"In order to create an engaging learning experience, the role of instructor is optional, but the role of learner is essential." - Bernard Bull It is common knowledge that people learn very effectively when they are engaged in the learning process. In classroom training sessions, the trainer interacts actively with learners to capture their attention and ensure they remain focused. But, how can this be accomplished with eLearning courses which are self-paced? Well, you can create highly engaging online courses by focusing on 9 critical aspects. Let us see what they are and why they are very important. Hope you find this post interesting. How do you ensure learner engagement? We’d love to know. Related Posts4 Effective Ways of Presenting Scenarios in E-learning Courses5 Tips to Engage Your Online Learners - An InfographicTips to Create Scenarios for Various Trainings in E-learning - An Infographic

gomo Learning: An introduction to creating HTML5 adaptive and responsive eLearning Meet your new eLearning authoring tool in this gomo Learning webinar recording with Managing Director Mike Alcock. You will find out more about our brand-new SaaS eLearning authoring tool which allows you to create your very own beautiful multi-device eLearning content. This webinar will cover the basics of gomo Learning, including pricing plans and information about the responsive, adaptive content you can create. You can also watch a demo of the software so you can see just how simple it is to design your own learning programs with our user-friendly interface. The post gomo Learning: Beautiful Multi-Device eLearning appeared first on VivaeLearning: The Best Free Video Tutorials Online.

Audio is one of the most crucial elements of an eLearning course. But, it is often consigned to the background as we tend to think of it as something ancillary, which can be patched on to the course at the last minute. Including audio as an afterthought is a sure recipe for diaster as the entire course will veer on a disastrous note. The audio might end up being patchy in terms of tone and flow. It will lead the course on a jarring note. To avoid these consequences, it is a good option to keep track of your strategy right from the word go. Include it in your discussions with the stakeholders and when discussing the course strategy. Though we fail to realize, audio strategy is very closely linked to the course strategy. This is because the course and audio CANNOT run on parallel tracks. They have to be in sync to produce a harmonious course. For instance, if you decide that a particluar course will follow a story-telling approach, the tone of the audio can’t be in the form of a monologue by an invisible character. Similarly, if the course is following a case-study based approach, the audio can’t have frivolous dialogues or banter. Thus, it is of prime importance to deal with the audio strategy in conjuction with the course strategy to ensure that they run smoothly on the same track. Always ensure that audio is aligned with the course strategy. Additionally, there are other things which will help you churn out perfect audio which will be in tandem with the course and aid maximum knowledge retention and engage learners’ participation. These include the following: 1. Use vocabulary which reflects the tone of the course. The words used in the audio should not be in variance with the couse style. For example, a course intented for senior management should not contain slang words. Similarly, a course meant for new recruits should not contain technical jargon or complicated terminology they are yet to be familiar with. 2. Avoid language that sterotypes or targets specific communities or groups. Avoid language that can easily point at or ridicule a particular group. For example, it is not a good practice to depict people of a particular group as being victims of harassment, malicious gossip, etc. 3. Aviod sexually degrogatory language. Always follow a gender-neutral, non-offensive language that will not offend any group. For example, avoid language that can be offensive to women though it might be perfectly acceptable to men. Lastly, ensure that the course and audio are perfectly aligned and speak the same language. If the course deals with technical issues, it will be inappropriate to use terms related to performance management or soft-skills. Follow these guidelines and ensure you have an audio strategy that fits hand-in-glove with your course strategy. Related PostsWho’s the Best Narrator for your Online Course?5 Elements of Effective E-learning Design - An Infographic5 Simple E-learning Instructional Strategies That Keep Your Learners Hooked!

