At LearnUpon, we frequently speak to prospects requesting to see our Application Program Interface (API) documentation because they want to implement single sign-on (SSO). And we also encounter the reverse. We hear from prospects inquiring about SSO when their needs are more suited to uses of the API. While API and SSO can work really well together, they are in fact two very different tools. I’d compare it to the difference between a knife and fork. While the tools complement each other really well, they also serve VERY different purposes, and should be used to accomplish different tasks. In this post, I run through some of the main differences between how an API and SSO can be used to enhance the performance of your learning management system.   SSO Single sign-on describes a single set of credentials that allows users to access multiple applications across your organization while only needing to log in once. In this scenario, users might arrive at work and log in to their workstation. If SSO has been implemented, they won’t need to log in again to access separate applications, including their LMS, during the day. Answer the questions below to decide if implementing SSO could work for you.   APIs and eLearning An API provides an interface that allows developers to literally interact with programs and apps, including learning management systems. Each API has a set of credentials used by admins and developers that are known as keys. These keys are similar to a username and password pair that allows developers to use the API to interact with the data in your LMS. But ‘interact’ - say what? In this context, ‘interact’ describes actions such as creating, updating, deleting, or retrieving data. An API can speed up processes by automating time-consuming manual steps. Without an API, an admin who wants to create a user in an LMS may need to log in, access the create user screen, fill in a form, and click save. Or instead, your developer can simply code an API to automatically create users based on rules relevant to your needs. Using the API like this frees admins from managing the process manually or via batch file uploads. It’s that simple! A decent API can allow you to automate lots of other actions, like updating, deleting, or exporting lists of users. The API can allow you to create courses, enroll users on to courses, and get a list of their progress statuses, all automatically. This data can then be managed together in one central location. And you can use the data to build reports or keep users in sync. Real-world example Some customers use LearnUpon’s API to generate enrollments in courses from third-party apps. Some customers have also used the progress made by learners in LearnUpon to build gamification and leaderboards on third-party apps, making for a streamlined setup that’s easy to manage.   So, API or SSO? Answer 3 questions Still unsure if you should implement an API or SSO? The following three questions will help you to decide if you should go with either, both, or neither types of integration.     Question 1: Do you need users to access your LMS without logging in? If the answer is Yes, then you need SSO. Once you implement SSO, users will only need one set of credentials to access all applications. If you decide to use SSO in this context, you could include an "Access my Learning" button on your website or intranet. Once users click the button, they will be transported into the LMS to launch and complete their training, without needing to login again. If the answer is No, then you do not need SSO. You may still need an API, depending on your answers to the two questions below. I’ll also go into SSO in more detail for those who require extra functionality or to use an API to further help with automation requirements.   Question 2: Do you need users from a separate system to be created in your LMS? If the answer is Yes - Before we dive deeper into the API itself let’s consider a follow-up question: Did you need to implement SSO already? This question is worth considering because some systems, including LearnUpon, support simplified user synchronizations when implementing SSO. That means that SSO will not only seamlessly log users into the LMS, it can also provide additional settings that allow you to create or update users on the fly as well! That’s really neat because it means you might not even need to implement an API in order to sync users. There are many varieties of SSO but one is SAML SSO, which is supported by LearnUpon. The SAML SSO module allows you to create or update users on the fly and automatically assign them to groups in LearnUpon, increasing the types of automation you can use to manage your user list. Before you jump into API, it’s worth asking your LMS vendor, or preferred third-party app, if they offer any type of user synchronization as part of their SSO modules. If the answer is No, then you don’t need to use an API with SSO. You might still find an API useful for reasons discussed in our third question below.   Question 3: Do you need to push data into or pull data from your LMS? Yes, you do! You may need, for example, to export enrollment statuses, training history, or other types of data. You might also need to manage user group memberships or user lists in other applications. Most LMS applications include reporting features that meet many of these needs. In LearnUpon, for example, we offer automated report scheduling, so you don’t need to remember to run reports! We email them directly to your inbox as required. However, in some cases that level of functionality doesn’t quite cut it. You may still need to pull extra data and push it to external applications for further crunching. Perhaps you would like to pull lists of users and groups and send the data to a managerial meeting to inform team restructuring. The list of potential uses really is endless. The question about whether to implement an API is all about automation. The most important point to remember is that implementing an API enables you to access data in an automated way, avoiding the need for administrators to login, search, and report on data in a manual fashion.   TL;DR rule of thumb SSO is for streamlining user experience when accessing other applications. It’s a set of single sign-On credentials associated with each user. API is all about data automation, keeping data in sync, and automatically pulling data out of a system to generate reports. It is, and really should be, that simple. If it’s not, then you’re probably asking the wrong questions for your implementation and hopefully the above answers will help demystify some of the confusion for you.   Sign up to our newsletter to get more eLearning help from LearnUpon The post Should you use SSO or an API with your LMS? appeared first on LearnUpon.

