson from the search. It seems that we get the shortcut for instructional design; it is not as time-consuming as something I have learned. This term was not new for me, and I am glad that I have a chance to really take it into action.

Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.

My Reading 01/07/2009

In the Middle of the Curve: Archive of Moodle Posts

• tags: corporate learning, Moodle

My company is proceeding to implement Moodle for several training courses. I searched for information about Moodle and realized that Moodle has been popular because it is a free open courseware and it is easy to set up.

As far as I have observed in my company, Moodle is truly the ideal learning management system for us because it saves the cost and helps facilitate the corporate's Elearning. However, I do not agree that my company just throws off this new project without any plans or considerations. First, I have not seen that my colleagues or trainees are eager to establish the interaction and collaboration in their learning. Second, I have not seen that the learning materials are well prepared to put online. Third, I have not seen that the instructors can fully accept this kind of learning style. For the first point, as mentioned above, one of the biggest features of Moodle is that it fosters online collaborations and the interactive activities, such as using forum, chatroom, journal and Wiki. If our trainers have been satisfied with current static delivery and not realized the importance of interaction, using Moodle does still not improve the progress in Elearning. I propose that it is vital to foster them the new ideas of effective learning and teaching. Both trainers and trainees need to be aware of the fact that integration and application of technology and the Internet to their courses does not give them trouble, but offers simple and safe solutions to deliver the materials. For the second point, actually the training materials are not well organized, no matter hard skills or soft skills. Most instructor-led courses are delivered with static manual and orally descriptive experiences. Sometimes, they may have interactive activities, but they are just feasible in face-to-face courses. To successfully implement Moodle, the trainers are supposed to re-design questions and lessons, establish the database of past exam papers and activities for students. For the last point, in the traditional learning environment, instructors just need to prepare for the class in advance; as the class finishes, all of the learning activities are done. Nevertheless, in online learning, instructors' support, response and feedback are very important, because learners are allowed to post their questions, ideas and journals online and they need to be reviewed by the instructors. Therefore, we have to consider that do those instructors want to make more efforts in trainees' learning. Are they willing to provide more information and develop more activities for the trainees after class? This is quite a new challenge for the instructors.

I look forward to seeing the achievement in my company.

Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.