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If you will be at ATD TechKnowledge next week, stop by my session and say “hi.” And I hope you stay and hear my spiel on incorporating 3D modeling in eLearning too. A description is below. [link] Flat to Fascinating With 3D Modeling Sometimes a picture is just not enough! In this session you will learn how to utilize interactive 3D modeling to give your learners far better perspective and a truly interactive experience.
I just completed a 3D Modeling class and thought I would share my demo reel. What a fun class! I am looking forward to building some for my eLearning modules. FYI: The software used was Autodesk Maya.
I have been working from home for over a year and a half now, as have many of us. In the past I have been a telecommuter on and off, usually at the discretion of the current organization or department leadership. Telecommuting has always been my preference and something I have known to be a far more effective means for the type of work I do… More productive, fewer distractions, more creative environment , fewer restrictions to resources, etc.
Looking for a new instructional design resource? Cara North and Joseph Suarez recently launched their new podcast, which is well worth the visit - you will find it at instructionalredesign.com. Most recently, they were kind enough to invite me on the podcast to discuss "working out loud" and instructional design. You can hear that podcast at - instructionalredesign.com/2017/11/26/ep-005-jeff-goldman/.
If you are in health care you probably have the need for medical graphics. Well, NIH has a great list of U.S. Government medical stock image sites. These sites also include graphics, videos, animations and more. Because most government (U.S.) graphics are public domain most are copyright free. The link is below, enjoy. www.nlm.nih.gov/services/stockshot.html.
I am on my way to the DevLearn Conference next week - As always a great time and plenty of valuable sessions. This year I plan on attending numerous mLearning sessions, which look perfect for anyone looking to delve further into delivering mobile learning, like me. I will also be speaking again. This year I am excited to be co-presenting with my colleague, David Schwartz.
Over the years, I have written my share of posts about working with SMEs. However, there is no single, perfect approach to working with SMEs since they differ as well as each project differs. In my latest attempt to making the process a bit easier, I have created a document that explains to SMEs and stakeholders my process of creating courses and their role in this process.
I recently returned from the DevLearn 2015 Conference , which is always an incredibly inspiring learning experience. So, here are some of the sessions that impressed me along with the slide decks/resources that are worth sharing. What Delights CLOs and What Keeps Them Up at Night? Allison Rossett Great insight on what CLOs and org leaders need/want from training professionals.
Next week I will be presenting at eLearning Guild’s DevLearn Conference. It is always a thrill to attend the conference and a real honor to be presenting too. Below is a link to my presentation, hope some of my readers will be there and attend my session. If not, hopefully we will meet during other conference happenings. Be Concise:Designing for On-the-go Learners Also, Thursday night will be the live #Lrnchat (an online Twitter chat), which is always a blast.
On August 19th and 20th, the eLearning Guild will be holding its very first online version of their world renowned DemoFest. It will kick off with an opening session from two ever impressive speakers, Jane Bozarth and Karen Hyder. Like all the eLearning Guild's DemoFests, this will be a chance to see some wonderful online solutions for real world learning and support challenges.
In honor of Dave Letterman and an end of an era, my top ten list. Why traditional classroom training is soooo much better than eLearning: You can learn at another person's pace. Get to see what the beltway looks like at 8 am. Stale donuts. Sit next to that annoying guy from Finance. Get another 2 1/2 inch binder. Leave at 4:30. Hey, does the beltway look the same at 4:30?
This August 19 th and 20 th the eLearning Guild will be holding the first OnlineDemoFest , I am really excited to see the great work that will be shared and also honored to be one of the presenters - I will be sharing my “ Mission:JHome Content Manager “ course. Hope to see you there. To attend, register on the eLearning Guild’s Online DemoFest page – DemoFest:Real People, Real Projects, Real Solutions.
'It is always troublesome to see disregard for copyright. At times it may be a lack of awareness to copyright law or it may be someone conveniently ignoring it, but either is no excuse and as members of a profession that utilizes images, video, audio, etc., we must keep ourselves aware of how we can or can''t use such content. And I swear if I hear another person say "I found it on the web, so it''s OK," I am going to scream.
'I have had Pinterest for a while now, but my use has been on and off. I think for me it is not something I need on a daily basis, but certainly a great tool for when I find an eLearning resource I want to easily curate. So, here as some eLearning resources I have collected in my Pinterest boards thus far. eLearning - Anything eLearning related, often a lot of useful infographics are pinned.