About the Role The Accounts Administrator is a key member of the Accounts team and will have an important role not only overseeing the accounts administration function for the company, but also managing the successfully day to day running of the office. Reporting to the Operations Manager, the Accounts Administrator will play an integral role in developing accounting processes for the company and assisting in managing an office that supports LearnUpon’s rapidly growing team. This is a challenging role which has great career progression opportunities for the right candidate. Specifically the role will involve: Processing of Sales Invoices on a daily basis Managing the Aged Accounts to collect payments from Creditors Processing and allocation of Customer Payments Dealing with Account Queries from Customers Posting of Purchase Invoices to the Accounting System Assisting with preparation of Payment Runs Performing Bank Reconciliations Managing Employee Expense Claims Bi-Monthly VAT Return / Monthly P.30 Return / Annual P.35 Return Answering of office telephone General office administration duties Overseeing Travel arrangements for Staff Running adhoc reports for teams Other projects, as needed   Who We Are Looking For The person we are looking for will have the following qualities: Minimum of 2 years’ experience working in an accounts position Excellent computer skills are necessary for the role:  Accounting software (Xero experience is an advantage), Microsoft Excel, Word, etc. Strong numerical skills Excellent attention to detail and organisation skills Team player with a sense of ownership and "get things done" attitude - self- motivated and able to thrive in a fast-paced and self-directed environment Excellent communication skills (written, verbal, presentation, and interpersonal), exemplary customer facing skills able to build good internal and external relationships Knowledge of accounting practises and Revenue policies is an advantage Ability to make business decisions and champion new ideas and processes   Benefits Competitive salary and benefits 22 days annual leave Exciting start-up environment with rapidly expanding superstar team Excellent career progression opportunities for the right candidate Team building events   If you are interested in applying for this role please send your CV in confidence to jobs@learnupon.com. We look forward to hearing from you!   About LearnUpon LearnUpon is a new, exciting cloud based software company headquartered in Dublin, Ireland. Our mission is to change the way online learning is delivered by developing a Learning Management System (LMS) that companies love to use. We are addressing the common frustrations with traditional learning management systems by developing a platform that can be set-up in minutes, is easy and intuitive to use, looks amazing and doesn’t cost a fortune. Since launching LearnUpon nearly three years ago we are now one of the fastest growing LMS platforms in the world with new customers signing up for our platform every day. LearnUpon now has over 400 customers based in the US, Canada, UK, Australia, South Africa, Netherlands, Sweden and here in Ireland.   LearnUpon is growing incredibly fast with established and increasing revenue. The company is a very open, collaborative environment where team and individual accomplishments are celebrated and encouraged. Our product is on the path to being very successful and the people who join now will be critical contributors to its ongoing adoption throughout the world.   Life at LearnUpon is fun and challenging. You will get to work with a great team in a Dublin city centre location. We are constantly making LearnUpon better for our customers and never adopt an "it will do" attitude when it comes to our platform. We love releasing new features which make our customers go "wow". All the team are given time-out each month to go off and think and come up with amazing new ideas which will make LearnUpon even better. Everyone contributes and everyone’s ideas are respected. We treat our staff like our customers, they are the most important elements in our business without whom we would just be another run of the mill, boring, clunky LMS. The post We’re hiring! Accounts Administrator appeared first on LearnUpon.

