Even more powerful are the team models. Taking the same sciences and using them for a team is an easy, inexpensive way to grow the whole team. Using a team model, like the examples shown below, creates a common language and understanding for everyone on the team. Behavior / DISC Team WheelNatural (circle) shows their true behavioral strengths, Adapted (star) shows who they are pretending to be. The gap = stress. Motivators Team WheelsThere are six motivators, and this wheel is only showing each persons Top 2.  We find that motivators are more predictive of job match and team collaboration than anything else. Stress QuadrantsThis is a breakdown of the current stressors in a team.   Using similar Team Models, you can discuss the following: Team strength / overuse: strengths of each individualTeam blind spots: areas where there are no individuals with those strengthsOpportunities for hiring complimentary strengths for specific jobsOpportunities to leverage someone else's strength, one you do not haveI like to say, "Together we can create a whole brain." As you share these models, ask yourself the following about your team:What is the strength of this team?What is the blind spot of this team?What would you recommend doing next to grow?Converting your team to a collaborative whole is easily done with a little constructive time together sharing strengths that build cohesion. Here's an Irish quote speaking to our basic need to connect: "For it is a true fact that faeries, just like people, very often find that a full belly and a good friend are all that they need to be happy." -C.S. Einfeld, Neverdark

Translate this gaelic cartoon (to celebrate Easter) and send it to info@russellmartin.com.  If you are correct, you'll  shoren begorrah get fabulous merchandise.

Jeanette has worked in education and training for over 20 years as an environmental educator, e-learning leader and in quality and compliance. She is also a regular contributor to eWorks’ blog. Further to Jeanette’s Need an e-learning check-up? blog post, it is now time to take a closer look at the sustainability of your courses.How sustainable […]

When I first started as an instructional designer in eLearning, one of the services provided by the team I was on was converting instructor-led training (ILT) to eLearning-based content. ILT is facilitated by an instructor either online or in a classroom, allowing learners to interact with their instructor and discuss the training material. However, often companies have limited employees, an instructor left the company or took on a new role, or the budget isn’t available for travel, which makes turning ILT into eLearning a smart solution. When my team converted ILT to eLearning, the biggest concern we ended up talking to the subject matter expert (SME) and/or instructor about was how simply placing the PowerPoint files into an authoring tool wasn’t enough. Because eLearning is a new way of expressing information, it’s necessary to capture the same information an instructor would if he or she were teaching the class in person—especially the interactions and questions that students might miss. If you’re an instructional designer, hopefully you have awesome instructors who’ve provided you with enough information to capture everything necessary in the eLearning course you’re creating. However, that’s not always the case. For my team, in some cases it was almost like we started with next to nothing and ended up having to spend a substantial amount of time collecting information—but the results were worth it. Benefits of Converting ILT to eLearning The benefits of converting a course include the ability to share content quicker and even help out with just-in-time situations. Converting ILT to eLearning also makes training available to a wider audience. eLearning tends to be more budget-friendly since the cost incurred to create the course is often far less than having an instructor teach the course multiple times throughout the year, especially if travel is involved. eLearning also tends to be easier to update. Since the "shell" is already in place, updating eLearning is simply a matter of updating pieces of information or adding in a new slide. With ILTs, however, the instructor has to relearn the content, which adds to the amount of time necessary to present the content effectively. Some studies have shown that eLearning can boost knowledge retention rates compared to those for ILTs. eLearning is also beneficial to those who find social situations in which they could be called upon or singled out stressful since they’re taking the course from the comfort of their computers. How to Get Started Converting ILT to eLearning The conversion process typically involves reviewing the ILT content for effectiveness and relevancy (just like any other time you would review content). Then, you’ll look at the interactions that would normally take place inside the classroom (introductions, polls, scenarios) and turn them into eLearning-ready substitutes. To help with the process, you could include a "guide" in your course—an on-screen character who would ask the same questions an instructor might or just help the learner along the course. If you have the former instructor’s presenter notes, you could even give the character a dialogue modeled after what the instructor would normally say when explaining the process being taught. The biggest thing to remember when converting ILT to eLearning is that you’re going from a personal interaction to an informal one, which means it’s best to make sure the content is very visual to keep the learner engaged and interested. Another alternative is to record an ILT session and include it as a video within an eLearning course wrapper. This way, you still get the effects of a great instructor. Keep in mind that having the learner watch a video for 30 minutes straight won’t provide much interest, so it’s best to chunk up the content or offer activity breaks frequently. You could always break up the video and add it in where appropriate. The main benefit of creating an eLearning course is that content becomes more available. For example, if someone can’t attend training for physical or financial reasons, the virtual version could be offered as an alternative. This becomes extremely helpful when trying to coordinate training that’s required by law and must be done within a certain time frame. However, using videos of the actual instructor presenting content can be hard to update since the instructor will need to be available to reteach the content. Thus, creating an eLearning course with a guide in place of the instructor is your best bet when you’re short on instructors and time. Converting ILT to eLearning is a smart way to deploy training for companies looking to save resources like time and money. Lectora® authoring tools make it easy to take existing training and turn it into eLearning courses that are easily updated and can be taken anywhere, anytime. Want to try yourself? Sign up for a free 30-day trial of Lectora today. The post Converting ILT to eLearning: Benefits and Tips appeared first on .

