How Online Training Increases Productivity According to the American Management Association, programs that focus on future career development or improved work skills are effective in retaining employees and in heightening their creativity. They also increase their productivity. In fact, the National Center on the Education Quality of the Workforce found in a study of 3.100 United States workplaces that a 10 percent hike in workforce education level resulted in an 8.6 percent gain in total productivity. The Association for Talent Development (ASTD) surveyed firms to discover that companies with the highest productivity levels invested almost twice as much in training each employee as companies with more mediocre performance levels. Traditional forms of employee training were expensive and difficult to deliver if a company had extensive properties located far from each other. The advent of online courses has changed the ease and availability of training employees and brought it within the limits of most budgets. A strong argument can be made to suggest that companies embrace online learning as an effective means of heightening their productivity. There are a number of reasons for this: It reaches out to employees who, for various reasons, were often excluded from traditional training venues. That includes the single parent who wants to learn but must leave work promptly at the end of a shift to deal with family obligations and the physically impaired worker who requires specific learning supports that are available on the computer. Online training can be delivered more generously to all employees since courses generally cost less than bringing in an expert trainer or sending employees off-site to learn new skills and knowledge. Online courses can be developed with a high degree of customization to deliver precisely the needed skills of employees in specific situations. They allow for more flexibility. Employees can study during breaks in their workday or late at night or early in the morning from their homes. It is easier to find the time to study. Companies can create their own courses by developing specific content and delivering it easily through computers and tablets. The material can be easily updated and given to multiple users at once or delivered individually one at a time. One of the most comprehensive looks into the link between training and productivity was published by researchers Muhammad Mulmuna and Dr. Rashad Yazdanifard in the Global Institute for Research and Education. They noted that not only does training increase productivity in organizations, but it also enhances employees' resourcefulness and provides them with an opportunity to learn their jobs and perform them more effectively. It has a beneficial impact on their decision making skills, their ability to function within a team, to solve problems, and to have enhanced interpersonal relations, all of which also contribute to the growth of the organizations for which they work. Do you believe online training increases productivity? Share with us your opinions and personal experiences.  This post was first published on eLearning Industry.

The general perception about eLearning is that only courses filled with high-level interactivities, complex activities or media-rich elements are effective. It is often percieved that only courses with the "wow" factor, which draw"oohs" and "aahs" for their visual appeal are considered winners. Clients are delighted with such courses and stakeholders want them too to justify their investments in the training program. While it is true that complex activities or interactivities make an eLearning course very effective, that might not hold good always. In many cases, a simple, straight-forward presentation of the content turns out to be the most effective way. We need to strike a fine balance between using these two approaches. Selecting the appropriate way of presenting content is a delicate task. While there are no "rules" to guide you in this selection, the content itself will generally give you a head start. There are a few general guidelines that will help you in your decision making process. 1. Type of Content The type of content is the first and most important pointer which will help you decide the way to present it. If you have a complex topic such as the working of a mobile lift or an engine, you can use 3-D animations to show the parts present on the various sides of the equipment and explain the functionality. For slightly lesser complex, easy-to-handle subjects such as explaining the various parts of a latop or a balance, a hotstop interactivity can be used to present the learning. Conversely, your content might consist of huge amounts of text such as legal or complaince policies. Usually such content should not be alterted and must be presented verbatim. In such cases, adding interactivities just for the sake of having them will not add any value. In such cases, it is beneficial to present the text with supporting images. This csn be supported by scenarios or a case-study which will reinforce learning. 2. Learners’ Experience of E-learning Learners’ familiarity with eLearning is another factor which will guide you in selecting the presentation method. If your leaners are a young, tech-savvy group, you can have a course with complex animations and high-level interactivities. On the other hand, if they are an older workforce with little or no prior exposure to eLearning, a simple course with basic interactivities will serve the purpose. The level of courses can be enhanced as their familiarity increases. Similarly, if the course is intended for blue-collared workers, it would be better to have a simple course which will be easy to access and precise in its content presentation. So, the next time you develop an eLearning course, take a pause, consider these issues and then start your work. These issues will help you come up with an engaging, effective course without using activities or complex animations just to add the "wow" factor. Related PostsLevels of Content Chunking in E-learning7 Steps to Create Custom Invalid Answer Pop-ups in Articulate StorylineImportance of the Audio Component in E-learning