About the Role The Business Development Representatives will be at the forefront of the Sales team in LearnUpon, responsible for engaging with future LearnUpon customers to understand their LMS requirements. The candidate will also have great career opportunities in LearnUpon to progress into an Account Manager role. We’re looking for people who love to win, have strong integrity, and great communication skills. Specifically the role will involve: Playing an active role in developing, altering and improving processes for the Sales team. Understanding the business requirements of our future customers and creating a relationship with them in order to identify how LearnUpon will fit their business needs. Scheduling introduction calls and demonstrations. Preparing demo materials. Preparing call lists and maintaining a clean and accurate record of account information.   Who We Are Looking For The person we are looking for will have the following qualities: Drive and energy. Self-motivated with a high attention to detail and ability to multitask. Applicants need to be comfortable working with others and in a team environment. An unwavering positive attitude, strong drive for results, and the ability to deal with ambiguity are a must. Excellent communication skills. Must be open to receiving constructive criticism and applying and integrating the feedback in an effort to improve their performance. Demonstrates good judgment in analyzing information to make routine decisions. Enjoys the challenge delivering on monthly and quarterly revenue targets. 1-2 years software or enterprise selling a plus (but not required). A business studies or technology qualification is a plus.   Benefits Competitive salary (base + commission) and benefits 22 days annual leave Exciting start-up environment with rapidly expanding superstar team One-on-one training and mentoring from a seasoned Account Manager in the LMS space Excellent career progression opportunities for the right candidate Team building events   If you are interested in applying for this role please send your CV in confidence to jobs@learnupon.com. We look forward to hearing from you!   About LearnUpon LearnUpon is a new, exciting cloud based software company headquartered in Dublin, Ireland. Our mission is to change the way online learning is delivered by developing a Learning Management System (LMS) that companies love to use. We are addressing the common frustrations with traditional learning management systems by developing a platform that can be set-up in minutes, is easy and intuitive to use, looks amazing and doesn’t cost a fortune. Since launching LearnUpon nearly three years ago we are now one of the fastest growing LMS platforms in the world with new customers signing up for our platform every day. LearnUpon now has over 400 customers based in the US, Canada, UK, Australia, South Africa, Netherlands, Sweden and here in Ireland.   LearnUpon is growing incredibly fast with established and increasing revenue. The company is a very open, collaborative environment where team and individual accomplishments are celebrated and encouraged. Our product is on the path to being very successful and the people who join now will be critical contributors to its ongoing adoption throughout the world.   Life at LearnUpon is fun and challenging. You will get to work with a great team in a Dublin city centre location. We are constantly making LearnUpon better for our customers and never adopt an "it will do" attitude when it comes to our platform. We love releasing new features which make our customers go "wow". All the team are given time-out each month to go off and think and come up with amazing new ideas which will make LearnUpon even better. Everyone contributes and everyone’s ideas are respected. We treat our staff like our customers, they are the most important elements in our business without whom we would just be another run of the mill, boring, clunky LMS. The post We’re hiring! Business Development Representatives appeared first on LearnUpon.

Dublin has said so long, farewell to the Web Summit (for now). So what did we think of what Forbes have called the "best technology conference on the planet"? What did we learn from it? And will we miss it? Here are our five takeaways from Web Summit 2015… Long live the classroom revolution The Society Summit offered an insight into how technology is affecting our everyday lives. Over the three days I spent most of my time at this small stage and to be honest I think the majority of discussions warranted the platform of the Centre Stage as the topics covered have implications for everyone. A fascinating panel discussion on how technology is disrupting the classroom as we know it featured CoderDojo CEO Mary Moloney, The Holberton School’s Julien Barbier, 3d4Medical’s Robert Cairnduff and Alan Dargan from the Digital Skills Academy. The discussion kicked off by asking how can we prepare children for the jobs of the future when we’re not even sure what those jobs are going to be. The general consensus was that providing children of today with problem solving skills is the best way to prepare them for the jobs of tomorrow. What we really need is to get creativity back into the classroom and I’m not just talking about art, craft and music. Technology can be used to make academic subjects more exciting, engaging and thought provoking for children. Mary Moloney admitted that it will take a while to disrupt formal education and believes that education through devices can play a part in the revolution. These devices, whether used inside or outside of the school environment, create an ongoing learning ecosystem. Naturally there’s concern around the tech skills available to kids and school teachers are not always best equipped, or have the necessary experience, to transfer these skills. But again Mary Moloney believes providing outlets outside of school, as is created by CoderDojo, can result in confident and competent children who truly understand the possibilities of technology. At a Dojo meet-up young people from 7 to 17 explore technology in an informal and creative environment where they learn how to code, develop websites, apps, programs and games. There are currently 830 CoderDojo programmes located in 61 countries worldwide and those figures are constantly growing. They’re also just about to launch their first ever MOOC on building games which means the expert knowledge of their mentors will be accessible around the world.   