Adobe Captivate 8 Tutorial: Smart Shape Enhancements in Adobe Captivate 8 This Adobe Captivate 8 tutorial presents how to customize the shapes and convert them into buttons and choose different styles to indicate the up, hover, and down states in Adobe Captivate 8. The post Adobe Captivate 8 Tutorial: Smart Shape Enhancements in Adobe Captivate 8 appeared first on VivaeLearning: The Best Free Video Tutorials Online.

Here it is: Tuesday again—which means it’s time for the next installment of "Tech It Up Tuesday", a series devoted to sharing an edtech tool, app, site or other resource that can be utilized in the classroom setting. This week’s tech-isode takes us back in the day to an oldie but goody: Jeopardy Labs, a free online service that allows users to create customized jeopardy game boards without the use of PowerPoint. Once completed, your game is assigned a unique URL—one that can be posted on a blog, wiki or web site so it can be accessed by anyone with the link. So, here’s how it rolls: There are no fees and registration associated with utilizing Jeopardy Labs nor is an account required; however, in order to be able to edit a template at a later date, the tool does necessitate the creation of a password. After one is entered via the Quick Build mode, you’re ready to roll. It’s just that simple! Just so you know: All jeopardy templates submitted become available on the public domain (i.e. can be found on Google) unless you’re a Jeopardy Labs member. Choosing this option does require an account as well as a $20 fee which includes a lifetime membership of access to pimped out templates, privacy controls and a public list of all templates generated. Not interested in building your own jeopardy templates? Well, that’s cool too. You can also browse the site for additional jeopardy templates created by other contributors. It doesn’t get any better than that! Classroom Connection: Students generally find studying to be more enjoyable—OK, tolerable—when they can do it via an interactive game format. That said, Jeopardy Labs provides a way for teachers to create review games that students can play independently or in a whole class setting. Also, as summer vacation is rapidly approaching, this cool tool would be a great resource to use for a final exam review. Or just incorporate it as a fun learning activity to wrap things up for the year.

The user-friendliness of a software application can be measured by the number of steps needed to perform an activity. This is particularly true for learning management systems (LMSs) as they are used by several users and administrators. An LMS can be considered complicated if the user needs to perform 2 steps to go to the required page or do any LMS activity. We can customize the user side by creating shortcuts on the dashboard. But, what about the administrators’ activities? Let’s take an example of uploading eLearning course on the LMS. To upload a course, certain steps need to be performed by the administrator. As it is an administrative activity, most of the steps are mandatory. One way to simplify the process is to change all the default values in the course creation forms based on common requirements. Still, administrators need to go through the all the steps by clicking the Next/continue buttons in order to complete the uploading process. Moodle is rated high in user and administrator intuitiveness, according to an eLearning Guild report. One of the reasons could be its unique "DRAG and DROP" feature. At CommLab India, we have customized Moodle to use it as our customer portal. E-learning developed for our customers hosted on LMS and shares it for their review. Earlier, we had an older version of Moodle which did not have drag and drop features. Project managers, who uploaded courses, felt that the activity was very complex and time consuming. Recently, we started using the latest version of Moodle, and the project managers felt that it was "80% simpler" when compared to the older version. If you want to upload training material in PDF, PPT, DOC, .Zip, audio, video, image formats eLearning courses (SCORM/AICC compliant) or documents in other formats, on the LMS, you need to just drag and drop the files. The LMS automatically detects the format of document uploaded and configures all the default settings. If you wish to update any settings, you can do so. Otherwise, you can release it to users. It will show the uploading status bar, while the documents are getting uploaded. The drag and drop feature can be used not only to add training material to the LMS, but also to upload other files. For example, you can upload a CSV file containing bulk user accounts. If you want a demo of this feature, please let me know, and I can arrange for the same. Related Posts10 Proven Tips for Efficient LMS Administration - An InfographicLMS Features for Effective Administration 5 Things In LMS Administration You Should Avoid and Why?

Adobe Captivate 8 Tutorial: Natively Import Web Objects in Adobe Captivate 8 This Adobe Captivate 8 tutorial presents how to embed web pages in Adobe Captivate 8 using the native web functionality in Adobe Captivate 8. The post Adobe Captivate 8 Tutorial: Natively Import Web Objects in Adobe Captivate 8 appeared first on VivaeLearning: The Best Free Video Tutorials Online.