How To Design Effective eLearning Navigation You are designing your eLearning course and you have no idea which is the best way for your audience to navigate through it? Instead of guessing your learners’ expectations about what, where, and when to click, have these 5 key eLearning navigation principles in mind and get ready to design a handy and user-friendly eLearning navigation system. Keep it simple.   Your learners make several complex decisions in their personal and professional lives, which means that, when taking an eLearning course, they really don’t need the extra stress of trying to figure out how to use it via a complicated eLearning navigation system. Undeniably, it is tempting to create a custom look and feel for your eLearning courses, but your primary aim should be to keep the navigation as clear as possible. Regardless of the eLearning navigation style you will use, e.g. horizontal, vertical, tabbed, next/back etc, the design should be straightforward, clearly structured, and perhaps quite conventional, so it becomes intuitive. This lets the learners focus on your eLearning content rather than on how to navigate in it. Furthermore, consider standardizing your eLearning navigation design, in order to keep it consistent. If you don’t use the same navigation patterns in all parts of your eLearning course, your learners might get confused and, ultimately, lost. Provide clear instructions. You should offer navigation instructions, at the beginning of the eLearning course and make sure that the "Help" button is visible on every page. If your eLearning course navigation requires a lot of time spent on figuring out how to use it and how it works, you need to question its functionality. When learners are presented with an abundance of mysterious icons and buttons, as well as with a variety of unpredictable paths, time is wasted and, again, focus is lost. Your learners don't have to be trained on how to navigate in your eLearning course all at once; in fact, they can learn more about specific functions as they are moving forward. Also, in order to help advanced learners to save more time, consider offering them an optional tutorial or instructional video, so that learners with more eLearning experience will not be forced to go through information that has been created for those who aren’t familiar with the structure of your eLearning course, or for those who have never taken an eLearning course before. Free it up. Locking the eLearning navigation is a way of preventing learners from clicking through the eLearning course without following its initial structure. However, this can lead to frustration when, for instance, a learner wants to skip the audio and the next button does not seem to be active until the narration is over, or the learner needs to have immediate access to information provided later in the eLearning course without being able to do so. You need to realize that when you lock access to the eLearning content, you are blocking the learning process. After all, not all learners have the same level of expertise and experience; and your job is to accommodate all of them. In order to enhance the eLearning experience and provide your learners with more freedom and control over the eLearning content, you need to unlock the navigation options by adding buttons like "Back", "Undo", "Remove", "Close" and "Are you sure you want to ...?". This way, if some learners want, for instance, to take a quick look at everything your eLearning course covers and then go back and start from the beginning, or others feel the need to deal first with something they don’t know at all, to be able to do so. Also, rather than forcing navigation in a particular way, consider guiding your learners through your eLearning course by giving them reasons to take it step by step and not move fast ahead. Add tests and quizzes or create scenario questions that your learners won’t be able to work through, unless they have already first mastered the previous content. Ultimately, remember that your goal is not to frustrate learners by forcing them to read every single screen of the eLearning course, but rather to create an eLearning environment wherein they are free to explore the eLearning content as they wish, according to their unique learning needs. Make it interesting. A dull eLearning navigation design can easily make even the most devoted learner bored and wanting to quit. Eliminate the boring "Click Next" button and consider using a more visual approach that helps the learners navigate through the structure and topics of the eLearning course. Use color, images, timelines, mind maps, animations, even game boards, to create an entertaining environment. Similarly, if your eLearning course includes a story or a scenario, use the story’s main characters or an easily-identified scene from the scenario as eLearning navigation helpers. The drag and drop interactions are also a great way to trigger your learners’ interest. By having them drag and drop a navigation tutorial or video in order to watch it, you increase their engagement. Finally, you can create a sort of a suspenseful atmosphere for the learners by asking questions or creating dilemmas before they click on the "Next" button. Use your imagination to present your audience the information you want in interesting ways, so that their curiosity is heightened and their attention is captured right from the very beginning, before even clicking on the "Start" button. Keep it relevant. The truth is that no two learners are alike. People don’t learn the same way. As eLearning professionals, it's crucial to understand that every member of our audience is unique and will approach the eLearning content we are providing in his or her own unique way. Thus, while developing your eLearning course, take the time to analyze your audience in order to design the eLearning course navigation based on their profiles. Conduct surveys or focus groups before you start developing your eLearning course and never forget to get feedback from those who have experienced it after delivery. This way, you will know what worked, and actually meets the needs of your learners, and what didn’t and needs to be changed. As far as the language you use for your eLearning navigation design is concerned, always use simple and user-friendly terms for the eLearning navigation menu, in order to help learners immediately understand the meaning of every click they make. Furthermore, add a glossary in order to help learners deal with difficult and complicated terms that your eLearning content may include. Have these principles in mind when designing eLearning navigation for your next eLearning deliverable and you will be able to offer your learners an easy, friendly and stress-free eLearning experience. Want to know more about perfecting your carefully crafted eLearning deliverable before you launch it? Read the article Launching Your eLearning Course: 15 Things To Double Check to find the 15 things that you must double-check before launching your next eLearning course. This post was first published on eLearning Industry.

