The Perfect eLearning Course Design Checklist Infographic Great design is actually simple to create if you follow a few rules. The Perfect eLearning Course Design Checklist Infographic presents 9 essential design tactics that will magically transform your eLearning courses into scintillating works without compromising on instructional effectiveness. Your visual designing checklist 1. Has a focal point. You have to make sure that your course not only grabs eyeballs but also keeps the learners hooked. Create visual focal points that cries out for attention. 2. Shows visual continuity. Flow or movement is critical to good eLearning design. It is how you lead the learners through your course without making them stumble or wonder where they are supposed to look next. Here are the pointers: Chunk and sequence the content first. This helps you figure out how you will place the various elements on screen, so they follow a natural and logical sequence. Arrange graphical elements so that they direct learner attention to the content and through it, not away from the screen. Build gaps into your design or space out the elements, so the learner can pause and let the content cement in his mind. 3. Has matching typerfaces. Mixing typefaces is an effective way to create points of visual interest. But beware of ending up with a mess where too many typefaces create clutter. 4. Text is readable. Readability issues mar the appeal of your course and destroy its instructional soundness. Besides, you risk losing your learners mid-way. Choose the right size for the text. Choose readable fonts. 5. Has visual consistency. Create a unifying theme that runs throughout the course. Choose a scheme for fonts, colors, and templates so that every page looks like it is a part of the same course. Do not overlook seemingly inconsequential elements like buttons, heading sizes, and spacing. Every element on the screen should adhere to the theme. Create a standards document for every project. This ensures team members working on a project are on the same page and know how creative they can be so that they do not end up creating wildly different designs. 6. Has good contrast between visual elements. Use contrasting shapes and colors and contrast between text (size and color) and background (color). 7. It is functional. Ensure you arrange the various on-screen elements so that learners don’t have to hunt around for information. Ensure that the most critical pieces of information on the screen stand out. Create a consistent layout. Make navigation intuitive. 8. Has enough white space on the screen. White spaces provide breathers to learners and create opportunities for them to pause and reflect on previous learning before moving on to the next nugget of information. These negative spaces eliminate clutter and distractions and help learners focus on the most important pieces of content. 9. Nails the right mood. Use illustrations and customized photographs that match the mood of the content. Use graphics that appeal to the learners’ emotions. Use visuals that convey a clear meaning even without the support of the text. Use colors to set the mood. Not all great designers are born. You can learn design skills by following the works of the masters, from experience, and by getting into the shoes of the learners to gauge what motivates them to keep going through a course. Via: info.shiftelearning.comThe post The Perfect eLearning Course Design Checklist Infographic appeared first on e-Learning Infographics.