From guest writer Judy Bloxham. This week I have participated in two conferences. Open Badges in HE at Southampton University, a mere 800 mile round trip in a day. Then Virtual Worlds Best Practices in Education, a conference involving people from all over the world from my office desk. At the first I was just an […]

One of the many challenges facing employers within the Hospitality and Tourism Industry is managing the increase of staffing levels to meet the demands of seasonality. The sector has over 142,000 workers employed on seasonal, temporary or fixed term contracts. Full time students make up around 27% of bar staff and 42% of waiting staff. Often these temporary workers join for only a few months and many, increasingly, do not have English as their first language. Although the workers are temporary, compliance with food safety standards is not! The business owners should still ensure that all staff have the relevant training to meet basic compliance standards. The law states that a certain standard of food safety must be in place to protect the general public from food poisoning and other potential health and safety risks. With so many workers to monitor, keeping up-to-date with basic training requirements for health and safety, food hygiene, allergen awareness and service skills is becoming ever more challenging. For the majority of employers, customer satisfaction is their top priority for a profitable business, but maintaining their compliance status to avoid the risk of being closed down should always high on their agenda. Consequently, an on-going overhead of the business is staff training, which traditionally has incurred a significant cost. Not surprisingly, to save money and reduce the time staff are off-the-job for training, more and more businesses are turning to on-line learning to meet their training needs. This form of training is particularly effective in the Hospitality and Tourism sector for both the business owner and for the employee. There is increasing evidence to reassure employers that online learning with practical workplace activities is the most effective method of raising the competence of staff. Investing in temporary staff can also deliver benefits to the business. By offering training, particularly to students, businesses can reduce costs as they employ the same people at busy times and during key holidays such as Christmas and during the summer. Interestingly, PGL made the decision to offer training to all staff whether or not they were on a seasonal contract. The company offered a programme accredited by the Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM) so that their employees could achieve a nationally recognised qualification to help them progress in the future, whatever direction they took. As a result of this investment, the organisation has seen seasonal staff return year on year, with 95 per cent of senior positions in PGL being filled by returning seasonal staff. If we agree much of the training for seasonal workers can be delivered on online, how can a business manage their training programmes with so many workers needed to address the peaks and troughs of demand, whilst still ensuring that training is kept up to date? Knowing at any one time which staff member has completed which training module, and where any training gaps exist can still remain a real challenge. Tracking training with such a fluid workforce is more of a challenge, but by using a suitable Learning Management System (LMS) this challenge can be overcome, whilst also providing significant benefits to the business. An LMS gives managers the ability to: Enrol users, set and monitor target completion dates, then track the progress of their learners. Training, performance, and development content can all be offered from the same source. Multiple users can access the information at any given time. Tailor additional learning packages to the individuals where needed e.g. additional language or numeracy skills Issue certificates of achievement automatically Set up expiry dates to flag when compliance training needs refreshing Set automatic re-enrolment of learners to compliance courses as and when required automatically If your business relies on a high proportion of seasonal workers and you would like to find out more about the benefits of using online training hosted on an LMS system then do call Elearning Marketplace on 01488 580017 and one of our experienced team would be very happy to talk to you. Sources: http://www.people1st.co.uk/getattachment/Research-policy/Research-reports/Monthly-insights-reports/Insights-report-March-15-Seasonal-workers.pdf.aspx Insights-report-March-15-Seasonal-workers.pdf.aspx Seasonal, Hospitality and Tourism Sector http://www.food.gov.uk/sites/default/files/multimedia/pdfs/publication/starting-up-booklet.pdf

