I don’t usually endorse paid educational services but Brainzy changed my mind. Brainzy is a website created by Education.com and contains over 300 games, stories, songs and videos for children aged 3-7 years old. There is an annual or monthly cost associated with using the site but I have 10 codes that can be used for a home membership or in the classroom with up to 35 students. Just leave a comment below I will send you a code for a one year membership. For early childhood educators or homeschool parents this is very exciting news! The press release stated the following about this new educational website: San Francisco, CA, September 25, 2014 - Education.com, the nation’s leading destination for parents and teachers seeking supplemental learning materials, today announced the launch of Brainzy, a new kind of online learning program designed to build reading and math skills in children ages 3-7. Developed using rich data gathered from the 20 million worksheets downloaded each year at Education.com, Brainzy features hundreds of interactive games and activities that captivate young minds and delight parents weary of filling screen time with so-called education apps. Brainzy’s comprehensive program follows a methodical, building-block path created to spark curiosity, giggles, and grins while building more than 30 critical reading and math skills.     The systematic approach of the new program sets it apart from the thousands of learning apps that take a one-off, episodic approach. Brainzy covers the essential skills teachers consider most important for early learning success while deeply engaging kids in a world rich with exploration. Guided by a lovable cast of original characters, kids cover a year’s worth of learning as they play through more than 300 fun games, videos, and read-along stories. Brainzy takes kids to a pretend land and is full of educational games. Education.com takes the data of what the students to understand what types of supplemental resources educators are looking for when using educational games and websites. It gathers real-time data from the games, videos and items accessed at the site to create quality supplementary resources for educators. Education.com’s website has five million members with millions more visiting the website for blog posts and educational articles every month. Education.com serves as one resource for motivation, inspiration, advice and materials to use with students. Knowing this, you can rest assured Brainzy is a quality site aligned with the Common Core State Standards and is filled with fun, fantastic resources to teach young children skills they will need to be successful in school. Brainzy is kid safe and does not contain advertisements so you don’t have to worry about pop up banners or banner ads that are questionable or inappropriate. Check it out and don’t forget to leave a comment below and I will contact you for a code for a FREE one year membership!

The Faculty Development Center at the University of St. Thomas shares this great explanation by Francine Glazer in her book Blended Learning: Across the Disciplines, Across the Academy of the differences between flipped and blended learning that I wanted to share in its entirety: "A flipped or inverted class is a form of blended learning. Whereas a flipped course doesn’t reduce the number of face-to-face classes or the amount of time the class meets in person, a blended course typically has fewer in person classes. In a blended course more of the course is taught online and students often have more control over the pace and time as they work though the course. The differentiating aspect of blended learning is that a significant portion of the course occurs in two areas: online and in person. Blended course design involves re-thinking the course activities so that there is a "seamless" transition between the online and in person classes — the blending of the in person and online activities reinforce each other to create a single, cohesive course."

Hey guys, today I have a set of mixed wooden textures that you can use for your next project. Wooden textures are great to use as overlays on your photographs, or as backgrounds or design elements. I hope you can use them, enjoy! Download all textures as ZIP from copy.com (28.7Mb) Did you like these textures? Let us know by leaving a comment, and you can even post a link if you used them in your artwork. Related Posts Free Texture Friday - Smoke Free Texture Friday - Rusted Metal 4 Free Texture Friday - Black Leather Free Texture Friday - Grunge Metal 2 Free Texture Friday - Wooden Chips

This video discusses the need to align the key components of your instruction: learning objectives, teaching strategies, learning activities, and assessments. It explains what instructional alignment is, provides examples, and explains why it is important.