Online University Infographic For-profit universities are a fairly new innovation in education. Traditionally, higher education institutions-that is, colleges and universities-are non-profit entities. To be classified as "non-profit", schools must be organized for a purpose other than making a profit, and for most schools, this purpose is to offer students a quality education or to support faculty in teaching and making significant contributions to research across many disciplines. These non-profit schools are generally considered to be traditional. Most brick-and-mortar schools and some online programs follow this traditional model. Over the past forty years, however, for-profit universities, most of which operate only or primarily online, have been changing the landscape of higher education. These for-profit schools operate under a different kind of business model and function more like corporations, bringing at times significant profits to their stakeholders. While for-profit schools have their detractors, there is no question that they are formidable competition for traditional schools when it comes to students and funding. The Founders While they were not the first people in the world to consider for-profit schooling, Michael Clifford and John Sperling are credited with the rise of creating the for-profit institution educational business model. Though he lacks a college education and used drugs in his early years, Clifford has succeeded as an entrepreneur. After becoming a born-again Christian and being advised by a Campus Crusader to look into a career in postsecondary schooling, he entered the field of for-profit education. He now has 6 universities under his control and a healthy stable of investors, including former General Electric CEO Jack Welch, who invested $2,000,000. John Sperling, on the other hand, has a more traditional academic pedigree. A business-minded, Cambridge-educated humanities professor, he wanted to bring education to the masses. Although his for-profit classes initially had to be attended in person, and his first class had only 8 students, Sperling expanded his business significantly over the years. He started the University of Phoenix, which offered its first online courses in 1989 and is now one of the largest universities in the world. The Numbers Because for-profit schools adhere to a different business model than traditional, non-profit schools do, they are organized with the consumer-student in mind. For example, the University of Phoenix’s campuses are built near freeways for easy access, and they are spaced approximately 20 minutes apart because that is how far people will drive in rush hour traffic. Classes at the University of Phoenix start every 5 weeks and are often offered on evenings and weekends to accommodate their students’ work schedules. Although the University of Phoenix does have campuses, much of the coursework is done online. In part because of their accessibility and open admissions policies, many students choose for-profit schools. In total, for-profit schools have enrolled 1,941,000 students for online degree programs. Grand Canyon University, a former struggling Christian college revamped by Clifford, now enrolls 40,000 students worldwide. The University of Phoenix, with 260 campuses and learning centers in the U.S., enrolls 443,000 students, which is more than the entire University of California system and Ivy League combined. This high enrollment translates to high revenue, much of it from federal student aid. Grand Canyon University, University of Phoenix, and other for-profit schools can receive up to 86% of their revenue from federal sources. In 2004, the University of Phoenix alone received $1.7 billion in Title IV funds, or federal student aid. By comparison, in 2010, the government provided $1.8 billion, nearly the same amount, in federal funds to help rebuild New Orleans schools after Hurricane Katrina. Another major difference between for-profit and non-profit schools is the cost to the student. Online courses at Grand Canyon University cost between $400 and $550 per credit hour. In-person classes at Stanford University, a top-tier institution, cost $773 per credit hour. But while the apparent per-class costs favor for-profit schools, the overall costs of a for-profit college education may be much less favorable. According to Barmak Nassiran, a traditional schools lobbyist, students at for-profit colleges are responsible for approximately half of the default on all education loans in the U.S. In fact, fewer than half the students at many for-profit schools repay their loans on time. However, the Department of Education is making strides toward greater oversight of for-profit schools, such as with the Gainful Employment ruling, which requires that for-profit schools graduate students be able to find jobs with sufficient salaries to pay back their student loans. The Controversy Critics of for-profit schools often cite their privileging of profit over student success. One concern is that for-profit schools are recruiting students who are able to pay tuition, but who are academically incapable of graduating from these degree programs. Under Federal Student Loan guidelines, it is illegal to offer commissions or incentives to staff to enroll students in college, but University of Phoenix enrollment advisors allegedly had monthly quotas of student enrollment. While the University of Phoenix did not admit guilt, it did settle a $67 million lawsuit for paying staff "incentivized compensation". Another criticism is of the for-profit model itself, a model that necessarily draws money away from students and back towards the business and its executives. For example, according to Mark Defusco, a former executive at the University of Phoenix, for-profit colleges will spend 25% of their revenue on advertising, but only between 10 and 20% on faculty and education. This is in stark contrast to traditional, non-profit universities, which are more likely to invest in research initiatives, professionalization, facilities, and student life. The Future In 2007, 970 public 2-year colleges and 534 4-year colleges offered online courses, and since then that number has continued to grow. Many of these traditional schools even have online degree programs or departments that function entirely online. Stanford, MIT, Texas A & M, University of Pennsylvania, and Savannah College of Art and Design are just a few highly regarded schools that offer classes and degrees online. MIT and Harvard University are even working together on a project to offer non-credit college courses online at no cost. Michael Clifford’s next project is a shift back toward the non-profit model. His school, Patten University, will offer a college education to former prostitutes, gang members, and other socially marginalized individuals, who will likely finance their educations with Federal Student Loans. The funds dedicated to education in the 2010 Recovery Act-over $89,000,000,000-have mostly been dedicated to expanding post-secondary education. As more Americans pursue higher education, institutions will have to grow accordingly. Both for-profit and non-profit schools-whether traditional, online, or hybrid-will play important roles. Via: www.onlineschools.orgThe post Online University Infographic appeared first on e-Learning Infographics.