The U.S. biopharmaceutical sector employs more than 810,000 workers and supports a total of 3.4 million jobs across the country (Source: PhRMA). It is not surprising because six out of the 10 largest pharmaceutical companies are based in the US. Today, pharmaceutical companies are facing new challenges that were never there before. According to a report by KPMG, the 4 challenges faced by the pharma sector are: Inability of pharma companies to provide consistent shareholder/stakeholder value due to an array of factors. Stagnant growth in western markets and slower growth rate in emerging markets negatively impacting the overall business environment. Decline of R & D productivity with returns being less than 50% over the last 10 years. Rising scientific, political as well as legal risks have also taken a toll on the health of the industry. It also has to cope with the lack of trust built over the years from both consumers as well as governments. These challenges stemmed out from the changes that are taking place in the pharma sector. It is no longer the way we knew it a decade ago. David Rowley of OPEN Health lists three factors that are influencing the pharma sector and the way the business is done. 1. Emphasis on prevention alongside treatment of diseases Traditionally, the pharma sector was always product-centric. However, with government and health agencies stressing on disease prevention and incentivizing efforts by organizations that work towards educating the consumer. So, organizations are not just promoting their products but also promoting healthy lifestyles as a part of their marketing efforts. Examples: Pfizer - Get Healthy Stay Healthy program Merck Consumer Care - Active Family Project Eli Lilly - Lilly for Better Health Janssen - Care4Today 2. Using digital technologies to connect with stakeholders Thanks to the Internet, information is readily available. Patients have access to innumerable apps that enable individuals to be more involved in the treatment process. We have gadgets to monitor blood pressure, sugar and apps to remind patients of important deadlines. So much so that technological companies such as Apple, Google, GE and Samsung are foraying into the healthcare domain with fancy and powerful devices. Traditional means of communication is changing. Technology is increasingly used for activities that include clinical trials, logging and sharing of medical information and so on. 3. Working with big data to follow real-world patient outcomes Finally, big data provides an enormous opportunity for R & D as well as patient care. Electronic medical record systems enable sophisticated data sharing and processing techniques that enable medical practitioners to collaborate, share and provide better services to the end user. The enormous biological data will enable medical service providers to study, analyze data and prescribe personalized medicines. The focus has shifted to the individual who is in the center of the treatment. Given these dramatic changes in the pharma sector, there is a need to change the way day-to-day operations are conducted in the sector and that includes training. It is no longer sufficient to have traditional classroom sessions, workshops or on-the-job trainings as done traditionally. These have to be smartly integrated with technology to provide more hands-on training that is ongoing and available just when needed. There are many companies that have already adopted new technologies for training their workforce. For example, FDA has uploaded several online courses on a range of topics that can be accessed by people in the industry, consumers as well as specialists. Regulations and laws are regularly updated and information is posted in multiple formats - PDF documents, videos, case-studies and so on. Mobile applications are being developed for the benefit of patient care givers and sales representatives to provide on-demand information on a particular drug. Tablets are given to sales representatives to educate doctors about a new drug or research in the domain. E-learning is central to all these initiatives and has become the most essential and important part of the training curriculum to ensure that employees are trained regularly as and when required. Given the numerous challenges facing the pharma sector, effective training is one ways to equip employees to successfully sail through the challenges. It includes the following. Employee-centric training: Just as the pharma sector has moved away from being product-centric to customer-centric, so also organizations need to become employee-centric in the sense - they need to understand the varied needs of employees at various levels and provide customized training. One size does not fit all and courses have to be tailor-made to suit the individual needs and requirements. Use of digital technologies: Blended learning has to be adopted to include a seamless integration of classroom training, webinars, virtual classrooms, eLearning and mLearning that uses of digital technologies and gadgets. Managing big data: Finally, companies need to have a powerful Learning Management System (LMS) that is able to coordinate multiple training efforts from a central location. It should also be able to provide big data that analyzes the success of a training initiative and generate reports that help plan future training programs. What has been your experience about training in the pharma sector? Do you have interesting anecdotes or examples that can be shared here? Please let us know. Related PostsElearning in Healthcare and Pharmaceutical IndustryCreative Ways to Present Click on Tab Interactivity in E-learning Courses - An InfographiceLearning for Pharma - Using Tablets

Camtasia Studio 8 Tutorial: Introduction to Markers This Camtasia Studio 8 Tutorial covers the following topics: 0:30 - Find and open the marker view 0:50 - Differentiate between the two types of markers 1:40 - Add markers to your project 2:00 - Quickly pinpoint a section to delete 2:35 - Add markers while recording 3:30 - Use markers to set up a table of contents 4:50 - Wrap-up / feedback The post Camtasia Studio 8 Tutorial: Introduction to Markers appeared first on VivaeLearning: The Best Free Video Tutorials Online.

Elearning upadate 2015 will focus on Tech Trends for Learning and Teaching. An international selection of speakers will share their experiences of improving teaching and learning. What makes elearning update 2015 unique is the wide range of applications that are covered. From university, to industry to school. The conference will cover aspects such as Big Data for Learning Analytics Emerging technologies - what is around the corner? Badges and gamification - how to motivate and recognise learning Achieving cross-platform and online-offline capability The life of an Instructional Designer The importance of information literacy How to develop solutions for distance education The value and importance of assessment 2015 marks the 8th iteration of the Elearning Update. To celebr8 this, the theme for 2015 is '8 What can you share that has ATE in it, to help us make it Gr8? So, come and CommunicATE, Tell us how you ConsolidATE, and IntegrATE. What are your strATEgies? Wat maak jou 8stekend? Elearning update 2015 will take place at the Emperor's Palace (Gauteng, South Africa) on August 5 - 7, 2015.   This post was first published on eLearning Industry.