From time to time I’m asked what books I recommend for someone interested in learning more about blended learning. For those interested in a more in-depth read, here are a few on my bookshelf that I highly recommend. Most of these should be available via your local institutional library. Blended Learning in Higher Education: Framework, Principles, and Guidelines by D. Randy Garrison and Norman D. Vaughn. (2007). ISBN: 0787987700 In this much-needed book, authors D. Randy Garrison and Norman D. Vaughan present the foundational research, theoretical framework, scenarios, principles, and practical guidelines for the redesign and transformation of the higher education curriculum.This groundbreaking book offers a down-to-earth resource for the practical application of blended learning in higher education as well as a comprehensive examination of the topic. Well-grounded in research, Blended Learning in Higher Education clearly demonstrates how the blended learning approach embraces the traditional values of face-to-face teaching and integrates the best practices of online learning. This approach has proven to both enhance and expand the effectiveness and efficiency of teaching and learning in higher education across disciplines. Blended Learning in Higher Education Outlines seven blended learning redesign principles Explains the professional development issues essential to the implementation of blended learning designs Presents six illustrative scenarios of blended learning design Contains practical guidelines to blended learning redesign Describes techniques and tools for engaging students Available in paperback or Kindle versions from Amazon How to Design and Teach a Hybrid Course: Achieving Student-Centered Learning through Blended Classroom, Online and Experiential Activities by Jay Caulfield (2011). ISBN: 1579224237 This practical handbook for designing and teaching hybrid or blended courses focuses on outcomes-based practice. It reflects the author’s experience of having taught over 70 hybrid courses and having worked for three years in the Learning Technology Center at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, a center that is recognized as a leader in the field of hybrid course design. Jay Caulfield defines hybrid courses as ones where not only is face time replaced to varying degrees by online learning, but also by experiential learning that takes place in the community or within an organization with or without the presence of a teacher; and as a pedagogy that places the primary responsibility of learning on the learner, with the teacher’s primary role being to create opportunities and environments that foster independent and collaborative student learning. Starting with a brief review of the relevant theory - such as andragogy, inquiry-based learning, experiential learning and theories that specifically relate to distance education - she addresses the practicalities of planning a hybrid course, taking into account class characteristics such as size, demographics, subject matter, learning outcomes, and time available. She offers criteria for determining the appropriate mix of face-to-face, online, and experiential components for a course, and guidance on creating social presence online. Available in paperback from Amazon Blended Learning: Across the Disciplines, Across the Academy (New Pedagogies and Practices for Teaching in Higher Education) edited by Francine Glazer. (2011). ISBN: 1579223249 The book constitutes a practical introduction to blended learning, illustrated by implementations across a broad spectrum of disciplines. It enables faculty unfamiliar with this mode to address the core challenge of blended learning―to link the activities in each medium so that they reinforce each other to create a single, unified, course―and offers models they can adapt. This book contains examples of specific blended courses and frank discussions of the challenges unique to each course. Each instructor used blended learning differently to address those challenges, so five different types of course design are presented. Blended learning is a flexible pedagogical tool that can be used in many different disciplines and implemented as many different ways to engage students and enhance their learning. Available in paperback or hard cover from Amazon Essentials for Blended Learning: A Standards-Based Guide by Jared Stein and Charles R. Graham. (2013). ISBN: 0415636167 Essentials for Blended Learning: A Standards-Based Guide provides a practical, streamlined approach for creating effective learning experiences by blending online activities and the best of face-to-face teaching. This guide is: Easy to use: Clear, jargon-free writing; illustrations; and references to online resources help readers understand concepts. Streamlined: A simple but effective design process focuses on creating manageable activities for the right environment. Practical: Real-world examples from different subject areas help teachers understand principles in context. Contemporary: The variety of modern, connected technologies covered in the guide addresses a range of teaching challenges. Forward-Looking: The approach bridges the gap between formal classroom learning and informal lifelong learning. Standards-based: Guidelines and standards are based on current research in the field, relevant learning theories, and practitioner experiences. Effective blended learning requires significant rethinking of teaching practices and a fundamental redesign of course structure. Essentials for Blended Learning: A Standards-Based Guide simplifies these difficult challenges without neglecting important opportunities to transform teaching. This guide is suitable for teachers in any content area. Available in paperback, hardcover, and Kindle from Amazon What favorite books of yours regarding blended learning did I leave off my list above? Leave a comment with your recommendations.

Hunting is the pursuit of an animal or other prey, usually with the intent of killing it. While most people think of humans when it comes to hunters, most animal species that are carnivorous engage in hunting (with the exception being scavengers). Hunting involves careful and cautious approach of the prey, to get to a distance that is possible to attack from with a high chance of success. Photographing hunting animals can be tricky, as photography itself is similar to hunting, as a photographer must search for the perfect shot, and get close enough to be able to capture it: Hunt by Anna Hunter by Kasper Nymann Tom with Jerry. C’est la vie. by PatrickJansen APH: Hunting by ECCG Hunting ! by Khalil-ur-Rehman möwe by Florence Merlote Hunting for breakfast by Benyamin Lakitan nêçîr (hunting) by zerder yasin IMG_5498 by Kesgaroth Get off my back by Giulio Zanni Predator and Prey by Morkel Erasmus Little Hunterby KomplexDelyrium Great_White_Shar_4c444491819ab by Chris Fallows The white hunter by Mircea Costina Little Egret vs Mudskipper by igano Kabamaru Family Feast by Martin Helgan Trophy hunter by Santanu nandy Nice Catch by Harry Eggens IMG_4543 by Huw Lougher Turkestan Shrike ‹Lanius phoenicuroi by igano Kabamaru hunting stoat by WildlifeUK sandrasalaskarecipesphotographyretail by SANDRA’S ALASKA PHOTOGRAPHS San hunting by Ben McRae New year’s hunter by Robert Nemeti This Is How We Do It by Debbie World’s worst hunting dog by Mircea Croc eats fish by Dax Pandhi Malayan Tiger by Jöshua Barnett I see you by Bjorn A Hveding WoW by Sonja Horvath Related Posts 30 Marvelous Underwater Photographs Out of this World Starry Photographs 30 Fields and Meadows Photographs Rocks, Stones and Pebbles in Photography On The Road: 30 Road Trip Photographs