Positive Behavior Solutions in the K12 Classroom Infographic Discipline incidents cut in half. Improved grades. Fewer absences equal to one week of instruction for each student. In the Positive Behavior Solutions in the K12 Classroom Infographic, learn how the Alabama State Department of Education implemented a positive behaviour support (PBS) solution and improved student outcomes and school culture. The Impact of Positive Behavior Solutions in the K12 Classroom Student behavior and school culture can be roadblocks to student success. 20% of enrolled students with extreme problem behavior account for 50% of behavioral incidents. 95% of out-of-school suspensions are related to nonviolent, minor disruptions such as tardiness or disrespect. Administrators spend 45 minutes on average managing each disciplinary action. Top influencers in affecting student achievement: School culture School climate Two key measures of effective teaching: Managing student behavior Establishing a culture of learning Teachers use various methods to manage classroom behaviour and culture. Measurement and support of classroom management methods is critical. Teachers report a lack of support in implementing classroom management strategies. Even though effective classroom management is shown to produce a variety of positive outcomes for students. The Alabama State Department of Education piloted a positive student behavior program with measurable results. Initiatives: PBS/positive reinforcement solution. Embedded professional learning. Analytics and data services. Partner and solutions: Chalkable Learning Earnings Chalkable Professional Learning Chalkable Data Services Key Findings Increase in Attendance. Increase in Learning Gains. Fewer Discipline Infractions. Sub Groups Show Significant Achievement Gains. Via: www.chalkable.comThe post Positive Behavior Solutions in the K12 Classroom Infographic appeared first on e-Learning Infographics.

China’s Online Education and eLearning Market Infographic The advent of educational technology is revolutionising the education industry, and it is paving the path for a more flexible and nuanced approach to learning. While pencils and papers remained essentials of the classroom, electronic devices offer the advantage of transcending over the boundaries of time and place. New technologies and faster internet make online education more convenient and affordable while traditional methods have no choice but to adapt. The China’s Online Education and eLearning Market Infographic highlights how China has experienced a massive edtech boom in recent years, as evidenced by the number of startups that capitalised on the opportunities. In online education, new Chinese startups like GenShuiXue.com, which literally means a question "Study With Whom?", has been offering numerous online courses since only last year. Another company called 17zuoye.com (numbers 1 and 7 sound like the word "together" and "zuo ye" means "homework") claims to serve more than 7 million students. It has recently raised $100M in series D round reaching reported total valuation of $600M. In exams-obsessed society like Chinese, no wonder that test prep startups have been growing fast as well. Children early education is another area where the impact of new and particularly mobile-based technology has been even more visible. When it comes to paying for quality apps that promise quick results, Chinese parents are much less price sensitive and wouldn’t be willing to spend more on such tools. Via: www.edufraction.comThe post China’s Online Education and eLearning Market Infographic appeared first on e-Learning Infographics.