It is common knowledge that companies are investing huge amounts to train their employees to improve productivity and customer satisfaction. There are many methods of training like online training, instructor-led training (ILT), simulations, on-the-job training, group discussions, coaching, etc., and each has its own advantages and disadvantages. Recently, I worked for a project where ILT material was converted into an online course. The inputs provided to us were in the form of PDF andMS-Word documents. Today, I am going to explain how we converted this ILT material into an eLearning course. We followed six steps which are listed below. Step 1 Collecting all the input atone place:We first collected all inputs and content-related documents like videos, PDFs, etc. at one place. By doing this, we had an idea of what all we have to make use of. We also had a quick look at the content, and this made it for us to decide what comes where and when. Step 2 Creating a Curriculum:Here, we decided the curriculum. The ILT program was a level- based training program, and so, we decided to divide the content into 2 levels - basic level and advanced level. The ILT program had 4 topics, which we divided into two levels. Each level was further into courses and modules. The hierarchy levelof thecurriculum is shown below. Step 3 Designing an Instructional Strategy: Here, we analyzed the content, and this gave us a complete picture of the concept. We decided on the strategies such as scenario-based learning and avatar-based learning. We brainstormed with our team, with the content and learning objectives in mind. The ILT program had classroom activities, and wewereto decide on how to use them. At the end, we decided to follow a scenario-based learning approach where the classroom activities were used as case-studies. Here we also finalized the visual strategy, audio strategy, assessments, activities, etc. Step 4 Standardizing the designs: After we decided on the curriculum and instructional strategy, we listedthe standards pertaining to the presentationofanimations, interactivities, assessments, case studies, etc. We also finalizedthecolors and format to be used at different levels of the course. Step 5 Prototyping:We then decided to make a prototype of the course. We collected different types of content and designed the course with singles screens of interactivity, scenario, case study, and assessments. We then created the prototype and sent it to the client to get his approval of the strategies and standards to be used. Step 6 Developing the eLearning course rapidly:Finally, after getting the approval from client, we then started the actual development of the courses. Having a clear understanding of the ILT material helped us to develop courses rapidly. Thus, we converted the ILT material into an interactive and engaging eLearning curriculum. Hope you find this blog useful. Do share your views. Related PostsGuidelines for Content Chunking to Design Effective Online Courses4 Effective Ways of Presenting Scenarios in E-learning Courses6 Best Practices to Consider while Developing E-learning Courses

How To Design Captivating eLearning As is often the case, business needs and timescales for deployment outweigh considerations of enjoyment and entertainment. Sadly, this is a short-sighted approach and will ultimately impact your ROI, for as we all know, we are better able to retain information if it is relevant, engaging and exciting (see Thorndike’s "Principles of Learning"). So how do we achieve this within our eLearning so that we can create a captivating eLearning experience? Show, don’t tell.  What’s the difference between news coverage of a crime and a dramatization of that same event in Crimewatch? The same information may be imparted, but instead of a list of dry facts and statements you get to see that same event from the human perspective. This makes the story come alive, making it more memorable and interesting; which in turn makes it more effective in getting across the facts. That bank robbery that took place at 2 o’clock on a Wednesday evening in Bagshot Lane is now a visceral experience filled with characters, victims, and consequences. So make your learning come alive through the use of scenarios whether they’re video, text, or comic book style. Add humor. Okay, so we’re not asking you to be the next Russell Howard, but injecting a little light humor into your course can enhance your learning. By showing the human element, you are transferring one of the best aspects of good face-to-face training to the screen. It increases the learner’s connection to the content and creates an element of surprise that will get people talking after the course. Obviously don’t get too carried away here, or you’ll risk diverting your learners’ attention from the main focus of the learning. Gamify your interactions. Gamification of eLearning has been a buzz word for a little while now, but that’s not to say that, like yesterday’s news, it should be discarded. Bringing in elements that activate the brain’s reward mechanism (such as competition and viewable scoreboards, collecting achievements, challenges, and story-telling) incentivizes the learner and makes for stickier and more fun and captivating eLearning. Personalization. All of us enjoy those personality quizzes that tell us a little bit about ourselves - one glance at the majority of Facebook feeds shows how viral these types of Buzzfeed questionnaires can get. Everything from "What gender is your brain?" to "What movie character would you be?" are covered in these quizzes. But what if we could take this approach and put it to good use? We could then use this mechanism to allow learners to hold a mirror to their preconceptions about certain subject matters and offer a personalized learning plan. A good example of this could be a short diagnostic quiz to ascertain which unconscious bias your learner is most prone to. Or even, to diagnose what types of situations trigger a stress in the workplace event, accompanied by personalized tips for overcoming this problem. The course then becomes something that the learner can engage with knowing they have a genuinely useful tool that has uncovered a little more about them than they realized. This post was first published on eLearning Industry.