Need some money? Most people realize, including the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), that teachers pay for classroom materials and supplies out of their own pockets. The following resources can fund various classroom project proposals and send either a check to purchase the materials or send the actual materials the project proposal asks donors to fund. For each site below, be sure to check the requirements necessary for submitting a successful proposal. Some may have rolling due dates or specific end dates when the project proposal or request is removed from the site if it isn’t funded. The proposals can cover online class needs for funds for projects that may include credits to download individual Voicethread projects, purchase membership subscriptions to pay for web tools like Animoto or GoAnimate, or to fund a software site license to enhance the curriculum of a hybrid/blended or e-learning course. Donation Sites http://classwish.org/ http://www.donorschoose.org http://digitalwish.com http://adoptaclassroom.org http://supplyourschools.org http://supportmyclass.org (appears to be limited to Hawaiian classrooms) Tips for Excellent Proposals Include specific demographic information whenever possible. Many donators fund projects in areas of poverty or areas that are in the greatest need. That doesn’t mean classrooms from wealthier schools won’t get projects funded; it just means that if a classroom is from a school in a high poverty area it is more likely to get funded. Regardless of the socio-economic status of your students, include statistics or basic demographic data. Craft your proposal with an eye-catching title. You want to grab the attention of possible donator resources and a clever or catchy title can really help draw attention to your proposal. Try to keep wish lists or project proposals under $400 - $500. Funding projects are expensive or you wouldn’t be soliciting funds and projects with lower amounts seem reasonable to donators and are funded more often. Don’t limit your project though. Cut it in half if you have and submit it twice or submit to more than one donation source for different portions of your proposal’s wish list. Inform everyone you come into contact with your proposal. Explain to parents and students that you have submitted a proposal and ask parents to consider submitting the wish list to their employers or neighbors, etc., to help secure funding for your project. This is paramount if your school is in a wealthy area. When you involve the community, you often have a better chance of getting your project funded. If your wish list isn’t funded the first time around, don’t give up. Try other sites or look at the proposals of successfully funded projects as a guide for a second submission. Lower the amount or number of items you are soliciting funding for and continue submitting to donation or crowdfunding websites. There are others out there but the above are specific to education. Getting a project proposal successfully funded may seem like a daunting task but doing your homework before you submit will greatly pay off, pun intended. Follow the above tips, research successful proposals, check out sites like Grant Wrangler to find out how to write quality grants or project proposals and help get supplies and materials for your classroom projects that would ordinarily be out of reach due to a lack of funding.

In Spring 2015, Northern Illinois University Faculty Development and Instructional Design Center developed and offered for the first time a series of 7 online workshops sharing principles, best practices, and tips for designing and developing quality online courses. The workshops were archived and available for on-demand viewing below or directly within the series playlist on YouTube. Kudos to my NIU colleagues, Stephanie Richter and Tracy Miller, for developing and offering the series! Ensuring Quality in Your Online Course How do you know if your online course is good? More importantly, how do you make it better? In this archived workshop offered 1/23/15, you will learn about why quality is important and how to create more student-centered online courses by using the Quality Matters rubric (a nationally-recognized benchmark for online course design based on research-supported best practices). After viewing this archived online workshop, you will be prepared to develop or improve an online course that is designed to promote student learning. View archived workshop » Learning Objectives and Assessments Once you have established objectives and the assessments to measure them, the next step is to create and/or curate course content and instructional materials to support the learning objectives. It is also important to clearly explain the purpose, source, and alignment of instructional materials. In this archived online workshop offered 2/13/15, you will learn about creating and curating course content from quality sources as well as communicating them to your students. View archived workshop » Course Content & Instructional Materials Once you have established objectives and the assessments to measure them, the next step is to create and/or curate course content and instructional materials to support the learning objectives. It is also important to clearly explain the purpose, source, and alignment of instructional materials. In this archived online workshop offered 2/27/15, you will learn about creating and curating course content from quality sources as well as communicating them to your students. View archived workshop » Course Activities & Student Engagement How do you encourage students to be fully engaged in an online course? By designing engaging and active, which foster interaction with you, the other students, and the content. In this archived online workshop offered 3/6/15, you will be introduced to some strategies to build learning activities which connect to your course objectives, as well as engage students in their own learning. View archived workshop » Promoting Learning with Technology In an online course, technology is necessary for connecting with students, engaging them in learning, and assessing their knowledge. It’s important to choose the right tools that support the learning objectives but are also obtainable and suitable for student use. In this online workshop offered 3/20/15, you will learn how to ensure technology in an online course supports learning and discover some tools you can incorporate into an online course. View archived workshop » Accessibility, Usability, & Student Support Online students can feel isolated, but they don’t have to be. In this online workshop offered 4/10/2015, you will explore how usability and accessibility can set students up for success. You will also learn how to connect students with valuable support services. View archived workshop » Getting Students Started Now that you have designed a high quality online course based on the other standards, you are ready to introduce it to your students. Set the right tone and support student success by helping them get started with a welcome message, a course tour, or a navigation guide. In this online workshop offered 4/24/2015 we will explore best practices for introducing course structure to your students and building community View archived workshop »

One of the most popular design trends of the past few years has been the flat design style. With little depth and effects, it can help make a website or design have a unique, clean style that doesn’t overwhelm the viewer. To create a flat design, most (if not all) of the elements need to have a flat style. This includes the icons, if used. In this post, I’ve gathered up some great free flat icon sets to download. Icons by Min Tran Business Icons Business Icons by Peachy Arrow Icons eCommerce Icons Weather Icons CSS Ready Icons Fruity Icons Swifticons Hope and Rise Related Posts Free Flat Icon Sets You Must Download Fresh Icon Sets You Must Have 10 Great Free Icon Sets Stunning Examples of High Quality Icon Design 10 High Quality Icon Sets from deviantART