Compliance training needs to be imparted by all organizations. We talk all the time about the laws, rules and regulations that have to be followed by employees during the course of their work. A good compliance training goes a long way in fostering a better workplace culture by preventing violations of applicable statutes and regulations that could attract hefty fines or other legal sanctions. The hard part of compliance training when provided through traditional ILT programs is making trainers to travel across different geographical regions to train employees and disrupting employees work schedule to attend. The result is loss of precious work hours, considerable expenditure and little inspiration for the trainer who needs to repeat the same content over and over again. So, what is the best way to deliver compliance training? Well, the online medium is ideal to deliver compliance training. According to the E-learning magazine, almost 65% of the content delivered through eLearning is compliance training. Read the info-graphic below to find out the benefits of using eLearning to deliver compliance training and let us know your opinion in the comments section below the info-graphic. Related PostsCreative Ways to Present Click on Tab Interactivity in E-learning Courses - An Infographic4 Tips to Create Effective Online Compliance Training Courses6 Proven Tips to Develop a Remarkable E-learning Course - An Infographic

How To Set Up An Enterprise eLearning Program With Multiple Objectives The pedagogy that is deployed in an eLearning program depends to a great extent on the targeted audience. For instance, kids often have very short attention spans. Consequently, the eLearning programs targeted at them are designed to be fun and interactive - something that will keep kids engaged. For older age groups however, the type of eLearning program depends on the end-objective. For one-way discourses, mobile apps and video tutorials are most effective. On the other hand, courses that need interaction among attendees are effected through video conferencing and chat applications. In December 2014, our team analyzed the online learning setup deployed at one of the leading NetSuite partners in North America. Given that this is an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) program that is used in a multitude of industries, the target audience included CTOs, account managers, manufacturing executives, small business owners, retailers, etc. In each case, the audience was seeking information on how a software like NetSuite could help their specific work objectives. In the absence of a clear end-objective, popular enterprise eLearning systems like webinars can be a long-drawn, expensive affair. This is because every session would appeal to a specific section of the audience that does not have an incentive to return to subsequent discussions. Ultimately, audience acquisition could itself become a challenge for every new webinar session. So how would you design an eLearning program for an audience with unique objectives? Here are a few options: Case Studies. Educators do not typically consider case studies as part of an eLearning setup. But with enterprises, they are one of the most effective channels for awareness-building and education. With case studies you can narrow down the focus from specific functions to a handful of industries. This helps educators manage the end-objectives better. Another advantage of case studies is that different audiences within an industry can interpret learning in their own way. For instance, a case study about Enterprise Resource Planning in banking could provide marketing insights for a marketer while at the same time help a bank manager evaluate productivity improvements using Enterprise Resource Planning. Videos. While webinars only cater to a small group of attendees, video tutorials have a far wider impact. This is especially true if you are in an "evergreen" industry where content does not get outdated very quickly. Given the larger audience that video tutorials cater to, the costs incurred with producing videos may be better justified. Another advantage of video eLearning programs over webinar is that since these are not real-time, content produced may be reused in different forms based on the need. For instance, a "What is Enterprise Resource Planning" section that is made for a banking Enterprise Resource Planning video may be reused in videos produced for other industries as well. This is unlike webinars where the same content has to be produced uniquely every single time. Whitepapers. Whitepapers are the text-equivalent of videos. Like videos, whitepapers too could be used to educate target groups over a lengthy period of time, thereby justifying the production costs. Again, like videos, content sections produced for one whitepaper can always be reused in other whitepapers depending on context. Knowledge Bank. In an enterprise setup with multiple learning objectives, it is not possible to comprehensively answer all questions that your audience may have with one video or paper. Even if your content itself is evergreen, the questions that your audience may have would continue to evolve over time. For example, an enterprise software maker would have received questions about compatibility with Windows OS a decade back. But today there are likely to be more questions about compatibility on mobile and tablets. An effective way to deal with such situations is to build a knowledge bank. This is a repository of tutorials, Q&As, and other eLearning modules that have been developed over time. If you have a help-desk team, they may be put in charge or keeping the knowledge bank updated with answers to the latest questions. Over time, such repositories perfectly address all kinds of questions and concerns that your target group may have without the need for a dedicated production budget. Creating the objectives of enterprise eLearning is quite different from an academic setup where there are tangible metrics that may be used to measure success (annual sales, for example). Deploying the right eLearning platform is not only a vital asset from an educator's perspective, but is also a marketing tool aimed at bringing more sales and ensuring customer satisfaction. What are your thoughts? This post was first published on eLearning Industry.