Skills vs. knowledge Returning to the idea of focusing on skills instead of knowledge, when a child joins a Dojo the first thing the mentors do is talk to them and ask them what they’re interested in. From this they find out if there’s something in the world that the child doesn’t like. They then tell them that they can use technology to fix that problem. Children are instinctively creative, fearless, explorative and have a natural ability to work in teams…us adults could learn a lot from them! They also understand concepts that adults can’t comprehend. For example, five 11-year olds decided they wanted to eradicate bullying in Irish schools. With the help of their mentors they created an anti-bullying device called BullyBug. Children know all too well the day to day implications of bullying, whereas adults focus more on the fact that bullying is a negative behaviour. As a result they’re better equipped to brainstorm ideas around how this problem can be solved. Undertaking these challenging projects allows them to experience and work through the associated frustrations, hiccups and problems. So will these technology savvy students have different expectations or learning in the workplace when they become the CEO’s, CTO’s, developers, managers and employees of the future? It can be assumed the answer to this question is yes but it’s not so easy to speculate exactly how these changes in the classroom learning environment will affect the workplace learning environment. With all of these tech savvy kids using their smartphones, tablets, laptops and other connected devices it’s our responsibility, as adults, to ensure that they are protected online. Mary Aiken, CyberPsychologist and Director of the RCSI CyberPsychology Research Centre, believes that it is our collective responsibility to protect minors online. She believes we are sleepwalking our way into this new technological age without considering the fact that for every positive technology brings there is a corresponding negative. We need to safeguard children from the negative aspects of living online like cyberbullying and viewing age inappropriate and potentially traumatising content when they are accessing the internet. In her analogy she concludes that we don’t expect parents to man the doors of pubs and nightclubs to ensure their children aren’t somewhere they’re not supposed to be. So why should we expect them to be solely responsible for protecting their children online. We need to take collective responsibility to protect minors on the web. After all, it takes a village to raise a child.   Blurring the lines On the marketing stage, Benedict Evans held forth on mobile as an ecosystem, and how it’s becoming harder and harder to distinguish where mobile ends and desktop begins. As Apple roll out the 12" iPad, that becomes even more true. We need to switch to thinking of design and usability as being mobile first, and desktop second, and make sure that the essential information for any interface is clear on any medium. These blurring lines also have implications for online learning. Currently these are seen as two different delivery formats but as the lines between desktop and handheld devices blur will this lead to eLearning and mLearning being seen as one and the same?   Technology is killing our empathy You’re going to have to stay with me on this takeaway as I bring you into the distant, or maybe not so distant, future. A vast number of talks covered topics such as virtual reality, avatars, robots and artificial intelligence. There’s a belief that as we turn more and more to our devices to communicate with one another our technology is killing our empathy. However virtual reality is being hailed as a new "empathy machine" that will tip the balance back and it’s interesting to see charities such as charity: water using virtual reality to appeal to donors. They place the donor in a virtual reconstruction of a small village in Ethiopia and, through the power of storytelling, tmake an emotional appeal by showing them how their donation can bring a clean water source where previously there was none. The empathy debate was addressed by Jacki Ford Morie (The Augmented Traveler), Nell Watson (Singularity University), Kathleen Richardson (De Montfort University) and Andra Keay (Silicon Valley Robotics) as part of their panel on humanity as a digital construct. While it’s believed that virtual reality could make news coverage more accessible and relatable, other than sending donations there is not much that the witnesses, those wearing the head mounted displays to enter the virtual environment, can really do to change the situation they are witnessing. With all of these new technologies it’s hard to know what the ultimate outcome of it all will be on society. When it comes to using technology in our everyday lives it’s all about getting the balance right. As we move further into the digital age we could learn a lot from Goldilocks in order to manage the time we spend online. Try to aim for the "just right".     Should one conference appeal to all? So who said there needs to be one conference to fit all interests? My colleague Drew shared his thoughts on this in his post The Web Summit can’t please anyone anymore. It’s an understatement to say the event offered something for everyone, it really did! But it’s been argued that there was just TOO much to choose from. It’s fair to say that to get the most out of the schedule you had to be prepared. Talks pretty much ran to schedule and while some felt a little like sales pitches and product announcements, there were some interesting in-depth conversations that had my head spinning by the end of the three days. So will it be missed - yes and no. While the Web Summit was great for getting individuals from every facet of the technology industry together in one place I think there is now an opportunity for smaller, more focused tech orientated conferences and gatherings to fill the very big gap that’s been left behind. In 2016 the tech world will meet in Lisbon, but wouldn’t we live in a very boring world altogether if nothing ever changed.   Want to read more? Sign up to get our latest posts! The post Five takeaways from Web Summit 2015 appeared first on LearnUpon.