No, that isn’t a typo in the title. One of the former radio announcers writes a column for the local suburb newspaper for the area we live. He stated that he uses Google analytics to find out how people find out about his website of http://www.sonnyradio.com maintained by himself, Sonny Melendrez. He was sharing how honored he felt that someone found his website using the search term "how feel better in life" and spent time reading different postings. I know I feel that same way whenever I see the hit counter go for the blog posts I write. I feel honored that someone took time to read my blog, leave a comment or both. It is always daunting for small blogger or new bloggers to write posts thinking no one will be interested or read what I have to say. I wrote a book that was recently released around September 1, 2014 titled, "Kid Detectives - Classroom Gamification Learning Activities: Mystery Adventure Quests." I have only sold one book but whomever purchased that book I would like to thank them personally for believing in me and taking a chance on the content presented in the book as being a value to them. I was re-reading it recently and told my husband that the book was actually really well written and I could see how teachers new to mystery adventure quests, gamification, or using technology in the classroom would find some golden nuggets of truth and value in the book. Designing and implementing quality mystery adventure quests is a difficult and challenging task and implementing learning activities like mystery adventure quests is so rewarding. It goes back to every hit my blog receives, every person who subscribes to my blog and any individual that takes time to leave a comment. I am honored beyond means when this happens and feel so blessed at the smallest of successes. I do not take writing a book or writing a blog for granted - both are ways that I share my knowledge to help educators around the globe transform their teaching and make school interesting, valuable and meaningful for all students. I didn’t enjoy going to school as a student and believe that my ‘gift’, as Steve Harvey talks everyone having a specific gift in his latest book "Act like a Success, Think like a Success", is to make a difference for students by impacting instruction via their teachers. Upon personal reflection, what is your unique gift? How do you share your gift with others? Feel free to leave a comment and let’s share our gifts!

Today we have a set of grunge, cracked and worn concrete surfaces that can be used to spice up your designs. Enjoy! Download all textures as ZIP from copy.com (22.4Mb) Did you like these textures? Let us know by leaving a comment, and you can even post a link if you used them in your artwork. Related Posts Free Texture Friday - Gritty Concrete Wall Free Texture Friday - Smoke Free Texture Friday - Abstract Grunge 4 Free Texture Friday - Black Leather Free Texture Friday - Crystallized Silica

Al Roker, weather forecaster for the Today morning show, is hosting a 34 hour weather-a-thon where he will be on air talking about weather in an effort to raise money for the USO while attempting to set a Guinness world record for the longest uninterrupted live weather broadcast. He is using a Crowdrise campaign to raise money for the USO from donations submitted by viewers. Al gets a five minute break every hour on the hour or he can save the time and take a longer break with the five minutes per hour he builds up and saves. I love how he is using social media to raise money and attempt this world record. You can go to http://today.com and click on the #Rokerthon image to view the live broadcast. He started at 9pm CST and will continue until 7am CST Friday morning. In order to break the world record, he has to follow the rules below: He must talk about weather for the entirety of the time, outside of breaks. He can talk about current weather, and weather seven days in the past or seven days ahead. For every 60 minutes completed, he can take a five-minute break. The breaks can carry over and be combined, so if he goes four hours without stopping, he can take a 20-minute break.  Two independent witnesses must also be there at all times.  This will be a difficult, but worthy challenge for Al Roker and a great way to bring attention to the amazing things the USO does for the military community. Join in the fun and be sure to share this with your colleagues and students!

Fields are areas of open land, often used for growing crops or other plants, but sometimes are just inhabited by wild grasses. Grassy fields are known as meadows, and they play a major role in various ecosystems because of the type of life they can support. In photography, the large open area can usually allow for a great horizon view, and because they seldom have large features, any large feature such as a tree or animal will stand out as a subject. In this post, you’ll see 30 beautiful photographs of fields and meadows. Beautiful Sunset by Tilyo Rusev Summer’s Meadow by Philip Jones Sandridge meadow by Connie Fitzgerald Surveying the meadow by -liyen- Field by Marinella Splendor of the Meadows by John Richter Field of dandelions 2 by Dragan Milovanovic Field of Flowers 1 by Gi Pamperien Poppy fields of Kent by Louise Wilden Spring Fields by Tim Fiddimore Meadow by Pete Suburb meadow by Paula Fry Spring Meadows #2 by Martin Rak Moroccan Field by Perry McKenna Fields and meadows by Wamillian infinity green by Cristian Martinelli Fields and meadows by Wamillian Sunset in Taiping Paddy Field by Syibli Dark clouds over wheat field by Alessandro Carnevale Dandelion Field by usabin Misty Field by Leo Field of green by Alan meadow down by sassaputzin Countryside by Kasper Nymann Red Meadow by Cryp7ic Tuscany landscape by Tuscany landscape Summer Breeze Sam Meyrick Field by Kasper Nymann Plum Island Field by SarahRydgren In the fields by LadyShamisen Related Posts Bright and Sunny Photography 30 Marvelous Underwater Photographs 30 Intense Hunting Photographs On The Road: 30 Road Trip Photographs 30 Photographs of Bicycles