'Streamline the content, language and course interface. Here is where prioritizing the must, good and nice to knows pays off. That "must" content is front and center - your emphasis. The “good” is still accessible but may not be up front - a bit deeper into sections, appear in interactive assets, pop-ups, etc. The " Nice to knows" - We are not using up real estate on these.
'The third element of IMPS is Prioritize. Prioritize your content into “ must know,” “good to know” and “nice to know” levels. Must know - Look back at your objectives - What MUST they learn to reach those objectives. That''s your top level/emphasis - As newspaper journalists would say "above the fold." Good to know - Those things not imperative, but still of value in accomplishing the task to be learned.
'The third element of IMPS is Manage. Manage* stakeholder, subject matter expert and design team’s expectations - Get them “on-board” with designing concise, but effective courses. Here''s how: Get buy-in on what is needed to accomplish the course''s goal. Emp hasize it is "OUR course ," belonging to all stakeholders especially the learner. We want a course that is: Efficient use of learners’ time, as well as the organization’s time.
'David Kelly of the eLearning Guild interviewed me recently regarding my upcoming presentation at the DevLearn conference, " Be Concise: Designing for On-the-go Learners." T he eLearning Guild''s Twist blog also has additional interviews and posts from other DevLearn presenters - all worth the visit.
'In my recent Being Concise - IMPS post , I introduced my approach to keeping courses concise. In today''s post I want to explore the first component - Identify , as in identifying learning objectives. "Identify appropriate learning objectives and exclude the extraneous objectives trying to sneak into the course." Here''s how: Conduct a needs analysis (even if it must informal) Stay focused on what learners need to succeed?
'I''m excited to be presenting again at the DevLearn conference this fall. Below is the description of my presentation. Be Concise: Designing for On-the-go Learners eLearning designers often face complex training topics that are difficult to deliver concisely. This results in lengthy courses that are counter to the needs of today’s learners who need to be extremely efficient with their time.
'eLearning Designers wear many hats – some by choice, some placed upon us. Here are the hats I wear because I need these skills as an eLearning one-person shop. Those on the second list are ones placed upon me either because they are skills I can adapt my elearning skills to or because assumptions are made (e.g., you are an IT guy, right?). Instructional Designer & Developer - These are the obvious ones and why most of us are hired.
'I started in eLearning in 2001. Although not long ago, it is light years behind us when it comes to development tools. Here are the eLearning tools I was using during my first few years in the industry. And my LMS. What is in your Throwback Thursday Toolbox?
'For a course I am currently completing, I included an infographic. The course is an overview of a new line of business at my org. I knew that for many, especially those not directly involved in the new line, retaining detailed knowledge about it will be a challenge as time passes. So what better way to provide a refresher than an Infographic that highlights and visualizes its important features?
'I have got on-board and signed the Serious eLearning Manifesto. I believe it is a good blueprint for ensuring quality eLearning. For successful implementation, I believe it not only requires the commitment of eLearning designers, but also the support of course stakeholders and learning & development management. I am continually negotiating with the aforementioned for the time and resources needed to develop effective learning programs.
'It is a rare exception when I can publicly share one of my online courses. That is because most are on a corporate learning management system (LMS) which is only accessible to my fellow employees or they are on our Intranet, which is also inaccessible to non-staff. This course is one I created for our public site and is accessible to the world. It is a pretty straightforward course that includes scenario based learning.
'So often I get a call from subject matter experts (SME) and other stakeholders regarding elearning courses asking, "Can''t you just send me the PowerPoint?" My answer of "There is no PowerPoint" is usually not received well and followed by a tone of disbelief. I don''t deny them a PowerPoint because they will probably compromise the instructional integrity of the courses, which is possible, or because I am selfish.
'I started a Pinterest account quite a while ago, but my interest in it waned quickly. It really did not fill any need for me. In the last few weeks I decided to give in another try. So what have I been pinning? Here are the categories I have so far: eLearning - I pin interesting eLearning infographics, pages, resources, etc. eLearning Screenshots - Various screens from courses I have made.
'I was having a discussion with some fellow eLearning designers and we got deep into the complexities of working with subject matter experts (SME). Many great ideas came out of the discussion (e.g., guidelines, agreements, best methods of identifying SMEs and a lead SME, etc.). One thing I brought up was that so few SMEs realize what is involved in the process of creating elearning courses or any instruction for that matter.