As a training manager, you seek to develop an eLearning course, within a short period of time, at low cost. But, how can you do so? How can you get a good value for your precious money? Well, the answer is simple - rapid eLearning. Rapid eLearning, unlike traditional eLearning, reduces the time taken to develop a course to a large extent. It uses certain tools like Articulate Storyline, Articulate Studio and Adobe Captivate, which do not require expertise in programming, and thereby reduces the number of steps involved in the development of an eLearning course. Here is an info-graphic that compares rapid eLearning and traditional eLearning. Hoped you liked this post. Please share your opinions on the same. Related Posts4 Tips for Developing E-learning Course Using Rapid Authoring ToolsRapid E-learning through Storyline Tool: 5 Infographics Sharing Key FeaturesWhich is The Best E-learning Authoring Tool for Novice Developer?

Adobe Captivate 8 Tutorial: Text formatting for different breakpoints in Adobe Captivate 8 This Adobe Captivate 8 tutorial presents the different text formatting options for different breakpoints in Adobe Captivate 8. The post Adobe Captivate 8 Tutorial: Text formatting for different breakpoints in Adobe Captivate 8 appeared first on VivaeLearning: The Best Free Video Tutorials Online.

E-learning and mLearning are different from each other and cannot always be used interchangeably. While eLearning has been derived from distance learning, mLearning is derived from eLearning. But, there are certain differences between eLearning and mLearning. Here is a table that explains how they differ from each other. Key Features E-learning M-learning Delivery of Content Learning takes place through desktop or laptop computers. It requires individuals to be connected to a device from a fixed location, and the learning activity needs to be planned. Learning takes place through lightweight, wireless devices that are small enough to fit into one’s pocket, purse or hand. Learners do not have to be confined to a particular location. Therefore, learning can be spontaneous. Access Individuals have to be seated comfortably, at a place, to go through the course. Individuals can access knowledge or learning inputs on the go and need not be seated in one place. Screen Size & Navigation Screens are larger and navigation is smooth through mouse pointer. As a result, visuals, graphics and text can be delivered effectively. The screens of mobile devices are small, limiting the scope for text and graphics. Buttons have to be larger to enable learners to use them with their fingers easily (in contrast to a mouse pointer). Content Type Content can be broad-based and can be developed into a curriculum. Content has to be focused on a single concept and delivered in byte-sized chunks. Context In an eLearning course, context needs to be established before adding into the main module. For example: An eLearning module on the safety measures to be taken while using a piece of equipment will explain why safety measures are important and the precautions to be taken while handle equipment. M-learning is spontaneous and contextual. For example: An mLearning module on the safety measures to be taken while using a piece of equipment will have a checklist containing the safety measures which a technician can go through anywhere, anytime. Time E-learning modules often span between 20-30 minutes, allowing comprehensive knowledge transfer. M-learning modules cannot be more than 5-7 minutes as it is difficult for learners to focus on anything longer. To conclude, it is important to make use of the right method at the right time. E-learning is ideal when comprehensive training needs to be imparted, while mLearning is well-suited to deliver information nuggets or byte-sized learning which can be accessed anytime, anywhere. I hope you find this blog informative. Do share your thoughts. Related PostsBest Practices for Developing M-learning Courses - An InfographicAssessment Strategy for M-learningM-learning: The Learning Medium of the 21st Century

Designing an eLearning course that engages the learner is the biggest challenge. As instructional designers, we want to create effective online courses. But, we end up starting our eLearning course with a text, graphics and audio narration. The first thing that we need to do is analyze the content. Then, we need to identify the training needs. Create eLearning courses that are "to the point" and help learners decide if your eLearning course will offer them the skills and knowledge they need to achieve their goals. Once we receive inputs from the client, we start analyzing the content and proceed with the next steps. In this blog, I’ll share a few tips, to design training materials for global audiences. These go a long way in ensuring your courses deliver the right objectives for audiences around the world. As instructional designers, we should keep some important things in mind while designing corporate training materials for global audiences. Be sure about the culture variations: Adding competitive games or some role plays may work well for some cultures. It is better to take the help of the SME to avoid involuntary reactions. Be clear about the use of language: Though English is considered as the language of business, it is a second language for many. Avoid using idioms and colloquialism which are not well-understood. Pay attention while using numbers: We need to be careful while using numbers in our online courses, especially when they are accessed by global audiences. Indicate how you’d like it to be read when you are writing the date, year, phone number or units of currency. Use globally accepted images: Use images that are globally accepted. For instance, we can use an image of kids playing soccer to depict teamwork instead of using an image of kids playing baseball which is popular in the U.S., Japan and parts of Latin America. By following these tips, you can successfully complete your eLearning project and deliver good quality online training products to global audiences. Related PostsAre You Driving Your Learners Insane? - 4 Annoying E-learning Design Practices4 E-learning Design Tips You Can Use for Safety Training Videos116 Sure-fire E-learning Tips from the Experts in Online Training - Free eBook