I’ll bet that when you encounter the phrase ‘augmented learning’ you get a mental picture of a person, wearing a high tech set of goggles or a helmet, with an expression of opened-mouthed, rapt wonder on his/her face. Right? That’s augmented learning. Right? Well, I’m not sure that’s what augmented learning looks like today, and that’s what we’re exploring in this three part series. But first, a definition from the Wikipedia: "Augmented learning is an on-demand learning technique where the environment adapts to the learner. By providing remediation on-demand, learners can gain greater understanding of a topic while stimulating discovery and learning." Based on Wikipedia, could the humble QR code be an augmented learning tool? Try it for yourself: Take a look at the QR code on the right hand-side of this page. If you have a QR code scanner app on your phone, activate the app, point your phone’s camera at the code, and see what happens. If you don’t have an app, no excuses. It’s a free download from any app store. So. Did you scan it? (If you didn’t scan it, you can also just click on it) If you answered yes, congratulations! You just learned something . And, you just participated in a very basic form of augmented learning. Really. What is a QR code? Simply stated, this boxy collection of dark- and light-colored blocks connects the physical world to the digital world. And that connection is where the QR code works its magic: any user with a mobile device equipped with a QR code reader has instant access to the associated information. The code itself connects your device to the information designated by the code, and launches the appropriate app on the mobile device to obtain that information. There was a time, not very long ago, when QR codes were fairly common. Initially developed by the Japanese automobile industry in the mid-1990s, QR codes seemed to be the wave of the future. Unfortunately, most mobile devices did not come with the scanning apps pre-loaded, so users have to download the app themselves. While there are many free code-reading apps, interest in the little boxes has waned since 2009. And as of 2014 the QR code was practically declared dead, or at best, a relic of digital days gone by… But Not so fast! Any reports of QR Code demise have been greatly exaggerated! Certainly in the consumer industry, the age of the QR code seems to have come and gone. But for the elearning industry, those little boxes could be a major step toward augmented learning. Remember, the QR code is an on-demand tool to access information. QR Codes and Augmented Learning In the Real World Imagine a manufacturing plant where QR codes are attached to the machines. Gone are the bulky manuals and endless reference indexes. Gone also are the workflow interruptions and delays around learning new processes. Information is available at the literal fingertips of all employees. And new employees can learn about each step of a process in real-time, increasing knowledge and optimizing their skill sets. The inevitable task of troubleshooting can also be streamlined by QR codes. The appropriate QR code next to the emergency stop button can provide the necessary procedures to minimize interruptions, and maintain safety standards for new and seasoned staff. Attached to various stages of a process, QR codes can provide customized eLearning for specific processes, or parts of a process. Instructional material is available on-demand, increasing the flexibility of eLearning. Employees can be quickly cross-trained, thereby improving their skill sets and contributing to their own success, as well as the success of the company. Imagine utilizing on-demand, adaptive eLearning in professions and industries such as: banking, inventory, retail, packaging, shipping, even entertainment. QR codes can be used to train and develop people in tasks that range from sorting and filing to highly technical tasks that involve very specialized knowledge, such as aircraft maintenance procedures. The possibilities are limited only by our imaginations and our creativity. So let your imagination run wild: where might you utilize an on-demand information system capable of adapting to the environment? Back to the present, and let’s face it: widespread use of augmented reality in eLearning has yet to become the norm. However, we are definitely headed in that direction.( Think about what xAPI tracking could do) In the meantime, the QR code has the potential to be a player in the world of augmented eLearning. Just as we demonstrated above, the gap between a question and an answer simply disappears when your mobile device scanned a square array of dots. On-demand learning, where the learning adapts to your environment, by just scanning the code…now that is augmented learning. It might be a really good idea to keep an electronic eye out for these 4-sided little guys.   This article was first published through elearningindustry.com   The post Use Today’s Technology to Get Tomorrows Learning Experience! Augmented Learning 101: QR Codes appeared first on KMI Learning.

If you’re a designer and work for a clothing company, or you want to sell your own designs on t-shirts through one of the many marketplaces, odds are that you’ll want create an example of the design in the context of being on a shirt. To do this, you’ll need a t-shirt mockup, and there’s a lot of different ways it can be displayed: hanging on a hanger, laid out, or being worn by a demo customer. Rather than create the mockup yourself, you can simply load your design into one of these awesome free t-shirt PSD mockups for designers: Wrinkled T-Shirt PSD Blank T-Shirt Mockups V-Neck Mockup T-Shirt Colors PSD Logo T-Shirt 2 Photorealistic Mockups Multiple T-Shirt Mockups T-Shirt Mockup PSD Men’s Shirt Mockup Male Wearing T-Shirt Mockup Related Posts Colorful and Creative T-Shirt Designs Branding & Identity Design Mockup Templates ShirtsForCoders - Show your love for XHTML & CSS Free Browser PSD Mockups to Download Free iPhone 6 Templates, Mockups and PSDs

