Reading Time: 3 minutesThe challenge that exists is that we live in a digitally connected world and there is significant pressure on UK HEI's to engage in the development of digitally prepared graduates as part of the broader UK Digital Strategy. Personally, I think it is right that Universities step up to the challenge of equipping our staff & students to be confident, capable and critical users of digital tools and services in their personal, professional and leisure activities. However, this has to be carefully managed and should be a process of what I call "digital by design", rather than "digital by default".

Excel 2016 was released a few months ago and considering how much we love Excel we thought it only right to give you the lowdown on our favourite new features in Microsoft's latest version of the popular spread sheeting programme. 

We’ve traditionally been big believers in the power, ubiquity and flexibility of web-based apps here at Epignosis HQ, and we have built our products, including the industry leading TalentLMS eLearning management platform with web technologies. Then again, we’re also heavy mobile users (isn’t everybody?) and understand the huge flexibility and power that eLearning on the go can offer — which is why we designed and implemented the TalentLMS eLearning portal as a mobile-friendly, responsive website that is equally at home on your laptop or your smartphone. At the same time, our team worked hard behind the scenes, developing a native mobile TalentLMS experience, which we’re quite proud to announce is finally available on the iTunes Store. If you have an iOS device, then go ahead and download it now. We’ll be waiting right here. Introducing TalentLMS mobile Yeah, it shares the same name with the web version. It also shares several other things — like our focus on intuitive and easy to use UI, and all the concepts (learners, instructors, classes, branches, groups, etc.) that you’re already familiar with from its big brother. User accounts are shared too — you can login to the mobile app with the same username and password that you use for the web application. But, just like your smartphone is not a miniaturized laptop, TalentLMS mobile does not try to be everything the web app is. Rather it aims to be its perfect companion for delivering offline learning, micro-learning and micro-certifications. The ability to continue learning while not connected to the internet, or as we industry pundits call it "offline learning", is the flagship feature of the mobile app. You can now download any number of courses and go on with your training while on the subway, on a plane, or a cabin in the woods. What’s best, your progress will automagically get synchronized with the server when you go back online. The second most important feature of the TalentLMS mobile app (and perhaps the first that you’ll notice), is that the user interface has been redesigned to let eLearning content really shine on a small smartphone screen. The new minimal and distraction free design makes the mobile app a nice fit for micro-learning and micro-certifications. The web app has also gained some new features to help you manage your new-found mobile abilities. Depending on the content types and features used, for example, each TalentLMS unit (think "lesson") is now automatically marked as mobile and/or offline compatible. More specifically, HTML, video, audio, presentations, documents and assessments are mobile compatible (meaning that they can be shown on your iOS device), while SCORM or TinCan content, Surveys, ILT, and Flash are not. As for offline compatible content, the requirement is that it should be not just mobile compatible but also downloadable (so, e.g., video files that you’ve uploaded to TalentLMS yourself are offline compatible, while linked YouTube content is not). Of course, TalentLMS makes it easy to re-use content and create alternative mobile and offline friendly versions of any incompatible course. All the major eLearning related features that you depend upon in the web-based TalentLMS (like assessments, gamification options, content traversal, unit completion and course rules, branches, profile management etc.) are still available on the mobile app. And with handy access to your web-based account from within the app, you can even get some administrative work done in a pinch. Of course this is just the beginning — we have some exciting future plans for the mobile space that we will be sharing with you in due time. For the moment, just install our new TalentLMS app (did we mention it is a free download?) and tell us what you think in the comment section below. The post TalentLMS Goes Mobile (and offline) With Our New & Free, iOS App appeared first on TalentLMS Blog.