Camtasia Studio 8 Tutorial: Using Crop Mode This Camtasia Studio 8 Tutorial covers the following topics: 0:00 — Intro / Cropping an image 0:35 — Cropping video 0:55 — When to use crop mode 1:20 — Wrap-up / Feedback The post Camtasia Studio 8 Tutorial: Using Crop Mode appeared first on VivaeLearning: The Best Free Video Tutorials Online.

Infographics are used in various domains. They are used in websites, newspapers, magazines, advertisements. Last but not the least, they are also used in eLearning. So, what are infographics, why do we use them and when should we use them? In this post, we will look at the answers to these questions. WHAT: Infographics are learning tools where information is communicated visually. They are used to convey the intended message with the least amount of text. Well-designed infographics reduce cognitive load and make learning memorable. WHY: The proverb ‘a picture is worth a thousand words’ means to convey a message using one picture. The main purpose of an infographic is to represent complex and large amount of information, clearly, in a way that it is understood at a glance. This is an excellent way to improve retention of information. WHEN TO USE: To compare and contrast data: Infographics are ideal to display information such as comparison of two products, and to show dos and don’ts of a process. To show a timeline: The main purpose of using a timeline infographic is to help learners remember and recall events and dates. A timeline usually consists of a sequence of events that have taken place over a period of time. In eLearning courses, we mostly deal with timelines that display the evolution of a company. To explain a process: Infographics help in breaking down complicated processes into simpler ones and presenting them in a logical way for better understanding. For instance, the "Procure to pay" process or the procedure to register your name in a database can be explained easily using an infographic. To show a summary or snapshot: You can get rid of bulleted lists from summary slide by using an infographic. This is an excellent way to impart "last minute" knowledge to your learners. To show an association of concepts: Infographics can be used to express relationship between similar data (viewing eLearning courses on various smart devices), relationship between categories (statistics of products’ usage in different countries). An important point to note is that always use infographics when the information on the screen can be best conveyed using visuals. To conclude, these are some of the interesting ways to communicate information visually. Hope you find them useful. Related PostsImportant Aspects of a Good Design in E-learning coursesWhat Does It Take to Design Top-notch E-learning CoursesWhy Should Instructional Designers Use Prototypes for E-Learning?

The online medium is used extensively by companies in the healthcare sector to equip their staff members with the needed knowledge and skills. According to a report from Ambient Insight, the revenue of the U.S. corporate market for eLearning products and services is expected to reach $7.1 billion by 2015, out of which, the growth rate of the healthcare vertical will be a staggering 45.1%. But, what does it take to create a good online training course for healthcare professionals? How can you unleash the power of eLearning to deliver top-notch training to your people? Well, here are a few things that you need to do to develop a good online course for your personnel. Hope you find this post interesting. Do share your views. Related PostsE-learning in the Healthcare Sector: Delivering Top-notch TrainingCreative Ways to Present Click on Tab Interactivity in E-learning Courses - An InfographicWhat Are The Trends in E-learning Design and Development? - An Infographic

Adobe Captivate 8 Tutorial: Creating Custom Theme Colors in Adobe Captivate 8 This Adobe Captivate 8 tutorial presents how to create a custom and save a custom theme color palette in Adobe Captivate 8. The post Adobe Captivate 8 Tutorial: Creating Custom Theme Colors in Adobe Captivate 8 appeared first on VivaeLearning: The Best Free Video Tutorials Online.

Suppose your company has a large, geographically spread workforce. You have chosen eLearning as the medium of training. The course is developed in English and ready to use. But, will that course be useful to train your global workforce? The answer is simple: No. To train your global workforce, you need to deliver online courses in their own language. So, all you need to do is to translate the already developed eLearning course into the respective local language. Here is an info-graphic which shares 4 best practices of translating your eLearning courses, in quick time and at low cost. Hope you found it useful. Do you want to add some more points? Please don’t hesitate to do so. Related PostsTips to Reduce the Cost of E-learning Translation- An Infographic5 Steps for Excellent Translation of Online Courses5 Proven Tips for Better E-learning Translations - An Infographic