You’ve probably heard that the only silly question is the one that you didn’t ask. Well, technology has now taken that saying one step further. Voice recognition allows us to talk to, rather than through, our mobile devices. One of the best things about our mobile devices… they don’t judge. No question is too silly. It wasn’t that long ago when talking directly to an inanimate object and getting what we asked for seemed the stuff of science fiction. The people aboard the Starship Enterprise learned all sorts of juicy facts about the universe and everything in it from the onboard computer. Well, what used to be science fiction is now science fact. We practically treat our mobile devices as though they are alive. Used to be, if you argued with your phone, people gave you funny looks that meant the guys in white suits were on their way to take you to a nice, padded room. Argue with your phone today, and people look at you as if to say, "yeah, me too…" Talking to your phone yet? Think about it: every time you talk with your mobile device and say, "Ok Google…" or "Siri, where’s the nearest…" you’re using voice activated technology. And if you’ve gotten an answer back, you’ve engaged in augmented learning, augmented mlearning actually. If you have a "smart" device, and you’ve never used the voice-activated feature, this is the perfect time to start. If you have a device with the Google Now app, say "Ok Google". Ask the question: "what is augmented learning?" If you’re an iPhone user, activate Siri, and ask the same question. Google Now displays the Wikipedia article as a response to our question. Here’s the first paragraph as a definition of Augmented Learning: "Augmented learning is an on-demand learning technique where the environment adapts to the learner. By providing remediation on-demand, learners can gain greater understanding of a topic while stimulating discovery and learning." Still think the computer aboard the Enterprise is science-fiction? While there has been some resistance by the paying public, voice and speech recognition systems are all around us. Consider this: if you’ve ever responded to an automated phone system by saying, "yes," "no," "tell me my balance," "place an order," or spoken numbers, names or letters into your handset, you’ve interacted with a machine. The technology has been integrated into commercial uses for many years. Voice Activated eLearning That kind of power in the world of eLearning gives us unparalleled flexibility. Connecting a voice-activated interface with an LMS dramatically increases the rate of learning in almost any conceivable industry. When an operator requires information, they now can obtain information for a piece of equipment or a process, by simply asking for it. Command inputs can be tailored for specific tasks, or connected to a larger resource, such as the internet, in everyday language. Gone is the jargony vocabulary peculiar to a proprietary piece of programming. Just talk, and your words open up worlds. How can Voice Activated eLearning be used? Voice-recognition on a production line would be one practical implementation of this technology. The information for startup- and shutdown procedures, specific processes, troubleshooting, safety protocols and other functions could be available upon request. A worker might say, "startup procedures for production line C," or, "what tools do I need to clear a jam on the finishing line?" Devices can be programmed to respond when they "hear" a key phrase, as in the case of "Ok, Google." This further expands the flexibility of a device’s range of responses. For example, an operator could say, "Emergency! I got dust in my eye from the grinder!" The device can be programmed to focus on key information: "Emergency," "dust," "my eye." Vital information can then be provided both audibly (potential injury to the eye), as well as in a visual, step-by-step system that supports personnel providing assistance to the injured worker until emergency professionals arrive. It’s all in the programming. In other words, the system will do what you say. Where can Voice Activated eLearning be implemented? Voice activated augmented learning could be utilized in warehouses and distribution with great effectiveness. Personnel could obtain packing, shipping and handling instructions tailored to requirements that vary by material, weight, product dimensions, and safety issues without stopping to thumb through printed policies or manuals. Even information regarding international customs and other legal restrictions are available upon demand. In the medical field, patient care has been coordinated using voice-activated systems for over a decade. And tutorials for the system are built-in. Medical resources, such as drug interactions and allergies, insurance information, and medical histories are secured and available on demand by medical professionals who have been granted access to that information. Today, doctors, nurses and medical staff can coordinate patient treatment and care plans with voice-enabled systems. A patient’s follow-up visits, specialist consultations, insurance coverage and other medical services can be scheduled and coordinated with voice-activated systems. The patient no longer has to wait for 3 weeks to obtain scheduling and diagnosis information. Treatment and care plans for serious health conditions can be managed within minutes of a doctor’s visit, and those minutes can often make the difference in the quality of life for a patient. We’re already talking directly to our mobile devices. We’re asking for information about the world around us. And we’re getting the answers that we need. The technology that makes it possible for us to communicate with our machines continues to evolve and adapt to our demands. Voice recognition technology in augmented learning means that we can have machines that teach us how they work. With voice-activated augmented learning, a focused relevant response is literally just a question away. So feel free to ask. There really are no silly questions.   This is the second article in our augmented learning series. The first article was "Stop talking about it and do it ! Augmented Learning 101: QR Codes" you can read it here. Gartner named KMI Learning recently a 2015 ‘Cool Vendor’. Read the report here. This article was first published on www.elearningindustry.com.   The post Augmented Learning 102: Voice Activated eLearning - Listen Up! appeared first on KMI Learning.

Hello, today I’m sharing with you a set of 10 smoke backgrounds I shot in a studio with a smoke machine. The backgrounds are abstract and detailed, perfect as backgrounds or overlays in your next design project. Enjoy! Download all textures as ZIP from copy.com (22.5Mb) Did you like these textures? Let us know by leaving a comment, and you can even post a link if you used them in your artwork. Related Posts Free Texture Friday - Abstract Grunge 4 Free Texture Friday - Worn Concrete Free Texture Friday - Crystallized Silica Free Texture Friday - Black Leather Free Texture Friday - Rusted Metal 4

What if the information you needed was whispered in your ear, just when you needed it the most? Sound futuristic? Creepy? Maybe a little spooky? Or could it simply be technology? And what if we said that all that is already happening to people right now… and it’s happening because people are asking for it? Welcome to the world of location-based augmented learning. Before we go any further, let’s have a look at what augmented learning is. According to Wikipedia… "Augmented learning is an on-demand learning technique where the environment adapts to the learner. By providing remediation on-demand, learners can gain greater understanding of a topic while stimulating discovery and learning." RFID - Where it Comes From Now… about that whisper in your ear. Admittedly, we took some liberties for dramatic effect. But location based augmented learning is already happening around us. It’s made possible by a technology that has its roots in espionage; it’s called RFID; and it stands for Radio Frequency Identification. Although RFID owes its development to the sort of spy gadgetry that made James Bond famous, its real-world us age has primarily been in tracking. RFID can take the form of tags, chips, stickers, and components barely bigger than a grain of rice. RFID technology has been used to track everything from planes, trains and automobiles, to the stuff that gets moved in planes, trains and automobiles. How RFID Works Simply stated, an RFID system requires 2 main components: a chip or tag that contains electronically stored information, and a device that reads the stored information. A smart device, such as a mobile phone or tablet with an RFID app, can serve as the reader. The RFID tag essentially "tells" the device what information to find and where to go to find it. Once triggered, the information then appears on your smart device. An excellent, more detailed explanation is provided by HowStuffWorks and you can find out more by clicking here. As for devices which read the RFID tags, look no further than your smart device. A massive array of apps is available for free. In the retail world, RFID now provides product information to consumers as a form of direct marketing. Retailers have even used RFID tags to play pre-programmed popular music while you’re trying on clothes. In another creative application of RFID technology, a supermarket boosted its sales of a brand of mayonnaise by using RFID in a shopping cart equipped with a video screen. Walking past different sections of the store activated the screen, which played videos showing the usage of that particular brand of mayonnaise in different recipes. And that’s not all. The flexible little tag has found its way into marketing coats, pizza and even beverages. RFID in eLearning With its ability to provide customized information on demand, it should come as no surprise that the RFID tag can easily be adapted to eLearning. Mobile learning and augmented learning in one. And it’s affordability makes it very attractive as a solution to augmented learning. Once the learner comes within range of the tag, the smart device activates a link in the LMS, and voila! he or she receives the customized information — and the training — that they need. For instance, a newly-hired manager of a warehouse, might use her smart device to scan RFID tags in different parts of her department. The tags direct her device to bring up information regarding existing procedures for specific locations around the warehouse. Parts of her orientation and training could actually be self-directed. In another part of the warehouse, workers’ devices automatically provide the correct safety and handling protocols and requirements for specific shipments when within range of the RFID tag. RFID technology has been around for 70 years. And in that time, it’s grown up without growing old. In fact, we’re just beginning to discover new ways to use this resource. And as this technology becomes more refined, we’ll soon be seeing more opportunities to bring key information to eLearning when — and where — we need it.   This is the third article in our ‘Augmented Learning’ series. The first one was Stop talking about it and do it ! Augmented Learning 101: QR Codes and the second article was Augmented Learning 102: Voice Activated eLearning - Listen Up! This article has first been published on elearningindustry.com   The post Augmented Learning 103: Location Based eLearning - Learn on the Go appeared first on KMI Learning.