Social media is an integral part of our lives. Each and every day we log on to Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and other social networks to catch up on the latest news and reach out to friends and family. Social media platforms can also be an invaluable tool in eLearning course design. In recent years social media sites have steadily risen in popularity. Businesses now integrate them into their marketing strategies, and the analytical data they provide allows us to identify trends and statistics in virtually every industry. Social media platforms can also be utilized in eLearning, especially if you are looking for a way to offer more collaborative eLearning opportunities within your eLearning course. The caveat, however, is that you must know how to use them effectively in order to receive all the benefits they provide. Here are some useful tips for each of the 5 top social media platforms. 1. Tips for using Facebook in eLearning Create polls and surveys that give you the opportunity to improve your eLearning course and allow online learners to share their honest opinions. Using Facebook for eLearning can make them feel like their ideas matter and that their voices are being heard. Incorporate social learning into your online training experiences by creating Facebook groups that center on different topics or niches. You can even develop a different group for every online training course or ask corporate learners to create their own groups to work on projects remotely. Share articles and eLearning videos that serve as supplemental eLearning resources for your audience. You can also encourage them to share links of their own. Just make sure that you set some netiquette rules for online discussions so that the conversation doesn’t stray away from the topic. 2. Tips for using Twitter in eLearning Twitter is character-limited, as you only get 140 characters per post. Therefore, you have to make every word count. Try to share links to noteworthy news articles instead of including the main points. This allows online learners to get the information they need by exploring the subject matter on their own. Start a hashtag discussion during your webinars and online training events. Simply create a unique hashtag for your corporate learners to follow and encourage them to start up an online discussion over on Twitter. This adds a more social and collaborative aspect to your online training course. Ask online learners to add you to their Twitter Lists so that they receive your eLearning content as soon as possible, instead of getting lost in the online shuffle. Twitter Lists gives online learners the opportunity to only view eLearning content from Twitter profiles they’ve selected. For example, they can create an "online training" list or an "educational technology" list that includes your Twitter profile. 3. Tips for using LinkedIn in eLearning Start your own LinkedIn group that allows online learners to share their insights and get feedback from their peers. You can also offer tips, article links, and other eLearning resources to those who belong to the LinkedIn group. Encourage online learners to reach out to professionals in their niche to conduct interviews or pursue potential mentoring opportunities. If online learners aren’t familiar with the LinkedIn platform, offer them a brief tutorial or walkthrough that introduces them to LinkedIn and all of its key features. Build the buzz about your eLearning course by creating a LinkedIn page and inviting potential online learners to ask questions and preview certain aspects of your eLearning course. 4. Tips for using Google+ in eLearning Google+ offers a wide range of applications and eLearning tools that are absolutely free. Use Google Groups to create specific social learning online communities that share exclusive eLearning content, tips, and other information related to the subject matter. Keep your online learners up-to-date with the help of Google Events, which allows you to add events to your shared calendar, upload media, and invite online learners to events that may be of interest to them. Google Hangouts is the ultimate social learning tool, as it gives you the power to host webinars, interactive online discussions, and one-on-one help to online learners who may be struggling. You can also encourage online learners to use this tool during group projects to boost productivity and online collaboration. Google Forms is a free survey and quiz tool that enables you to create feedback and online assessment tools for your eLearning course. You simply add your own information or questions, then share them with members of your audience. You can even determine which individuals or online communities will receive the form. 5. Tips for using YouTube in eLearning YouTube is the most popular video sharing site on the web today. This makes it the ideal place to upload eLearning videos and spread the word about your eLearning course. You can appeal to a wider eLearning audience by creating brief informational eLearning videos that offer tips or highlight the benefits of your eLearning course. Ask online learners to create their own eLearning videos that center on the subject matter and upload them on YouTube. Their peers can leave constructive feedback and expand their own understanding of the topic. Create an eLearning resource page that highlights all of the YouTube videos that online learners may find useful. This offers them the chance to explore the subject matter on their own and delve into sub-topics that aren’t covered in the eLearning course. Some Learning Management Systems even feature YouTube support, which gives you the option to embed the YouTube videos directly into your eLearning course. These platform-specific tips can help you create an effective social learning strategy. Each of these social media platforms can give you the tools and resources you need to make your next course an effective social learning experience. Best of all, all of them are free of charge. Also, don’t forget to add social media links and buttons to your eLearning course and website so that online learners know where to find you. Social media platforms may lack the face-to-face element, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t follow the rules of social etiquette. Read the article 12 Golden Social Media Rules For eLearning Professionals to be sure that your social media presence is not only effective, but genuinely outstanding. The post Integrating The Top 5 Social Media Platforms Into Your eLearning Course appeared first on TalentLMS Blog.

Draw a 3 X 3 matrix of dots on a piece of paper. Using four straight lines and not lifting your pencil, connect all nine dots. Here's a hint: think outside the box. Notice as you try to 'check it off quickly' which is strongly our current culture. Notice as you get frustrated either trying to remember how to do it from the past or trying to figure it out. Ask other people to help. Practice going outside of yourself and sharing with others. Practice humility. Don't let Resistance talk you out of finishing this project.And if you need reinforcement the solution is here.You have all the capacity you need to lead in the real crazy world of leadership. Give yourself permission to see the way things are and provoke the way things could be.