8 eLearning Software Tools To Speed Up eLearning Content Development Attention eLearning managers: are you looking for useful tools to help your team create more eLearning faster? In this post, I’ll share the tools I love to use and show you how to use them to speed up your own eLearning development. 1. Elucidat Elucidat is a simple authoring tool that can help you speed up the eLearning development process. Instead of using desktop tools that are great for small or one-person development teams, cloud-based tools like Elucidat are better designed for high-volume eLearning teams. Elucidat helps me author, publish and maintain eLearning faster than a desktop tool. Here are my favorite Elucidat features: Inbuilt comments and reviews so you and your team can all work in one place Ready-to-go themes to help you get started quickly Republishing feature that lets you quickly update courses without needing to publish and deploy again Related: Learn how Utility Warehouse used Elucidat to deliver elearning to 46,000 learners 2. PowerPoint PowerPoint is a great tool! Once you forget about it being a presentation tool and think about it being design software, it can be great for storyboarding. It provides a visual way to present designs and entire briefs to your development team. I use PowerPoint to create my own graphics. After I save an object as an image, I import it into my eLearning software. PowerPoint’s image effects feature can help you manipulate existing images. For example, you can use it to quickly work up decent visual designs similar to these used in Haji Kamal. Related: Draw inspiration from this comic book tutorial 3. Audacity Audacity is an audio editor and recorder. You can record live from a microphone or easily edit previously-recorded material. I use Audacity to create voiceover files. You can also use it to help you: Remove background noise Reduce or amplify volume Manipulate speed, pitch and tempo Fade in and out 4. Camtasia Camstasia is a screen-recording and video-editing tool that lets you capture anything on your screen as a video. It allows for zooming in and out, panning animation effects and audio effects including fading and noise removal. You can add and customize callouts to enhance your video, which is an especially useful feature in training videos. I use Camtasia to bring together my images, sound files, video clips and audio. It makes it easy to arrange all my clips into a flowing video and is great for creating animations that zoom in on the recording to draw learners’ attention to specific action in the video. My favorite features that can help you save time when editing videos: Cut and split clips on the timeline Edit the audio and add voice narration Add title clips and transitions Add callouts, captioning or cursor effects 5. Snagit Snagit lets you capture images and videos with just a few clicks. You can quickly take screen captures and highlight the important stuff using the built-in markup tools. Snagit enables you to take screenshots, capture screen videos and take mobile captures. I use Snagit to grab screenshots of virtually anything I want. For example, I use Snagit to quickly provide feedback, create clear documentation and enhance the way I work with my team members and clients. Elearning inspiration: Virgin Media used Snagit to empower employees to share knowledge company-wide 6. Adobe Photoshop Adobe Photoshop is a design program that lets you compose and retouch images and photos. It has a full suite of painting tools like brushes, pencil, airbrushing and cloning. It has pretty much everything you want in a graphics package. Alternatively, for the less skilled, you can try Canva. Canva is a very simple design tool to help you create stunning graphics really quickly! 7. ColorPic ColorPic is a desktop tool that quickly lets you create color palettes for your eLearning courses. You can pick any color from your screen simply by putting your mouse over it. So if you have your corporate identity/branding kit, you can simply grab the colors from the screen and add it straight into your palette. For Mac users, Sip is a great alternative. 8. MindManager MindManager is a fast mind-mapping tool that you can use to quickly gather requirements and map out content into chapters or topics. I use it to organize my courses and curricula. It can also be easily incorporated into a design documentation or design brief. You can use mind-mapping tools to help you visualize the way your branching logic will work in your eLearning scenario. What eLearning software tools do you use? These are eight of my favorite eLearning software tools that I use on a regular basis. I challenge you to try some of these tools and see if they can help you speed up eLearning development. Have I missed any must-use tools? Share your favorite eLearning tools in the comments below. This post was first published on eLearning Industry.

Camtasia Studio 8 Tutorial: Remove a Color This Camtasia Studio 8 Tutorial covers the following topics: 0:00 — Intro 0:30 — Tips for setting up the shot 2:00 — Removing the color in the editor 2:55 — Adjusting the sliders 4:40 — Final tips 5:20 — Wrap-up / Feedback The post Camtasia Studio 8 Tutorial: Remove a Color appeared first on VivaeLearning: The Best Free Video Tutorials Online.