Even though there is always a mind-boggling amount of invaluable info shared on the Discovery Educator Network (DEN), one of the best resources available is the Spotlight on Strategies (S.O.S) series, a must-see DEN favorite designed to provide teachers with simple yet effective instructional practices for using digital content to support student learning. To date, there are 70+ teacher tried and tested strategies featured on the DEN blog and now thanks to Lance Rougeux, Vice President of Learning Communities and Educational Consultants at Discovery Education and all-around DEN tech guru, I will now be featuring these techniques on my space. Two thumbs up to this guy! So, enough of that. Let’s fast forward to the really good stuff… This week’s feature—Get Venn-y with It—is an instructional strategy that improves comprehension skills. Big Idea According to Robert J. Marzano, one high-yield instructional strategy is to helpstudents identify similarities and differences. And Harvey Silver states, in his book Compare and Contrast, that this strategy "strengthens students’ memories by focusing their thinking on analyzing pairs of ideas, enhances their ability to remember key content and improves comprehension by highlighting important details." By using digital resources, educators are able to level the playing field for students who may not have had real life experiences on which to base their reasoning. Now that I have your attention, all you have to do is click here to snag a PDF version of this super cool strategy which includes info related to materials needed, steps for integrating the Get Venn-y with It strategy into lessons, an example and extension activities. Better yet—click here to check out the entire S.O.S. series on the DEN blog! So, there you have it: Another S.O.S. trick to add to your edtech toolbox. Stay tuned for additional ways to activate learning in your classroom… Like what you see? Then take the digital integration challenge by trying to implement the Get Venn-y with It concept and/or one of these additional ideas into a classroom lesson: » Reading Between the Lines » ABC Summary » 6-Word Stories » What Did They Say? » A-E-I-O-U » Snowball Fight » Whittle It Down » Concept Circles » The Envelope Please

Creating functionality for eLearning courses involved writing lengthy action scripts. This was a Herculean task, for learning experts, who had little programming knowledge. But, today, thanks to Articulate Storyline, learning professionals can easily create complex functionality for online courses easily. Wondering which feature of the tool made such a complex task so easy? It’s the Trigger. You can find the triggers panel on the right hand side in Storyline’s interface. It has buttons at the bottom to create, edit, copy, paste, and move the triggers. Click the first button, Create a New Trigger, for a Trigger Wizard to appear. This enables us to create triggers with the help of its built-in actions. These triggers can be described as shortened and simplified versions of complex and lengthy action scripts. The screenshot below shows how a Trigger Wizard looks. For easy understanding of the working and execution of triggers, it is important to understand various types of triggers and the differences between them. There are four types of triggers- Slide triggers, Player triggers, Object triggers, and Layer triggers. 1. Slide triggers  These are the triggers which are generally dependent on the timeline of the slide to execute an action. For example, the trigger executes an action when the timeline starts or ends. In Storyline 2 the trigger can also execute when the timeline reaches a certain point. These triggers are also executed when the user presses a key, when the state of an object changes, and when a particular variable changes. They are listed at the top in the triggers panel, under the Slide Triggers label.  2. Player triggers These triggers are dependent on the built-in navigation buttons to execute an action. So, they are applied to the Next, Previous, and Submit buttons. They are listed at the bottom in the triggers panel, under the Player Triggers label. 3. Object triggers These are the triggers which are dependent on the objects on the slide to execute an action. So, they are applied to shapes, images or pictures. They are executed when the user clicks or hovers the mouse on the triggered object. They are listed in between the Slide Triggers and Player Triggers in the triggers panel, under the Object Triggers label. They are furthered classified by the objects they are triggered to and appear under a label of the object’s name. 4. Layer triggers These triggers are similar to slide triggers; the only difference is that they are dependent on the timeline of the layer to execute an action. They are listed at the top in the triggers panel of the layer, under the Layer Triggers label. You can use an unlimited number of triggers. But, it is advisable to use as few triggers as possible; the more triggers you use, the heavier your file. Hope this blog is helpful. Please share your thoughts. For more tips on eLearning design and development, stay tuned to my blogs. Related PostsRapid E-learning through Storyline Tool: 5 Infographics Sharing Key Features4 Tips for Developing E-learning Course Using Rapid Authoring ToolsHow to Combine Your Adobe Captivate Projects Into Single Course?

Adobe Captivate 8 Tutorial: Creating Responsive Projects with Adobe Captivate 8 This Adobe Captivate 8 tutorial presents how to create a responsive eLearning course using Adobe Captivate 8. The post Adobe Captivate 8 Tutorial: Creating Responsive Projects with Adobe Captivate 8 appeared first on VivaeLearning: The Best Free Video Tutorials Online.