Some of work’s biggest realizations happen outside the office. While taking a flight to London earlier this month, I found my seat and began to observe the rest of the passengers boarding. Some were stretching their legs into the aisle of the economy cabin. Others needed help to get their bags into overhead storage bins. These passengers were uncomfortable because the airplane was designed to suit the ‘average’ person, of medium build and medium height. Many organizations experience similar problems with their LMS, I realized.   To return to my analogy, a person of average height, build or shoe size can stroll into any department store and find endless options tailored for them. In an effort to keep costs low, most products are designed to fit a group of people that can be described as the lucky ones. This group can find exactly what they want without paying a premium or spending extra for alterations and customization. Of course, there are times when it helps to be on the taller or shorter end of the spectrum. As I looked around the airplane, it was clear that transport is one area where there are benefits to being a little more "Danny DeVito" and a little less "Arnold Schwarzenegger" - a lot more leg room! But unless you want to pay a premium for a first class ticket on a flight or a front row seat at a concert, most of the time the majority of us will be slightly uncomfortable in a world built for average.   How we built a flexible LMS  Organizations create similar difficulties by investing in an LMS that can’t adapt to their unique needs. But there is an alternative. At LearnUpon, we don’t want customers to be forced into paying a premium for a special workflow or use case. The result is that the people I speak to as an Account Manager can’t believe the level of flexibility our LMS offers "out of the box". How do we deliver flexibility in a world built for average? It’s by understanding that each customer is unique, by being there when they need our support, and by really listening to them. Listening, in particular, allows us to learn from customers whose needs and requirements can never be described as average. Our customers have the same Account Manager from their first correspondence the whole way through their time with us. That helps me to really get to know them as individuals and understand what’s unique about their learning environments. It’s equally important to us that we offer the most responsive and efficient 24/7 Customer Support team on the market. You don’t have to take my word for it. The value of excellent support is mentioned throughout our customer reviews. We don’t wait until you need us to speak to you either. We also provide a dedicated Customer Success team who are always on your side, making sure you’re using the platform to get the results you need to meet your unique learning and development objectives. These three services allow us and our customers to be much more than average. The process ensures that we aren’t just working to make LearnUpon fit you perfectly right now. We use everything you tell us to make your LMS work harder for you in the near future. Each point of contact generates invaluable feedback that we invest in the development of our learning management system. The results can be seen in the more than 50 major enhancements we made to our online learning platform in 2013 and 2014, with almost double the requested features released this year. We can’t promise to implement every new feature suggestion we receive from our customers. But your request will be considered carefully during our weekly product meeting where we prioritize the next set of enhancements.   So, no matter how unusual your organization’s learning requirements are, take 1 hour of an Account Manager’s time for a personalized demo. We’ll create your online learning portal so you can see exactly how LearnUpon is making "out of the box" the new custom. The post The world is built for average but your LMS shouldn’t be appeared first on LearnUpon.

The Management and Strategy Institute (MSI) enjoyed a sudden surge in demand when they expanded their certification offerings in early 2014. While the management team was pleased with the success of their new training programs, growth exposed serious weaknesses in the organization’s LMS. Most worryingly, the learning management system proved incapable of delivering the flexibility the business urgently needed. When MSI went in search of a learning solution that could deliver through rapid growth, they chose LearnUpon. Here’s why.   Meet MSI MSI delivers certified courses to professionals who want to enhance their knowledge of management and business-related fields. MSI’s courses are particularly popular with corporate clients and individuals who want to update their resume with new professional skills. When MSI launched a series of Six Sigma certifications, including a Six Sigma Black Belt certification, two years ago, their existing LMS struggled to cope with the rise in demand they quickly experienced.   What business challenge did you need your learning management system to address? We were using an inferior LMS when we launched our expanded Six Sigma certification offerings. That learning management system couldn’t scale to support the growing number of learners who relied on it. The pricing structure offered by our LMS provider turned out to be a big problem too. It was impractical in the situation we experienced and didn’t make sense for a quickly growing business. We needed an LMS that could handle a high volume of new customer registrations while also offering a flexible pricing model. Functionality was equally important. From previous experience, we knew high-quality LMS features such as SCORM compatibility were essential. And the LMS had to be intuitive and easy-to-use for both administrators and learners.   