As eLearning has evolved, in recent years there’s been a move toward microlearning. Organizations are embracing shorter and more abbreviated learning, in a move toward greater efficiency. Not only are shorter eLearning courses less time consuming, but what organizations are finding is that they’re also more effective.' Today’s learner has less time and a shorter attention span, making it unrealistic to assume employees can sit for an hour or more to complete an eLearning course without interruption. This is what’s driving the shift toward just-in-time, bite-sized learning. The thought is that it’s better to engage a learner for 10 minutes of truly productive learning time where information is absorbed and retained, as opposed to presenting them with an hour-long course that has no impact. Read: E-Learning study: Short bursts and rapid assessments boost learning 

Studies show that interactivity adds a level of engagement and interest in a course. There are four engagement levels that you should know: passive, limited, moderate, and simulation. These levels are based on game and multimedia design and can help guide the overall development of a course. 1. Passive Passive interactivity refers to the general actions that need to take place for a course to function correctly. This includes navigation, page animation, object animation, and a combination of true or false and multiple choice questions. 2. Limited Limited interactivity includes the actions listed in the passive level, along with some additional features. These features give learners more control over their course experience. Examples of limited interaction include the addition of clickable graphics, audio, video, basic activities such as drag and drops, and modifications to navigation like a drop down menu or links to external resources. 3. Moderate Moderate interactivity comprises both passive and limited interactivity with an additional level. This level gives learners the feeling of a more complex course and gives developers the chance to customize the experience with advanced programming. Moderate interactivity can include animated videos, customized audio, intermediate level simulations, scenario-based examples, and Flash-style animation. 4. Simulation The final engagement level is a full simulation or game-based interaction. This is where you combine elements of passive, limited, and moderate, along with some new types of interactions. At this level the learner experiences the highest level of engagement. This level usually includes gamification, advanced or 3D simulations, a variety of multimedia, and a guide or avatar. We hope you enjoyed this excerpt from our latest eBook, eLearning 101: A Practical Guide. Want to learn more about how to successfully develop an eLearning course? Get your FREE eBook download today. The post 4 Interactivity Levels for Game and Multimedia eLearning Design appeared first on .

Tash Corbin is a business coach and mentor for heart-centred, soul-driven entrepreneurs. She is a lean start-up specialist and helps women to create passive and leveraged income. Her Facebook community, Heart-Centred Soul-Driven Entrepreneurs is now 10,000 members strong, and growing rapidly. There’s something magical about the idea of creating an online course, setting it up, and escaping to the beach to sip cocktails. Yes, many coaches and teachers of passive income strategies out there will sell you this lifestyle and tell you that it can be yours. In reality, though, what would that actually FEEL like? Did you create your business so that you could set it up and check out? Really? For most service-based businesses, passive and leveraged income-generating products are a gorgeous idea, but there are a lot of emotional and mindset issues that can arise when stepping into this realm. Firstly, there’s this misguided belief that passive income is the best type of income. Sure, you get to make money in your sleep and you get to go to the beach. I get it, you don’t have to sell it to me. But what if you ACTUALLY care about the people who are purchasing your program? What if heaven forbid, you didn’t WANT to go off to the beach, but instead you would prefer to stick around, hold some hands, answer some questions, and genuinely SUPPORT your clients through the program? Does that make you a bad businessperson? Does that mean you’re only leveraging, and you’re not creating true passive income, so you’ve FAILED? NOT AT ALL. I’m here to tell you: Leveraged is the new black. Besides, passive income is soooo 2014. Gorgeous, heart-centred entrepreneurs are out there creating BRILLIANT leveraged programs, and staying CONNECTED to their tribe - and people are LOVING them for it. In a world where your potential clients have ALREADY signed up for dozens of online programs, never to complete them, another self-study program is white noise. In a world where people are SICK of being pushed through automated funnels, lead generators and basically forced to jump through hoops in order to find out how much money you want, and how to pay it to you, online buyers are pushing back. Saying no. Choosing to wait until they can work with someone one-on-one or in a high-touch group program that involves LOTS of face time. For connected service providers, this is GREAT news. Using gorgeous online tools and platforms, combined with face-to-face group calls, these high-touch small-group courses are brimming with possibility, and buyers are lining up to invest higher sums of money in order to be part of them. Personally, I don’t even think it’s in my DNA to create truly passive income. My first ever real passive income product was a yearly planner for entrepreneurs and was just $19.98. The first time I launched it, I sold 170 copies, which was absolutely gorgeous. I then proceeded to start emailing and messaging the people who had bought it to make sure they were filling it in, to find out if they found it helpful, to provide suggestions on how to keep it alive throughout the year. It was by no means a passive income product. In fact, I probably spent over 10 hours CHASING the people who bought it to find out what they thought and help them use it! Fast forward one year and I released my Heart and Soul planner again in late 2015. This time, it included two live group workshops: One where I walked everyone through the planner page by page, answering questions and providing suggestions, and a second workshop where I helped people to develop their own implementation strategy to ensure the planner didn’t become just another dust-collector. By turning my passive product into a leveraged one, I discovered several benefits for both buyer and seller alike: I felt more CONNECTED to the people who purchased, and was able to ensure people were getting great value - felt good for me, and good for them. I created a TRIBE - we were all on the live call together, and people were connecting with each other, cheering each other on and providing ideas and suggestions. There was no divide and conquer - instead the focus was to unite and connect. People were able to KNOW me - and therefore, my KLT (know, like, trust) factor skyrocketed. The CONVERSION into higher products was phenomenal - out of the 256 women who purchased this time, around, three are now VIP clients, 14 joined one of my signature programs, and at least 20 have joined my business academy, in just six weeks. The conversion will continue to happen throughout the year I am sure. I am energized and lit up - I didn’t create this business so that I could check out and go to the beach. Yes, it’s a lifestyle business and I live an amazing life as a mobile entrepreneur. But what gets me bouncing out of bed each morning is not the money that might be in my bank account - it’s the PEOPLE THAT I SERVE. And I get to hang out with them each and every day. I wouldn’t change that FOR THE WORLD. So the next time you’re planning and scheming your next program, course or product, give a thought to creating something that is more connected, and less passive. Sure, you might have to show up to work a bit more consistently. But you never know, you might just find that you like it. The post Passive is Passé: Why Creating Online Courses Requires Active Involvement appeared first on Thinkific.