Do you want to make your eLearning courses visually rich? What are the mistakes we do when it comes to making a course visually rich? Visual designing is not as easy as people think it is, and it’s well known that the most important factor that makes your eLearning course well-received by your target audiences is the visual appearance of course. You cannot judge a book by its cover, but the harsh reality is we do so - looks do matter. As an instructional designer, it is very essential to make the content look visually rich by following the style guide and maintaining clear fonts, using proper colors and appropriate images and ensuring consistency in the placement of images throughout the course. Good, attractive visual designing keeps learners engaged and helps them retain information longer. In this blog, I would like to list some of the common mistakes that we make when it comes to making the course visually rich and how to fix them. Mistake #1: No "balance" between text and images Dumping too much content on the screen will only make your course look clustered and makes the learner confused and overwhelmed. In an eLearning course, the content should be well structured and organized, so that your learner can remember the key points, and we use images to educate not to decorate the screen. As an instructional designer, we need to always ensure that there is a balance between text and images. This not only makes the screen look visually pleasing but also helps the learner to understand the content easily. Using too much of text or too many images does not help retain knowledge. For example, here is a screenshot showing the balance between text and image. Mistake #2: Low-quality images Images are used to explain the content in a simple and effective way, and they create an impact on the learner’s mind, very quickly. You won’t "wow" your learners if low-quality images are used. Moreover, these images might divert the attention of the learners. We need to make sure that we use sharp, clear images and avoid blurred images. Mistake #3: Not using clear fonts Different organizations have different font preferences, and the right font and size need to be used to ensure clarity. Use big and simple fonts because fancy fonts might make the course look more polished but it becomes difficult for your learners to understand. For example, which of these fonts would you prefer? Option 1: Option2: I’m sure that the second option is more appealing to you because it is easy to read. We should use commonly available fonts like Arial, Verdana, Times New Roman etc. because these fonts are available by default in all systems. Mistake #4: Incorrect placement of images Images should be placed in such a way that they grab the attention of the learner. You should not use images just for the sake of using them. Placement of images should serve the purpose of education, not decoration. As an instructional designer, we should never place the image at the bottom right corner because it goes unnoticed, and always place the content and the image in correlation. This makes it easy to compare and analyze. For example, here is a screenshot showing how to place images properly while designing an eLearning course. Mistake #5: Overuse of colors In eLearning, colors are one of the powerful design elements and help convey key points of the course as they improve learners’ focus and also draw their attention to learning. It is advisable NOT to use too many colors as all colors do not help in effective learning. It is better to follow a color theme and remain consistent throughout the course. For example, in the below screenshot we have used two colors - we represented Do’s in green color (this color can be used to state positives, such as dos/ advantages) and Don’ts in red color (this color is ideal to show the negative aspects, such as disadvantages/ limitations/ don’ts of something). Mistake #6: Using the "wrong" type of images Some topics can be presented well with the help of icons instead of real images, while others can be explained using silhouettes or "zoo zoos". For example, if the topic is about hazards, we can use icons in place of images. These symbols are self-explanatory. They are widely-used, and most of us understand what they mean even with the most cursory glance. Don’t use icons just for the sake of using them, and use them only if they are appropriate. Use them carefully to ensure effective learning and the ‘wow’ factor. Using icons makes eLearning courses visually rich, appealing, and iconic. Mistake #7: Not using appealing and attractive GUI Good GUI design is an important part of eLearning, and it helps learners to navigate through the course easily. It’s important that it should be clear, concise, familiar, and consistent. The buttons should be consistent, and we should use icons or text. We may use cool colors, images in the banner, and we can give a shape to the buttons which are visually rich. For example, we have designed a GUI of a new-hire orientation course, for a company which operates off-shore rigs. To make it appealing and attractive, we have incorporated the theme of water and sea. To make it visually rich, we used the image of the sea in the background and water droplets for ‘Next’, ‘Previous’, ‘Play’, and ‘Audio’ buttons. This adds to the visual element and helps the learner connect with the course content. These are some of the common mistakes that I have listed out of my experience. Please do share your views. Related PostsHow to Create Infographics for an Effective E-Learning Course?4 Effective Ways of Presenting Scenarios in E-learning Courses7 Tips to Design Better E-learning Courses