Over the past few years, both educational institutions and corporate enterprises have been given access to an increasing number of learning platforms, which are effectively self-service. This is in stark contrast to the days when IT departments were in complete control of every tech-orientated device or program an organisation utilised. As a result, end users can use advanced learning platforms with the greatest of ease and even create their own content or build their own courses. But this doesn’t mean IT departments are no longer required, as they must now act as the contact point between the learning technology provider and the learning technology user, regardless of whether its an academic- or business-based. However, this also means that new job roles are being created, which bridge the gap between technology teams and HR departments. Greater integration is required due to the fact that IT assets are joining forces with the long-established responsibilities of staff, such as creating and delivering training. To give an example, instructional designers are now on hand to blend modern tech-based skills with traditional learning and development requirements. You would think this needs to be someone with an IT background and knowledge of coding or support, but the ease in which learning platforms can be adopted and introduced enable anyone with the right skill set to be an instructional designer.  Then again, L&D professionals will still need the help of both IT teams and HR departments to identify the right solution. With this in mind, here is what to look at when exploring new learning technologies.   The challenges associated with new learning technologies Before you identify a new piece of learning technology and automatically come to the conclusion that it will improve the way you train your staff, you must consult with your IT team first, as they are best qualified to advice and instruct. Otherwise, the following problems and issues are a distinct possibility:   Choosing a learning technology that does not meet your requirements - There is no reason to suggest that a learning technology with a great deal of functionality and extensive capabilities will be the right fit for your organisation. After all, every organisation’s training requirements are different.   Choosing a learning technology that does not integrate with existing systems - Moving away from traditional training techniques towards a more modern learning approach isn’t easy, especially if you choose a platform that is completely different to your current IT infrastructure.   Choosing a learning technology that does not work properly - Although you may be able to extract some usefulness from most learning technologies, there is a chance that your choice might not be fit for purpose at all.   To steer clear of these worst case scenarios, always work hand in hand with IT departments to identify what each learning technology is capable of, how it can deliver training to employees, and whether or not your preferred choice could be integrated into daily operations with minimal fuss. This also means reaching out to technology vendors and suppliers in order to build strong working relationships built on trust. Ask how their solution has been utilised by other clients and what changes could be made to better suit your own circumstances. Seeing as training materials and course content will probably go out of date, this relationship could last for many years too, so the technology as well as the vendor needs to be a good fit.   Encouraging innovation by removing technological barriers Around a decade ago, technology was dominated by code, which if you didn’t understand you had no chance of being able to engage with. But these days, regardless of whether its a learning technology or website builder, end users can start interacting immediately without any prior knowledge of how it all works. This is great for innovation, as it encourages members of staff to take matters into their own hands and go on a voyage of personal learning discovery. But you still need to be mindful that challenges will arise by adopting recently developed learning platforms, which is why finding the right approach and removing technological barriers is crucial for fuelling employee innovation. While IT teams might not be required to set-up or support training solutions like they used to, CTOs must now alter their behaviour and develop capabilities to allow for open and immediate approaches. With so many options available, businesses can adopt a new learning technology for a month or so, decide whether it is right for the organisation, before committing to a long-term solution or looking elsewhere for an alternative. Thanks to cloud-based technology, there is no need for installing heavy software programs either. Mobile apps enable you to find out if employees are comfortable with completing training at a time and in a place that suits them, while concepts like gamification and interactive content provide instantaneous feedback about staff achievements.   What to remember when considering new learning technologies Even though adopting and implementing a new learning technology is something no organisation will take lightly, there are a few things to bear in mind that should stand you in good stead.   Establishing a strong relationship with IT - Despite the fact the latest learning technologies are not as code-heavy as they used to be, it still helps to have the expertise of an IT professional close to hand for help and advice, particularly when it comes to integration.     Having an open mind - Your choice of technology might be restricted in some ways, but it is crucial to have an open mind and not discount any potential solution. It is recommended to give precedence to systems that are modern, open, and provide a seamless experience for the learner.     Understanding your current IT infrastructure - You will encounter a great deal of technical issues in the future if your new learning technology cannot work alongside existing computer systems or other learning solutions.   Share this post with your own audience

We’re proud to announce we’ve been awarded "Top Employee Gamification Solution" at Citi’s Smarter Worklife Challenge. What is the challenge? Let’s quote from this blog from David Chubak, head of productivity at Citi: "The challenge intends to draw out creative solutions to reimagine business processes, simplify and standardize the way we manage our company, and take our execution strategy to the next level. By harnessing great ideas and leveraging cutting-edge technology, we can modernize and enrich Citi’s global corporate culture. The open innovation platform will also allow for co-creation and collaboration between our businesses and the tech community, combining execution and innovation with talented leaders across our global network to improve the way we work and live." Citi received 133 submissions from 21 countries. GamEffective was shortlisted with 19 finalists. The award announcement can be found here. Working on this project, which centered on looking at the employee engagement journey, inspired us to create this video. We’re proud to be a recipient of the award and more so to validate our core beliefs about the future of workforce engagement and learning.