Like some other animals on Earth, many types of birds migrate from one area to another during a given year. The migration is usually seasonal, with changes between breeding grounds and wintering grounds where the weather is more pleasant during the cold season. The migration is most often driven by the desire to be able to find food, with many birds relying on plants, fruits and other sources that only are available in warmer climates. The migrations can be incredibly impressive, with thousands of birds flying together to make the journey, and they look even more majestic in photographs: Sand Hill Cranes Birds Migrating by Saibal Ghosh Autumn migration by mv79 Room for One More by Ryan Wunsch Squaw Creek Snows by FramedByNature Squaw Creek 3 by Rory Dillon sandhill crane migration by Chuck Starr Free Bird by arkansawyer Mania of Millions by FramedByNature Migration by SilverLemur Large group of birds flying in sky by Earnest Tse Calidris alpina by Suppi-lu-liuma Migrant Birds by Sherif Ismail time to leave by eda-erata Snow Geese by Tony Joyce And They’re Off!!! by Steve Baughn Heading South by natureguy DAMN NATURE YOU SCARY by FloralFantasy Red Winged Blackbirds en masse by Randall Roberts A lot of birds by ChinaDave Shorebird Flight by newfoundlander61 Canadian Goose Migration by OpheliaMalfoy Migrating Snow Geese by Ken Wolter ALL DEM SNOW GEESE by Gamma-Wings Flock of birds flying against moon by photowesternstudio Sooty Shearwaters at Avila by I-Heart-Photos snowgoose migration by Chuck Starr Geese Migration by About Light Images Photography Migrant birds - Sky of Palestine by Mohammad Alhaj fall migration by Barbara Snow Geese by Tony Joyce Related Posts Duck Photography 30 Marvelous Underwater Photographs 30 Photographs of Bicycles 30 Majestic Photographs of Horses On The Road: 30 Road Trip Photographs

According to Ted Stoecker, a well-designed eLearning program is a key factor in employee satisfaction and retention. In his article, "What will eLearning Cost Me?’ (2015) he examines a major employee-retention issue. In summary, Stoecker provides a typical example of how companies hire, train, and then lose employees due to traditional - and inadequate - training methods.  He suggests that an effective eLearning system will actually help to reduce the costs of employee turnover. Traditional training methods may not engage employees in a way that is meaningful to them, and can lead to frustration. Employees then leave the company, which is costly due to expenses incurred in the hiring and training process. Employing an engaging eLearning program, can communicate that an employer cares for their employees, thus increasing employee retention. ELearning cost is lower than loosing trained employees. eLearning provides the kind of interaction that allows the learner to learn actively. Rather than passive "shadowing" and observation, the knowledge and information provided is reinforced by the learner’s engagement in real-life activities. Learning is further enhanced by the fact that the trainee self-directs his or her own learning. Feedback is provided in real-time, and is often immediate, allowing the learner to move quickly to the next task to be learned.  In a warehousing and logistics environment, active eLearning could be critical to bringing employees up to speed quickly. Training becomes a fun challenge, rather than a frustrating chore. Employee boredom is minimized, as well as the feeling that they are behind. And, people who feel like they’re winning tend to stick around. Ted Stoecker’s article is available on the P&O blog at www.plantandoperationstraining.com. The P&O blog is an e-learning resource for the distribution and manufacturing industry. To discover more for yourself about how you can use the power of eLearning to encourage retention of your workforce, click here. The post Summary: How much will eLearning Cost Me? appeared first on KMI Learning.