How to Increase Productivity at Work Infographic Everyone wants to be more productive. The How to Increase Productivity at Work Infographic explains science-based ways to be more productive. All of them are simple to do and free. 1. Don’t work overtime. In most companies, productivity and loyalty are measured by how many hours an employee spends at their desk. Judging loyalty and productivity by hours worked is the wrong attitude to have, as research clearly shows that it lowers performance and causes mental and physical health issues. Working longer hours increases your risk of depression. 2. Stop multitasking. Even though the economy is improving slightly, workers are expected to do more with less, leading to multitasking. As tempting as this might be for a manager in the short-term, it is not good for the long run. The research showed that productivity can be reduced by as much as 40 percent by the mental blocks created when people switch tasks. 3. Try to get natural light. Many people might not have the luxury of being able to sit near a window, but for them I’d say try and go outside as much as you can. Research shows that getting that natural light from a window will lead to a better night’s sleep. When you get a better night’s sleep, you’ll come in well rested the next day and be much more productive. 4. Learn to say no. In order to have the best return for your investment of time on tasks, you need to prioritize and stay laser-focused. There’s no way that you could accomplish everything on your to-do list, and every little interruption costs you time. Learn how to say no to things that won’t have a significant return for you, and focus your efforts where it will make a difference. 5. Don’t be a perfectionist. Over the years, there have been several studies that have found links between perfectionism and mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, drug addiction, and increased suicide risk. Studies have also found links between perfectionism and physical problems like asthma, migraines, and irritable bowel syndrome. This is most likely due to the amount of stress perfectionists place on themselves. If you’re a perfectionist, you need to learn to relax and let things go. It’s very likely that you will burnout because perfectionists are never satisfied, so they’re always overworking. Seriously, just relax. 6. Take time to think. In a four-year study, researchers tracked the work habits of employees at the Boston Consulting Group. In the experiment, consultants scheduled one weekly night of uninterrupted personal time, even though they were used to working from home in the evenings. Everyone on the team resisted at first, thinking they would only be postponing work. Over time, the consultants learned to love their scheduled time off because it consistently refreshed them, and made them more willing to work, which made them more productive overall. After five months, the employees in the experiment were more satisfied with their jobs, more likely to envision a long-term future at the company, more content with their work-life balance and prouder of their accomplishments. 7. Go for a walk. The effects of sitting all day at work take a serious toll on your health. Sitting has been called the new smoking, and it’s encouraged to get up and walk at a minimum every 30 minutes. Walking meetings are a great idea, because they make you more creative and take you out of your usual context, which helps you come up with new ideas. 8. Take a nap. Naps have been proven to recharge your brain, which is perfect for that afternoon energy crash we all experience. Many progressive companies have nap pods in their offices because they understand the value of their employees being well-rested to be at maximum productivity. 9. Work In Sprints Many of us will ignore what our bodies are trying to tell us and try and eat or grab another coffee to power through the day. This is the wrong way to go about working. We need to take time to rest and recuperate, to come back feeling fresh and ready to go. Via: www.officevibe.comThe post How to Increase Productivity at Work Infographic appeared first on e-Learning Infographics.

Unshrouding the Mystery of Blended Learning The Mystery of Blended Learning Infographic summarizes what blended learning is. For many, blended learning is still a muddled concept. One may be basking away in the glory of facilitating learning via all sorts of devices - PCs, laptops, tablets and smartphones, thinking that blended learning is ‘mission accomplished’. Sorry to burst the bubble, but that is NOT blended learning. The realm of blended learning extends far beyond just technology based learning. There’s a difference between blending technology and layering it - when you make content available across different devices using the Internet, it is technology layering. Blended learning on the other hand is creating a mix of both offline and online learning experiences in a way that they complement each other. Instructional strategies such as lecturing, guided learning, exploratory discussions, debates and role-playing must be amalgamated with online learning tools such as podcasts, e-books, webcasts and digital video libraries, massive multiplayer online games, wikis, etc. to create a unique learning path of each learner. Every learner’s experience is different and personalized according to his/her learning preferences. The single most important challenge to blended learning currently is that the concept is not understood properly, making availability of human resources who can successfully implement it, difficult. Directly measuring the impact of blended learning is also a slightly difficult task because of its fluid and abstract nature as well as the presence of so many learning elements. However, organizations and educational institutes have established that using a wide range of learning methods (both online and offline) is far more effective in delivering personalized and more relevant learning experiences. Via: blog.originlearning.comThe post The Mystery of Blended Learning Infographic appeared first on e-Learning Infographics.