Augmented Reality is changing education. What started out as something that was simply "cool" has become a way to engage learners like never before.In fact, while I was first introduced to Augmented Reality through the Aurasma App, I never imagined that while walking through a trendy neighborhood in Washington D.C. this past summer, I would come across the first public interactive augmented reality mural dedicated to the life of the actor Paul Robeson. Designed by artist Corey L. Stowers, this mural allows viewers to scan and thus trigger images of his artwork with their mobile devices, accessing historical videos and original content that depict the life of the great athlete, performer, and civil rights activist.What started out as something that was simply "cool" has become a way to engage learners like never before.It was at this moment that I realized that Augmented Reality was a way to bring a new dimension to learning. By unlocking the everyday world, one can dig deeper and engage learners in a new and interesting way.What is "Augmented Reality"?Augmented Reality (AR) content can be accessed by scanning or viewing a trigger image with a mobile device that creates a subsequent action. This action can be a video, another image, 3D Animations, Games, QR code, or whatever you want it to be. For example, take a look at this GIF below to see real AR in action.How can I start using AR in my classroom?Using the Aurasma App and Aurasma Studio, you can create your own "Auras" (or AR experiences), and use them to engage students in creative ways. For example, jazz up your school’s art show, or make math come alive through videos of students solving math problems--perhaps students can trigger an Aura by pointing their smartphone at a particular equation. You could even attach a trigger image to a Google Form to request time with the school counselor, or make a class picture image on your teacher website trigger a virtual tour of a classroom.And why exactly should I start doing this? It sounds like a lot of work.Augmented reality apps connected to content can create mind-blowing learning experiences and endless learning possibilities. These type of learning experiences really speak to the needs of visual learners. The beauty of Augmented Reality is that the learning experiences can be as easy or as complex as you want. You can create your own, or download the numerous already-made apps connected to various content. But what’s even more enticing is that students can easily create these experiences on their own in a matter of minutes.What are the best AR apps and resources out there?The options for using AR are endless, and so here a few awesome Augmented Reality apps and resources being used in classrooms to provide engaging content and interactions for students:Popar Toys: This catalog of AR resources changes the way children read books, look at posters, or complete puzzles. (Basically, everything is an animated picture!) Enjoy their interactive books on Planets, Bugs, Dinosaurs, Safari, and Sea Life, or perhaps the interactive charts on Human Anatomy, Periodic Tables, World Maps, The Solar System and US Presidents.Daqri: One of the leading augmented reality developers, Daqri is the creator of Daqri Studio--a truly creative tool for designing your own Augmented Reality projects. Science teachers, check out Anatomy 4D (which allows you to view 3-D images of the human body, and heart) and Elements 4D (which enhances a chemistry classroom by bringing the periodic table to life).Quiver (formerly Colar) App: Quiver has different coloring pages from every subject area. When partnered with the app, the coloring pages come to life and have animated actions. For instance, students can create their own flag, and tie it to science and weather by controlling the wind. Or, check out a world map that shows day and night views of the world when activated with the app.Chromville: Chromville’s science-based coloring pages ignite creativity in children through art, technology, and the eight multiple intelligences. The Chromville Visual App uses its characters to promote storytelling and features a classroom component that has coloring pages explaining the likes of the human body and parts of plant.Fetch Lunch Rush: This fun PBS kids game app uses printable cards as augmented reality game pieces. In the game, kids help Ruff the Dog feed sushi to a movie crew by solving the math problems. Each game piece is a trigger image that comes to life when scanned.STAR Augmented Reality Worksheets: With these interactive materials, the worksheet comes alive and transposes 3-dimensional models and video resources to reinforce content.AugThat: Developed by a former teacher, AugThat creates augmented reality content for classrooms, specifically targeting students that fall through the cracks and aren’t engaged. They create animated lessons in a variety of formats, including 360-degree virtual environments and 3-dimensional experiences.Two Guys and Some iPads: These sought-after keynote speakers and Augmented Reality gurus share various ways to incorporate Augmented Reality into the classroom and give practical examples of simple ways that teachers around the world are using AR.Do you want to allow students to interact with 3D models? Break down the walls of the classroom? Experiment with an AR app--and see the magic happen.Augmented Reality is an example of a technology that can make classroom learning more transformational and engaging. What in the past had seemed like fantasy is now a part of our reality. There are practical examples for Augmented Reality being used in classrooms around the world, as the ability to overlay digital content and information onto the real world--using triggers like images and locations--opens up a whole new world of learning opportunities.Do you want to allow students to interact with 3D models? Bring learning to life? Break down the walls of the classroom? Experiment with an AR app--and see the magic happen.What other ideas do you have about incorporating Augmented Reality in your classroom?