In the world of business card design, having a uniquely designed business card is one of the best ways to help a client stand out against their competition. There’s a few ways this can be done, such as having brightly colored cardstock, using die cut uniquely shaped cards, or using letterpress or foil stamping to add an extra touch. Another great way to stand out is to use a transparent card stock for a truly unique and original effect: Dario Monetini Business Card Geryhalter Design Business Card Consecution Business Card Lorenzo Bonnani Business Card Studio Business Card MEME Business Card Mario Rayz Corporate Design Marine Positive Motion Dreams SB Studio Related Posts Examples of Textures in Business Card Design Fresh and Inspiring Business Card Designs Cleverly Designed Die-Cut Business Cards Creative Business Card Designs Beautiful Examples of Blue Business Cards

In his article, "What is Custom Content Training?" (2015), Ted Stoecker discusses the benefits of utilizing custom eLearning for the specific needs of individual warehousing and logistics companies. According to Stoecker, while some training is generic - that is, common to the warehousing and logistics industry - each individual company is unique, with its own procedures, terms, and training requirements. This can be confusing, especially for the new employee. Since e-learning can be customized to the unique requirements of each company, new employees can be brought up to speed quickly and effectively with custom content training. Custom content e-learning is also very flexible and adaptable. "Because custom eLearning courses are designed in smaller segments that fit together seamlessly, any one segment can be changed without affecting the rest of the course," says Stoecker. Technology has a habit of changing the way we do things. Fast. An inability or unwillingness to embrace technology can have very serious consequences, especially when training new employees. And when those new employees are part of the millennial generation, using custom content training can be critical to effectively and quickly training a workforce. Millennials are very comfortable with technology: they grew up with it. Previous generations have been content to learn basic tasks without much personal engagement. But the Millennial generation works best when they are given the opportunity to engage with the material. The flexibility and adaptability of e-learning custom content provides a platform for learning that is engaging for millennials, as well as employees from other generational communities. The original article was posted on the P&O blog, an e-learning resource for the distribution and manufacturing industry. To read the original article click here. If you liked this article you might also like Audience Based eLearning: eLearning has Redefined the Learner, but the Learner has to Define eLearning and Summary: How much will eLearning Cost Me?. The post Summary: What is Custom Content Training? appeared first on KMI Learning.

Imagine you just landed a job and its your first day, you go in ready to be trained so you can do the best you can and be successful at this new job of yours. After you’re introduced to a few of your co-workers, they show you to the area where you’ll be working, but instead of training you they tell you they train with the trial by fire method and you’re on your own, no walk through, no asking questions, nothing. They just leave you alone to your own devices and you have to figure it out. May the odds be ever in your favor. Some people can learn through the trial by fire method, but a lot of people just get confused and fumble around until someone corrects them. So why would you extend the process by making them suffer through that? Lets make things easier on everyone and properly teach people. Everyone has his or her own way to learn or a way that helps them understand the best, but some methods don’t help anyone and usually make things harder or could put people in danger. So we’ve come up with a short list of methods you should never ever use when trying to teach someone. Trial By Fire With this method the ‘victim’ is basically going into the situation blind, they don’t know what to expect, and if they’re operating machinery they could hurt themselves or someone else because they don’t have the proper training. Just remember, if you play with fire you get burned. The Pacifist Don’t be this guy. If you can’t take a stand and lead the person you’re teaching it’s basically the same as the trial by fire method. People want to be taught, it’s in our nature, so take a stand and lead them. If you do take the lead, they’ll respect you more and see you as a mentor or someone who they can ask questions, and they’ll do the job correctly. It’s a win win. The Drill Sergeant Attention! If you’re super aggressive and down right intimidating to your student, they’ll be scared to ask you questions or approach you when they need help with an issue. This can be especially harmful because they wont ask you when they’re unsure of something, and when they fail because they don’t understand chances are they’ll probably give up. Can I get a sir yes sir?! The Riddler Do you like it when someone answers your questions with another question? Do you like having to do way more work to get the information you need, when someone could have just told you it? Do you like risking the chance of entirely failing because instead of answering your question they asked you one? Or do you like when someone is straightforward and tells you how it is, and exactly what you need to know? Just tell people how it is, don’t ask questions. If this is you, watch out for a bat themed superhero, he might be after you. No Supplement Most people can’t learn just from hearing, they need examples and visual references to remember what they’re learning by. If you don’t supplement what you’re trying to teach with visual aids or some way to remember what you’ve taught then nothing with stick with the learner, it will go in one ear and out the other. How do I do this again? With the pace that society moves today people expect learning to be quick, easy, and even enjoyable. The issue with learning being quick and easy is that if it’s too quick then they most likely didn’t learn much. The hard part is finding an easy way to make learning quick, easy, and enjoyable for the trainee. Luckily, KMI learning can make that happen, they can tailor an e-learning program to your standards; it can be basic or completely customized to your needs. E-learning makes the process interesting by integrating interactions so the user isn’t just watching a video and attempting to soak up all the information. While e-learning isn’t the answer for everyone, it definitely can be a HUGE tool for anyone.   If you liked this article you might also enjoy Audience Based eLearning: eLearning has Redefined the Learner, but the Learner has to Define eLearning and The road to eLearning hell is paved with great intentions, good content… and lousy delivery. The post 5 Methods you Should Never Ever use when Trying to Teach Something appeared first on KMI Learning.

Todays pack of textures features gritty rusted metal textures that I shot yesterday at an abandoned industrial building. As always, these are nice as overlays and design elements, free for personal and commercial usage. Enjoy! Download all textures as ZIP from copy.com (68.5Mb) Did you like these textures? Let us know by leaving a comment, and you can even post a link if you used them in your artwork. Related Posts Free Texture Friday - Grunge Metal 3 Free Texture Friday - Gritty Rust Free Texture Friday - Grunge Metal 2 Free Texture Friday - Smoke Free Texture Friday - Black Leather