The Action Mapping Benefits In eLearning As eLearning professionals, no matter how hard we try, there are just some eLearning projects that aren't as productive or streamlined as we may have hoped they would be. For one reason or another they become disorganized and chaotic, which leads to missed deadlines, miscommunications, and unmet client expectations. However, there is a technique that can help you to turn even the most challenging eLearning projects into efficient and effective professional experiences. In this article, I'll share the 7 top benefits of using action mapping in eLearning. It sets measurable goals. First and foremost, emplying action mapping in eLearning gives eLearning professionals the opportunity to create goals and objectives that can easily be tracked and measured. If a behavior needs to be changed, there is a measurement method in place that can track it and see if the online training is actually effective, or whether the current eLearning strategy employed needs to be modified in some way. Best of all, the goals created through action mapping in eLearning are very specific, which makes it easier to measure progress and determine whether the eLearning course is hitting its mark. For example, rather than monitoring if an online training course is helping employees to carry out better customer service, thanks to action mapping, an organization is able to see if a specific goal has been achieved, such as a 15% increase in the customer satisfaction rating of the company in the first quarter. It provides learners with a personalized and effective eLearning experience. Action mapping in eLearning is a thorough process that involves a great deal of communication and feedback. eLearning professionals are given the rare opportunity to find out exactly what a client wants or a learner needs before they even begin developing the eLearning course. Rather than trying to guess what goals or objectives need to be met, they have a clear idea of what learners need to achieve, instead of merely what information needs to be acquired. As a result, the eLearning courses that are developed using action mapping in eLearning are more enlightening, engaging, and effective, because eLearning professionals already have a firm grasp of what their audience needs to take away from the eLearning experience. Instead of including an abundance of information that is unnecessary, you can create an eLearning course that is custom tailored to achieve a specific goal. It stresses real world benefits. The learning materials and activities you develop by employing action mapping in eLearning are all about real world benefits and applications. They immerse your employees in a real world situation or challenge that must be overcome through critical thinking and problem solving. In essence, you give them the opportunity to immerse themselves in a real business problem, so that they can learn which key pieces of information must be acquired for later use. They are immediately able to see the real world benefits of the subject matter, which motivates and inspires them to become active participants. It reduces cognitive overload. Action mapping in eLearning focuses on the behaviors that need to be reinforced or modified in accordance to business objectives. Therefore, you can develop eLearning content that is centered around these key corporate objectives, which helps to prevent cognitive overload and boost knowledge retention. Your employees will get the most out of their eLearning experience as, after completing the online training, they will be able to actually apply what they have learned in practice. It allows learners to benefit from their mistakes. A vast majority of the eLearning activities you'll be creating during the design and development process are centered around interactivity and immersion. In fact, one of the most important benefits of applying action mapping in eLearning is that it gives learners the opportunity to grow and learn from their mistakes through the use of scenarios and simulations. As such, they can explore all of the outcomes of their decisions without having to take any real risks. This means that they can benefit from the errors they make and learn how to approach a problem in a different way in order to get better results. It creates an engaging and immersive learning environment for learners. The primary goal of an eLearning course that has been designed through the eLearning action mapping process is to accomplish a business goal. Instead of focusing on all of the information along the way, an instructional design that employees action mapping in eLearning encourages employees to concentrate on what needs to be achieved. In other words, rather than focusing on the path, they are asked to keep their eye on the finish line. This makes the marathon more engaging and enjoyable, because your learners are always aware of what they'll receive when they have completed the race. It identifies problems that are standing in the way of the eLearning process. Undeniably, one of the most significant benefits of using action mapping in eLearning is that you can easily identify the obstacles that are standing in the way of the eLearning process. Action mapping focuses on performance, not just the information that needs to be acquired. As such, you have the opportunity to carefully analyze the current learning gaps of your audience, as well as to figure out why they have existed in the first place. You are able to assess what employees already know, what they need to know, and how you can best deliver the information in order to achieve performance goals. Action mapping in eLearning benefits both employees and organizations by taking an advantage of an eLearning design strategy that identifies performance gaps and narrows them by incorporating into the online training material immersive and interactive eLearning experiences. Consider using the action mapping technique for your next eLearning project, in order to successfully meet the goals of your organization and boost your employees knowledge retention. Now that you know the many benefits that action mapping offers to your eLearning course, read the article How To Integrate Action Mapping in eLearning Courses to find out ways to improve your workflow and streamline the design and development process of your next eLearning deliverable. This post was first published on eLearning Industry.

Edutech for Teachers salutes the brave men and women who served in the U.S. Armed Forces and made the ultimate sacrifice in order to protect this great country. Not only do we honor these fallen soldiers, but we would also like to extend much gratitude to those who continue to ensure our nation’s freedom and liberties. All gave some… Some gave all… Take a moment to remember all of our nation’s true heroes on this Memorial Day!