Docebo LMS Video Tutorial: Blog - How to manage the Blog App In this Docebo LMS Video Tutorial you will learn how Blog App allows learners to create their own blog posts, and to comment and rate posts in order to make the learning process more interactive and social. The post Docebo LMS Video Tutorial: Blog - How to manage the Blog App appeared first on VivaeLearning: The Best Free Video Tutorials Online.

Learning Management Systems (LMSs) help us in managing eLearning, classroom or virtual trainings easily. Apart from the structured training curriculum, you can provide your learners with additional learning resources to refresh their learning or give in-depth information. In most cases, the additional material provided is optional. This optional training material can be shared using various methods. Option1: It can be included in the training curriculum and made optional, so that a course can be marked as complete even if the learners didn’t read it. Option2: Create a separate training program and make it optional, so that the learner can take it anytime to enhance his knowledge on the subject. Once the program is viewed or completed, it will be moved to the training transcript. In both these cases, the material is integrated with training content and requires the users to enroll into the course to access it. The learner has an option to read it or ignore it. Once the training program is completed, it will be moved to the training transcript. If he wants to see any resource, then he needs to go to the training transcript and search for the training from the list of completed courses. As it is optional, most learners ignore it and may forget it as they cannot see it in the list of current trainings. Option 3: We introduced one more option called "Resources". We have developed and integrated this feature into our customized version of Moodle LMS where instructors /administrators can upload all additional training materials. These resources are directly available to all authorized LMS users, and it does not require any enrollments. It accepts all kinds of file formats such as PPT, PDF, Audio, Videos, and Zip etc. Learners can perform the following activities in the resources module. Search for a particular resource using keywords View it online Download it for viewing it offline Add it to "My Resources", so that the learner can see all the selected resources at one place Remove it from "My resources", if it is not required Share it with other colleagues who have an account in the LMS As compared to other options, this is more user-friendly and allows the user to view his favorite resources whenever required. There is no need to search for the required feature in the completed courses section. It’s a common repository for all resources which can be stored in various categories. Related PostsUnderstanding Key People Who Use the LMSLMS for Your Organization - How to Select The Best Fit?Track the Performance of your Training Efforts through LMS

Docebo LMS Video Tutorial: Timezones - How to Manage Date and Time In this Docebo LMS Video Tutorial you will learn how to manage the Date and Time features. Discover how to manage different timezones in your platform and change the date format. The post Docebo LMS Video Tutorial: Timezones - How to Manage Date and Time appeared first on VivaeLearning: The Best Free Video Tutorials Online.