'I think like most people in our field, I am often asked how to get started in eLearning. Well, the eLearning Industry site has released " How to Become an eLearning Professional ," an ebook of tips for people interested in getting started. It has practical advice from 23 leaders in the field. It will definitely be a resource I share with people interested in entering our field.
'I''ve been catching up at work since my trip to the DevLearn Conference. Although I do not have the time needed to write a very lengthy post about my wonderful DevLearn experience, I at least want to post a bit about some of the things that impressed me and also provide some post-conference resources. By the way, the only complaint I have about the conference is that there were just too many great presenters.
'I am ü ber excited to be heading to the Devlearn Conference next week and just as excited to be presenting too. I''m willing to bet most of this blog''s readers have already heard of this conference. If not, it is the best elearning conference you can attend in my opinion. It is chock full of great sessions, a phenomenal DemoFest , truly inspiring attendees and even a live #LrnChat.
'I am very excited to be presenting at the eLearning Guild''s DevLearn Conference this October. If you are heading to the conference this year, I hope to see you there. If you cannot attend, keep an eye on their Twitter hashtag, #DevLearn , which is a fantastic conference backchannel. I will be discussing using characters in eLearning, a topic near and dear to me.
'While exploring how others develop characters, I stumbled upon character charts, a tool used by some fiction writers. In the past, I have developed characters in elearning more off the cuff. It has worked well for me, but a character chart, what a great idea. A character chart allows one to flesh out the finer details of a character''s personality, appearance, position, abilities, etc.
'Here is another post regarding the use of characters in eLearning. Below is a collection of some of the more unusual characters from my courses and job aids along with brief notes on how they were used. The ghost of Alexander Graham Bell - He floated about while coaching staff through using the new IP Phone system. Ossie, the robot sidekick that assists during the Office 2010 course and also keeps the course''s superhero, Captain Upgrade, out of trouble.
'I recently attended the MedBiquitous Conference at Johns Hopkins. This conference focuses on technology standards in health care education (conference hash tag - #Medbiq2013 ). There was quite a lot I saw and learned during these two days, but here just a few of the things from the conference that I wanted to throw up on the blog. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has a great open online learning site, CDC Learning Connection , also added it to the Free eLearning page.
'If you have been visiting, I am sure you noticed I have been writing very, very little lately. It has been an very busy at work, which of course limits time to blog but has more directly affected the motivation to blog. Many a nights I have said to myself, "I spent the entire day on my PC designing and creating eLearning, I don''t think I want to spent tonight writing about it.
Over at L & D Global Events they have been posting a series of interviews of learning and development professionals. I have been reading them over the last several months and it has been a real pleasure to learn more about others in the field, including their perspectives on the L&D business, where they've been, where they're going and more.
I am a big fan of adding characters to my courses when they are appropriate and work with the course design. Starting with this post, I am going to begin a series of posts sharing examples of how I have used characters in learning. When I refer to learning I am not simply referring to only web-based training (WBT), but also job aids, informal learning and marketing learning events.
I having been using Twitter for several years now and still loving it. The only issue I have are the challenges of getting others to adopt it. For me, Twitter is a great tool in my personal life and also a fantastic workplace tool. When trying to sell use of Twitter among my coworkers and personal acquaintances I tell them of the ways I use it and anecdotes of times it has been of great benefit.
Tonight the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and NASA are landing the Curiosity Mars rover on the red planet. To say the least, no easy feat. They have put out videos that not only created some great hype for this venture, but are also very engaging and accessible means of educating the public on the purpose of the mission and how they will accomplish it.
Happy 4th of July everyone! I thought I would dig through the Free eLearning page for some of the US history courses in there. And here they are: Abraham Lincoln’s Crossroads – National Constitution Center An Overview of American History (video) – Digital History Constitutional Timeline - National Constitution Center Native Words, Native Warriors (Codetalkers) – NMAI The Supreme Court – CSPAN U.S.
I'm happy to announce the eLearningCyclops blog is now featured in the eLearningLearning community. If you are not familiar with eLearningLearning , it is an aggregation of elearning blogs. My prior blog, prior to migrating it to this new location, was also part of this community. As it was then, it is an honor to be among these fantastic blogs. Give eLearninLearning a visit and get a wide perspective of what's happening in the elearning world.
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