Why did you choose LearnUpon as your new LMS? Our search for a replacement learning solution took months. There are so many learning management systems on the market and the differences between them can be confusing. So we focused on the features we knew we needed to support the most important people in our business - our learners. That’s what drew us to LearnUpon. The LMS had a simple, intuitive interface and a broad range of features that hit all of our requirements. We were particularly excited about the white label option that allowed us to completely integrate the LMS into our website to offer a seamless user experience. LearnUpon’s tiered pricing structure also really suited us. This flexible pricing model assured us that we could scale affordably as our learner base continued to expand. The final factor in our decision-making was the highly personalized customer service we received. We saw that LearnUpon really cared about MSI and our business. From our first call, it was clear that it wasn’t just about getting us over the line as a customer. The account managers took time to understand our business and show how the LMS would work if we chose LearnUpon. The team was even able to customize some features we required.   What benefits have MSI enjoyed since implementing LearnUpon? Everyone in MSI has benefited in some way from the move to LearnUpon. The implementation of the LMS itself went incredibly smoothly. The learning platform worked perfectly from the beginning. The user registration process is as simple as we had hoped. We’ve enjoyed fast and efficient customer service throughout. Our managers and admins love how easy to use the platform is. Management is also pleased with the financial saving LearnUpon’s sensible pricing model delivers. But the real winners of the switch to LearnUpon are the students who now enjoy a superior learning experience.   Would you recommend LearnUpon? Definitely. Having experienced two learning management systems, MSI knows how critical the right solution is to supporting growth. LearnUpon’s LMS is easy to use for learners, administrators and managers. That’s important to any organization invested in customer service and user experience. We’ve also found LearnUpon’s LMS to be incredibly flexible. The platform is simple, yet powerful enough to handle the swiftly evolving requirements of an expanding eLearning company. The personal, prompt customer service we receive has made our experience with LearnUpon a pleasure. Given our experience of two learning management systems, LearnUpon is by far the superior option.   See what LearnUpon can do for you. Sign up for a free 30 day trial. The post How MSI used an LMS to drive rapid growth appeared first on LearnUpon.

Adobe Flash technology has helped support the delivery of online multimedia content for nearly two decades. Three popular eLearning formats are also largely dependent on Flash technology for their delivery medium: SCORM, Tin Can (xAPI), and video. Extensive use of Flash makes rumors of its decline a concern for those of us working in the eLearning industry. With doubts about the security of the technology continuing to surface, the implications for eLearning are unclear. Many of us will continue to rely on some combination of SCORM, Tin Can and video content when developing courses. While files can be exported for equivalent HTML5 compatibility, the movement away from Flash is certain to generate cost and complexity for online learning professionals. How is the decline of Flash likely to impact you and your LMS?   The troubled history of Flash Flash has been a useful technology for developers working with a broad range of online content types for many years - 20 maybe? Wow! So why the fall? The two most commonly cited reasons are security and performance. For the second half of its history, it has been plagued by serious security bugs that made it possible to control a user’s device once it had visited a website that contained Flash content. These security holes are routinely fixed but, in many cases, the damage has already been done. Operating systems manufacturers like Microsoft, Ubuntu and Apple tired of the overheads accrued by keeping their systems secure with frequent patches. And Flash developed a poor security reputation as a result. Flash’s position was also compromised by the hardware requirements it needs to play heavily animated or video content. Although not an issue for most desktop PCs these days, mobile devices and smaller laptops still struggle to deliver a smooth user experience that includes Flash. Apple famously, or perhaps infamously, excluded Flash from iOS devices by default. Android tried, and largely failed, to deliver a rich Flash experience on mobile devices. Adobe has implemented many changes to combat these performance issues but has still suffered reputational damage in the interim. Web browsers ultimately stepped forward to deal with the growing frustrations of end-users, hardware manufacturers, and software providers. Modern browsers like Safari, Chrome, Firefox, and eventually, Internet Explorer, became equipped to provide the powerful features associated with Flash, like animation, scripting, and video playback. These browsers continue to evolve today, with Flash still offering some advantages for video playback on desktop hardware. But the demise of Flash was only slightly exaggerated!   The rise of HTML5? The good news is that HTML5 technology provides many tools urgently needed to fill the gap left by the decline of Flash. HTML5 enables video and audio content to render directly in the browser, for example. It also offers "fun stuff" that enhances animations and what I’ll describe as "wizardry in the UI". HTML5 is also more efficient than Flash, using less processing power. That sounds great! All of the bells and whistles we enjoyed with Flash can simply be replaced by HTML5. While I agree with the HTML5 movement in general, I still have a problem. I can’t overlook the bugbear that video content in HTML5 format is handled differently in every browser. Browsers still have some work to do to improve the experience of playback over poor internet connections. And the feature-incomplete players embedded in browsers most undergo further development to deliver a truly smooth user experience. In the meantime, eLearning course developers must endure mixed results. At worst, learners become frustrated by attempting to absorb information from videos that struggle to buffer thanks to poor connections coupled with their browser’s specific HTML5 implementation. There are solutions to these problems. Some issues can be tackled using CDNs, for example. But it’s a battle that looks set to continue until browser and HTML5 technologies mature further.   