Top 5 Tools for Webinars Infographic In the growing field of eLearning, soon expected to cross the $107 billion mark in terms of global worth, web seminars or webinars hold the dominant spot. They are easy to use and their ability to actively address and interact with a large pool of geographically scattered individuals remains a favorite in terms of information dissemination and knowledge sharing. Webinars are both one of the most affordable and most accessible tools for online learning. When choosing a business solution like webinar hosting platform or other collaborative tools, you need to keep your company’s size, budget and general objectives in mind. The Web offers scores of different webinar solutions, meaning people can easily get lost while looking for the perfect pick - this costs time and money. In order to choose a solution that one will be satisfied with, it’s paramount to understand the needs which are planned to be satisfied. Webinar clients come with a host of options and an even bigger array of price tags, which makes it hard to strike the perfect balance. There are some things, however, that are always good to have when it comes to functionality and design, and those are a dependable audio-video flow with clear, uncluttered outlay, basic interactive tools such as polls, surveys or graphics, as well as high compatibility with various platforms. Given that many organisations and businesses are struggling to find just the right solution to match their business needs, the Top 5 Tools for Webinars Infographic provides a list of first-rate solutions - along with their advantages and disadvantages. Top 5 Web Seminar Tools GoToWebinar Join.me Cisco WebEX Adobe Connect Webinars on air   Via: www.collectmythoughts.comThe post Top 5 Tools for Webinars Infographic appeared first on e-Learning Infographics.

How College Graduates Can Save Money On Health Insurance Infographic When you graduate college so many things are changing. One of the things that is often overlooked is your health insurance. What are you options? What is the best way to save money? Should you stay on your parents plan? What if your parents kick you off their plan? With all of the options out there it is important to know what is going on and what should you do to find a plan that not only fits your needs, but is affordable. Check out the How College Graduates Can Save Money On Health Insurance Infographic to learn what a recent college grad should be doing to find a plan that works for them at a price that will not break your budget. Via: www.gohealthinsurance.comThe post How College Graduates Can Save Money On Health Insurance Infographic appeared first on e-Learning Infographics.

5 Reasons to Use a Gamified LMS for Training Gamification has proven to be a successful motivation strategy. The 5 Reasons to Use a Gamified LMS for Training Infographic shows how learners can benefit from a Gamified Learning Management System. 1. Boosts engagement. Employees enjoy gamified elements such as earning points, leaderboards, and badges because they make learning more enjoyable and drive participation. 2. Motivation and goal tracking. People are motivated by a need to accomplish, to work towards goals. Using a gamified LMS helps them have specific targets which seem achievable and exciting to attain. 3. Improves knowledge retention. With gamification training is more engaging and the level of information retention is increased. Employees are much more likely to remember what they are taught because they are more involved in the process. 4. Promotes team building. Use a gamified LMS to enhance collaboration, communication, and knowledge-sharing between employees by providing them with an outlet to connect socially and contribute content. 5. Valuable feedback. A gamified LMS allows you to easily track the performance of your employees and get real-time feedback about how they’re learning and developing skills as they progress in their training. Read also: Gamified Learning Management System: An Upcoming Motivation Strategy Via: www.matrixlms.comThe post 5 Reasons to Use a Gamified LMS for Training Infographic appeared first on e-Learning Infographics.

How Student Debt is Dramatically Affecting Millennials’ Lives Infographic Here are some things we know about Millennials: they have record amounts of student debt. They are renting or sharing, rather than buying. And they are pushing major life milestones, such as marriage, back further than ever. While each of these statistics has myriad causes and effects, a new survey from the online education website Study.com finds that high levels of student debt has had a widespread and persistent impact on how many Millennials live their lives. In particular, Study.com recently polled recent college graduates on how much student debt they took on and what that meant for these students later in life. The How Student Debt is Dramatically Affecting Millennials’ Lives Infographic presents the findings: 51% of survey respondents left college with more than $10,000 in debt. In comparison, a similar survey of Baby Boomers that we conducted found only 26% of Boomers graduated with a similar amount. A few recent graduates left school with more than $100,000 in debt, whereas when the Boomers graduated, this amount of debt was unheard of. This debt is affecting young graduates’ lives: 42% report that debt affected their choice to pursue major purchases like a car or house, 28% reported debt affected major life decisions like marriage or children. 39% of survey respondents said they graduated with a lot of debt, which they felt would be hard to pay off. 79% of respondents said student loans were a major problem for young people in general; only 4% of respondents disagreed. Only 20% of respondents said they understood college tuition and debt well when they first started school. Via: study.comThe post How Student Debt is Dramatically Affecting Millennials’ Lives Infographic appeared first on e-Learning Infographics.