How To Use Google Voice Commands In Google Drive: What eLearning Professionals Need To Know As eLearning professionals, we are always looking for ways to make the most of our online resources. We want to provide our learners with the most beneficial eLearning experience, while still staying under budget and maximizing our productivity. This is why Google voice commands in Google Drive is such an invaluable eLearning tool. Not only does it give you the ability to make your eLearning course more interactive and engaging, but it can also be quite handy during the eLearning design and development process. Develop learning materials in a fraction of the time. Create resource lists, study guides, and any other helpful learning materials in a fraction of the time by using Google voice commands in Google Drive. Simply login with your Google account, open a new Google Doc, and save it. Then access Google Drive on your smartphone or tablet and open the document. Instead of typing up your learning materials you can speak into the microphone and your text will show up on the screen. You can also use Drive apps, such as Kaizena, to create audio-based learning materials that can quickly and conveniently be sent to your audience. This is particularly useful for eLearning professionals who just don’t have the time to type up documents. Add a human touch to the grading process. Reading instructor or peer-based feedback is one thing, but hearing it makes it even more memorable and effective. Just think of the last time you received an email that was confusing or misleading because it lacked emotion and vocal nuances. Written feedback is unable to reflect tone or feeling, which means that it can often cause misunderstandings. With Google voice commands in Google Drive you can create audio commentary when grading online assignments and assessments. Rather than simply marking an answer as incorrect, you can tell your learners why it was incorrect and how they can improve learning behaviors moving forward. They can get the immediate feedback they need in a personalized way, so that they get more value from the eLearning experience. You can also let them know about additional resources they might find helpful, or give them tips and tricks on how to avoid these mistakes in the future. Create a Google voice command research-based activity. This particular tip is actually for Google Now, which is available on tablets and smartphones. By using this application you are able to create research-based activities that utilize Google voice commands. You can encourage your learners to complete the entire online assignment using Google voice commands, which saves time and builds their tech and communication skills. By simply saying "Search for…" your learners have the power to scour the web for informative resources they can use in their essays, online presentations, and other online projects. Develop audio assessments and assignments. Learners can also use Google voice commands in Google Drive to create the online assessments and assignments that you’ll be grading via voice commands. They can use the Google Drive voice commenting app, Kaizena, to create test responses, audio presentations, and essays. Rather than having to upload them to the learning management system or email them to the instructor to be graded, learners are able to simply save and share them in the Google Drive. Instructors can then access them anywhere, anytime and add their audio feedback. This also gives you the opportunity to serve a wide range of learning styles, including those who might need both the written and spoken word to fully understand the topic. By seeing and hearing the online content your learners are able to more effectively assimilate the information and commit it to their long-term memory. Localize your eLearning course to improve comprehension. Where Google voice commands in Google Drive really shines is language applications. If you are trying to teach a learner another language, this application can pick up on the subtleties of speech and ensure that learners have both a written and spoken mastery of the vocabulary. However, Google Drive voice commands are also ideal for localization, thanks to the fact that you can add audio commentary in any dialect. For example, if you are using written learning materials in English, you can add comments in the local language. This boosts comprehension and knowledge retention, and can even help your audience learn the source language. Cater to the needs of EVERY online learner. One of the most significant advantages of using Google Drive voice commands is that you can customize your eLearning course to meet the needs of every learner, including those who may not be able to read or type. For example, learners who suffer from dyslexia may have difficulty absorbing the information, while those who may be vision impaired cannot read the text that is on the screen. With Google voice commands you can design an auditory eLearning experience that does not exclude learners who have learning disabilities. Likewise, they can use Google Drive to complete their online assignments and then listen to the auditory grading that you add to the document. Google voice commands give you the power to provide invaluable feedback to your learners and make the learning process more interactive, inspiring, and immersive for your audience. Interested in learning more about how Google can help you create powerful eLearning experiences? The article 6 Effective Ways To Use Google Drive In eLearning features the many ways that you can use Google Drive to boost the effectiveness of your eLearning course. This post was first published on eLearning Industry.

Videos are the new ‘in thing’ today, from viral YouTube videos to Vines to videos in e-learning courses, videos have become an integral part of instruction. As the days go by, learner retention keeps decreasing, making it hard for designers to keep the learner glued to the course. So, how can videos blend with eLearning? There is more to video-based learning than just product demonstrations and testimonials. I am going to share with you a few creative ways to use videos in e-learning to adhere to the changing times. Toons That’s right, I am talking about tiny little people you saw on the Cartoon Network while growing up. The best part of using toons is you don’t need to be an expert animator, and simple fade in and fade out animations will do the trick. All you need is a great script and a bit of visualization and you are all set! A perfect place to use toons would be informal courses like employee inductions and employee well-being trainings. Take a look at a toon-based video on employee safety. Scribble Scribbling/drawing videos is one of those things you can’t keep your eyes off! And they are perfect to induce learning. The most alluring quality of a scribble video is that it is versatile, and you can use it to narrate a case study, a story or even show it as an info-graphics. These simple white board animations are available in ready-made software platforms such as http://www.sparkol.com/. They are easy to use and can be repurposed to suit any topic of your choice. Ideally, a scribble can be used in short and important trainings such as performance management or to explain concepts related to subjects like financial accounting. Here is an example of a scribble-based video embedded in Articulate Storyline. The video was created using the VideoScribe software. Animated Illustrations Illustrations are a common sight in e-learning courses, but imagine how effective they would be if you animate them. Illustrations don’t have to be high end drawings, just simple line diagrams will do. For instance, you can make use of ‘stick figures’ to explain a concept or an idea. You can also use animated illustrations to provide a detailed explanation of a processor compare and demonstrate. Such animations are best suited for short topics such as sales process and mid-year employee feedback. Have a look at stick figure illustration, video screen shot used to explain employee feedback. Video-based learning is soon going to catch up speed, and as e-learning professionals, we need to embrace this new addition to learning design to create impactful and appealing e-learning courses. How do you use videos to instruct? We’d love to hear your ideas. Related PostsBest Practices of Blended Learning3 E-learning Design Tips to Keep Your Creativity FlowingImportance of Content Comprehension in E-learning

Prezi Tutorial: Get started in Prezi This Prezi Tutorial walks you through the basics, from adding content to present. Start creating unique, zooming presentations today. The post Prezi Tutorial: Get started in Prezi appeared first on VivaeLearning: The Best Free Video Tutorials Online.