What it means for your LMS Most of the impacts for LMS users relate to the production of SCORM and Tin Can courses that are exported into Flash formats. While the rendering and streaming of eLearning video content will also be affected, SCORM and Tin Can courseware is most vulnerable, built as it is on Flash technology. It’s certainly helpful that SCORM and Tin Can modules can be rendered using HTML5 as an alternative. But the falling away of default compatibility with Flash will create problems for all who use an LMS to deliver eLearning. Migrating course content to HTML5 is one solution that’s been simplified by enhancements made to the newest generation of authoring tools. The alternative may be a drastically diminished user experience for learners unable to access Flash. And the ultimate result of that is likely to be unhappy customers and unhappy learners. A less frequently discussed problem concerns support for Internet Explorer 8 and 9. At LearnUpon, we also offer support for IE7 in cases where customers request it for specific clients. But as LMS vendors, we generally have no control over performance issues experienced with browsers installed on clients networks. There’s limited HTML5 support for versions earlier than IE9, while support available for IE9 is itself poor. For many organizations, upgrading from IE9 can generate significant upheaval. Both scenarios lead to considerable inconvenience for developers and users in affected organizations. In some ways, I hope that the movement away from Flash encourages upgrades to more recent versions of IE. Whether that will actually happen or not remains to be seen. With Microsoft dropping support for old versions of Internet Explorer in 2016, this wish may be granted sooner than expected.   The future of Flash vs. HTML5 There’s no question that the end is in sight for Flash. Its growing reputation as a vulnerable technology will eventually dominate, even if developers continue to release updates and fixes. Flash might continue to serve some purpose until browsers finally make it obsolete by discontinuing support altogether. I guess Apple called it correctly all those years ago. Should we ever have doubted them?! In the meantime, the adoption of video and mobile content will continue to grow within eLearning. All of these factors support the rise of HTML5, just as the technology will continue to improve. My advice for eLearning professionals and organizations is to plan for the future. In LearnUpon, we offer customers alternatives to using Flash for video content. Most admin users continue to use our video streaming service that works with Flash players. But we’re seeing that usage pattern change with the development of mobile learning or mLearning, based on HTML5 video and courseware. If you’re an LMS admin, it’s time to begin gradually migrating existing courses to HTML5 formats. Authoring tools now allow you to export to both Flash and HTML5, delivering the best of both options. In scenarios where a course determines Flash is not supported, the HTML5 version kicks in instead. A gradual move towards HTML5 is best, far better than waiting for the big "flash in the pan" that’s surely coming down the tracks.   Update: The relaunch of Flash Professional as Animate CC confirms Adobe’s agreement with our prognosis. Even Flash’s founders are finally ready to move beyond legacy issues and into an improved HTML5 future. The post Flash is dead: long live HTML5 for eLearning? appeared first on LearnUpon.

Dublin, Ireland December 3rd 2015 - LearnUpon, the world’s fastest growing cloud LMS, has expanded its global operations with the release of a localized version of the learning portal in Brazilian Portuguese. The launch coincides with the signing of LearnUpon’s first Latin American customer in Brazil. LearnUpon now serves more than 450 existing customers, as it approaches the end of another year of rapid growth. The announcement builds on LearnUpon’s expansion as a multilingual platform supporting a growing international customer base. LearnUpon’s cloud LMS is loved and trusted by over 2 million active users in 15 countries worldwide. Brazilian Portuguese is the sixth language that LearnUpon’s cloud-based LMS software officially supports.   A Brazilian Portuguese language option is available to all users of LearnUpon’s cloud LMS. Administrators can set Brazilian Portuguese as the default language of the cloud LMS portal. Or an organization’s learners can select their preferred language directly from the dashboard. All of LearnUpon’s existing and future features, including SCORM and Tin Can API support, ecommerce and reports, will be available to use in the Brazilian Portuguese language.   LearnUpon’s cloud LMS Courses screen in Brazilian Portuguese   Commenting on the announcement, LearnUpon’s CEO Brendan Noud, said As we continue to grow our customer base internationally, we are delighted to now offer support for Brazilian Portuguese. In addition to helping to grow our customer base in Brazil, this feature will also be of great benefit to many of our multinational enterprise customers who have operations in Brazil. We are looking forward to adding support for more languages throughout 2016.   LearnUpon is represented in Brazil by Latam Connection. In addition to Brazilian Portuguese, LearnUpon is also available in English, Dutch, French, German and Spanish. Pricing for the cloud LMS starts at US $149 per month.   For more information contact hello@learnupon.com The post LearnUpon’s cloud LMS released in Brazilian Portuguese appeared first on LearnUpon.