Building an email list is the key to a successful online course launch. Your email list is a group of people who already trust you and want to learn more from you. If they’re religiously opening your emails and consuming your free content, then they’re definitely willing to pay for premium courses. Today we are going to be talking about a growth tooltip that’s going to allow you to quickly and easily build your email list. Watch the video to find out more.   With SumoMe, you can install a great set of email tools for free on your Thinkific site. Here are a few things that come with it. Social Shares You see those sharing icons to the left of this post? That’s the SumoMe plugin. You can connect your social network accounts and with a click, visitors can share your page. The plugin also counts the total number of shares and displays them as social proof. Welcome Mat A welcome mat is something that slides down from the top of the page, taking over the page when people first arrive and offering them something, like a lead magnet, in return for their e-mail address. The reason this works is it takes away all distractions and shows the visitor only one thing - your lead magnet. If they don’t want it, they can close it and continue looking through your site, but because it takes up the whole screen it immediately captures their attention. For maximum benefit, try to make your Welcome Mat as appealing as possible.   Pop-Ups Another great tool that we use is the exit intent pop-up. If you try leaving our site, you’ll see this in action. The movement of your mouse towards the top of the browser triggers this pop-up and shows you another offer again in exchange for your email address. This is kind of like a last-ditch effort to grab that e-mail from your visitors. Again, the nature of the pop-up is such that it grabs the visitors’ attention, so try to make yours as interesting as possible. Here’s what ours looks like. Scroll Box Finally, there’s the scroll box plugin in SumoMe, and this is a box that slides up from the corner of your window as you scroll down the page. Since your visitor is already interacting with your site, this box targets them when they’re most engaged and can help bring in a lot of email subscriptions. Build Your List Head over to SumoMe and create your free account. Then, grab the installation code and you can paste it into your site footer code, which in Thinkific is in the advanced settings. When that’s done, start setting up your social shares and email collection tools. The post Teach Online TV #07: Build Email Lists With SumoMe appeared first on Thinkific.

Hello NCCE 2016 attendees!  Here are my slides for my Thursday, 1pm presentation, "You’re So Distracted… You Probably (Don’t) Think This Presentation is About You!" You’re So Distracted… You Probably (Don’t) Think This Presentation is About You from Jason Neiffer I hope to see you there! The post Presentation Slides: "You’re So Distracted… You Probably (Don’t) Think This Presentation is About You" appeared first on NCCE's Tech Savvy Teacher Blog.