Joe is the training manager of a large consumer electronics manufacturer. Recently, he was entrusted with the responsibility of launching an online course on the company’s latest washing machine. It has all the attributes of a perfect eLearning course - relevant content, proper flow, right use of the media - it has it all. But, it was an utter failure - the learner response was very poor. How can you make sure that you do not have a similar experience? What does it take to market your online course effectively? Well, here are 6 very useful tips. Hope you find this post interesting. How do you promote your eLearning courses? We’d love to know. Related PostsCreative Ways to Present Click on Tab Interactivity in E-learning Courses - An InfographicMaking E-learning Courses Mobile: 5 Aspects to Consider - An Infographic7 Tips To Create Effective Sales Training Courses For Gen Y Workforce - An Infographic

We still remember the rhymes we learned in school. We remember some movie dialogues and songs we watched a few years back. What made us remember these? On the other hand, there are some instances where we don’t remember some lessons we learned in our school. It’s natural that we forget some things. So, as eLearning designers, how can we create courses that learners remember well and recall easily at their workplace? In this post, we will look at a few tips to improve knowledge retention. Present digestible bites The human brain has the capability to hold a limited amount of information at a time. Learners tend to forget things when a lot of information is crammed onto a single screen. So, to enable faster reading and better comprehension, it’s important to split the content into small chunks or pieces. This helps recall information efficiently. Here is an example of the content before and after chunking. Use graphic organizers  The human brain loves visuals rather than the bulleted list. So, instead of displaying a bulleted list on the screen, use graphic organizers such as charts, diagrams, illustrations wherever possible. Make sense of the words, bring some kind of connectivity, and display the diagram on the screen. These graphic organizers help us remember the content easily. Get colorful Human beings are visual creatures. Choosing the "right" colors can actually affect the extent to which information is grasped and retained. They set the mood and attract the learner’s attention. But, remember that not all colors help in effective learning. This table gives you information about the effect of colors on viewers. Game it In eLearning, games are great tools to engage learners with the content and reinforce learning. They encourage learners to think deeper about what they learnt and apply the knowledge in practical situations. Games should be designed in a way that they test the learners on concepts they have learnt without having an official assessment. Example: In a course on motivation, the learners need to identify their motivators from a list. This recapped the learning and gave them the flexibility to select their preferences without getting worried about the correct and incorrect answers. To conclude, these are some of the tips to create eLearning courses that help learners remember more, retain more and forget less. Hope you find them useful. Related Posts3 Myths about Instructional Design - Busted10 Tips for Instructional DesignersAdding a Degree of Challenge in Online Courses

Adobe Captivate 8 Tutorial: Removing Popups from Your Recording in Adobe Captivate 8 This Adobe Captivate 8 tutorial presents how to get rid of the annoying notifications that pop up in the middle of your video demonstrations using Adobe Captivate 8. The post Adobe Captivate 8 Tutorial: Removing Popups from Your Recording in Adobe Captivate 8 appeared first on VivaeLearning: The Best Free Video Tutorials Online.

As instructional designers, learners are the center of our universe, and everything we create is of the learner, by the learner and for the learner. But, at times, we create courses that drive our learners insane! There are times when we unintentionally do more harm than good with the courses we create. Let’s have a look at four annoying eLearning design practices that drive learners insane! Remember, when you were a kid in school and you hated it when your teacher was repeating every little thing written on the board, boring wasn’t it? Well, the same happens when you narrate your course word-by-word. You’re practically repeating the same points that are available on the screen, and there is nothing new that your learner can grasp. You can avoid this is by having a right balance of text and audio for your eLearning course, and the "recommended ratio of on-screen text and audio narration is 70:30″. For the next annoying habit, let’s take a cue from advertisements. Have you ever seen a TV advertisement that runs beyond 60 seconds? Even if it did, I am very sure you changed the channel. Now, imagine you’re taking an eLearning course where you have an "endless" slide that simply goes on and on. You’re bored, and you decide to move on to the next slide. But wait! You can’t go to the next slide because you’re restricted. The logic behind restricting the learner is that he will not watch the slide if the navigation is free. However, on the contrary, your learner is more likely to learn from your course when he is in control of and not "imprisoned" in the slide. So, give your learners unrestricted navigation to blossom and learn. Have you ever come across a Q&A session that responds to your answer with only "Yes. You’re right or No. You’re wrong? We are inquisitive and want to know why something is right or wrong. Now, think how we end up killing our learners’ inquisitive thought process when we use quiz questions that provide no feedback! Merely telling the learner that he is right or wrong isn’t enough. What if your learner makes a lucky guess and wonders why the answer is right? The right or wrong answer won’t be enough to end his curiosity. Always remember to provide proper feedback for both the right and wrong responses for your quiz questions. Never miss a chance to reinforce a learning point. Our visual strategy is just as important as our instructional strategy. However, many a time, we forget this point and decorate our course like a Christmas tree! Graphics add life to the text and take your learning point a notch higher. For example, having a picture of a file just because your slide is talking about documenting records no way enhances your learning point. Remember that using graphics as decorative elements will only take your learner away from your learning point. Graphics should always be in tune with the on-screen text. Hope you find this blog interesting. What are the eLearning design practices that drive you insane? Please feel free to post a comment below. Related Posts4 Tips for Designing Training Material for Global AudienceFirst Do No Harm - A Basic Principle of Instructional Design: Part 14 E-learning Elements to Leave Your Learners Spellbound - An Infographic