This week, Peter van Leusen, PhD, addresses a question from our Grad TA Mike Holter, on what to do when things aren't working. Peter is an instructional designer in CLAS, and former Assistant Director in the Office of Instructional Consulting in the School of Education at Indiana University. He teaches both face-to-face and online classes.Peter van Leusen, PhDWhat a mess! The blank stare in my students‘ eyes told me that the lesson that I meticulously prepared all weekend long did not have the desired learning outcomes for which I had hoped! What should I change?From my own teaching and observing other instructors, I quickly learned that there is not a "perfect way" to teach. I found that each class has different characteristics due to students (e.g., personalities, number) or contexts (e.g., online, time of the day). To make learning experiences meaningful despite these variables, I like to reflect on my own teaching regularly and make changes, if necessary. The hard question is to know what to change and when to do it?Use Formative Assessments Frequently In my classes, I tend to use formative assessment frequently to see whether my students "are getting it". I’m a big fan of Classroom Assessment Techniques (CATs), developed by Thomas Angelo and Patricia Cross (1993), because they provide feedback about lesson effectiveness and student understanding. While CATs were developed with face-to-face teaching in mind, these quick, easy-to-use, and often non-graded techniques can be easily adapted to any teaching context (e.g., online). The feedback collected from these activities helps me to decide whether I can move on to the next concept or need to spend more time on the current topic. Popular CATs are Minute-Paper, Muddiest Point, or Pro-Con Grids, but Angelo and Cross developed more than 50 CATs that promote active and often collaborative learning. Make Changes at the Right TimeAlthough CATs provide good insights about the class, making changes is actually quite complicated because it might impact other aspects of the course. For example, removing an exam can have significant impact on the overall grade. Therefore, I take notes on my lesson plans about what did or did not work. If I decide that something needs changing and it is a minor "tweak", I will do this in the ongoing class and explain it to my students. If it is something major, I generally wait until the unit or course is over since it might influence too many other parts of the class. The key is not to forget about these as soon as final grades are submitted or wait until the beginning of a new semester!Helpful Resources:Angelo, T. A., & Cross, K. P. (1993). Classroom assessment techniques: A handbook for college teachers. San Francisco: Josey-Bass.Barkley, E. F., Cross, K. P., & Major, C. H. (2004). Collaborative learning techniques: A handbook for college faculty. Wiley.com.van Leusen, P. (2014). Gauging student understanding: CATs are puuuuur-fect. ASU TeachOnline.

Google Docs and Forms are terrific tools for teaching!Did you know that each ASU instructor and student get unlimited space on our ASU Google Drive (requires login with your ASURITE@asu.edu account)? It's a great way to share files and collaborate. Three words specifically describe why you should use Google Drive, Efficiency, Collaboration, and Engagement.Google Docs are documents that can be shared with your students. There are a number of ways to use them to engage your students. You can have specific students be required to take notes for the class, or build a study guide for exams. Student teams can share a document, and you can leave comments, or start a 'chat' while everyone synchronously is working on it.  Google Docs are also easy to publish to the web for quick and fast websites.Google Forms are a survey tool that can be used for getting quick feeback from students. You could set them up for "Bell Ringer" activities, like "Ticket In/Out" activities. It's a great way to get students to reflect on homework or the class take-aways. You can use them as a rubric for presentations that allows peers to evaluate each other and give feedback. They can even be set up for adaptive mini-quizzes.Our Workshop had participants build and share documents, create forms with branching questions and test out some of the new "Add-Ons" for Google apps. We also shared a template for Google Sites that downloads everything you need to host a conference, and a template for Google Sheets that is a random name generator for making sure you call on all your students equally. Check out the resources below for some more engaging ideas, and don't forget to sign up for our Spring Workshops and Webinars!Resources:Video Tutorial to create a Rubric with Google FormsStep-by-Step Guides for our workshop assignments: Google Forms, Google Docs, Google SitesSlide Presentation Google Drive Basics HandoutGoogle ChromeStore: https://chrome.google.com/webstoreSuggested Add-onsAwesome Screen ShotSave to Google DriveExtension URL ShortnerEasyBibBioDigial HumanVoiceNoteKaizena Mini