The STEM lesson for 2nd grade incorporated using Ozobot Robots to teach States of Matter & Mapping Skills.I first learned about Ozobots this past summer. I caught the Amazon Prime sale and purchased two for my kids as toys. Little did I know the impact it could have in the classroom!2nd grade students had just completed their unit on States of Matter, and I was looking for a way to incorporate my new ozobots I won for my school, and I came across this great blog post by Kim Mattina in which she used Ozobots with middle schoolers to program the States of Matter. I modified the lesson to address curriculum objectives for 2nd grade, and then along the way,  I found a way to connect it to their mapping unit too. Curriculum Connections: States of Matter, and Mapping SkillsScience:Explain that matter is anything that has mass, takes up space and is composed of smaller parts.Compare the observable physical properties of solids, liquids, or gases.Identify everyday objects/substances as solid, liquid, or gas.Observe and describe ways water, both as a solid and liquid, is used in everyday activities at different times of the year (ex: bathe, drink, make ice cubes, build snowmen, cook, swim.)Social Studies:Locate and name the key, compass rose, and title on different maps.Identify primary directions (ie., north, east, south, west)Draw and use maps of school or neighborhood with map key.Math: CCSS.MATH.PRACTICE.MP1 Make sense of problems and persevere in solving them.CCSS.MATH.PRACTICE.MP5 Use appropriate tools strategically.CCSS.MATH.PRACTICE.MP7 Look for and make use of structure.ISTE STANDARDS: Creativity & Innovation, Communication and Collaboration, Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, and Decision Making.Objectives: Integrate Ozobot, coding, and the states of matter.  Use coding to make connections to what they were learning in class, the states of matter, which is about the movement of molecules to form a liquid, solid and gas. Students will construct a map that has a map of the school that has a key, compass rose, and titleStudents will use ozobot to guide the class through their map explaining the major places along the way.Topics: Robotics: line-following robots and color sensingStudents were placed in groups, and each person had a role.Students learned about Ozobots and how they work.Ozobot is a miniature robot, the smallest of its kind, and there are a lot of things it can do including:Drive on lines & follow special color codesYou can draw a line, place the Ozobot on it, and it will follow the line. The Ozobot recognizes blue, red, black, and green marker.There is a specific way you have to draw the lines.The Ozobot recognizes code. Drawing color codes.Color codes are color sequences made of two, three or four color dots in a row located directly on a path. Ozobot’s sensors are designed to read code about 150 times per second to detect red, green, blue, black and white areas and react accordingly.Calibrate Your OzobotWhat does this mean? Ozobot’s "eyes" (the sensors) are very sensitive to the surrounding light. So much so that, if the paper changes or if you go closer to the window, it affects how Ozobot sees what’s underneath. To let Ozobot know what its surroundings are, you need to calibrate: Turn on the ozobot, place the ozobot on the black dot, and wait for it to turn green.Challenge 1: Coding with OzobotsUse your Ozobot reference chart, and your Coded Practice Sheet.Mini challenge: In any of the slots, mark (blue, black, blue) and (red, black, red) and (blue, green, blue). What happens?Place Ozobot on the line and see how the Ozobot understands the colors. Match up the code wit the reference sheet. Write the correct code on the sheet.Challenge 2: States of Matter Each group was given chart/butcher paper, a challenge card, markers, and an ozobot.Each group was given a copy of the story, and were to fill-in the proper ozobot codes for the correct state of matter. After completing the rectangle code blocks, then they tested their ozobot with the proper codes.Challenge 3: Mapping Skills Each group was given a challenge card. They had to create a map of our school, then program Mr. Oz to go to difference places based on what was on their challenge card.See them in action!