Camtasia Studio 8 Tutorial: Stitching Essentials This Camtasia Studio 8 Tutorial covers the following topics: 0:00 - Intro 0:05 - New cut behavior 0:25 - Differences between split clips and stitched clips 0:40 - Animating split clips 1:05 - Animating stitched clips 1:35 - Unstitching 1:45 - Stitching manually 2:05 - Setting the auto-stitching options 2:20 - Stitching restrictions 2:40 - Wrap-up / Feedback The post Camtasia Studio 8 Tutorial: Stitching Essentials appeared first on VivaeLearning: The Best Free Video Tutorials Online.

When I started my career as an instructional designer, I was told to put myself in the shoes of a learner and think when creating storyboards, so that I can understand how a learner feels when he takes up the course. This strategy really works when you want to create learner-centric courses. However, at the end, we only care about what the learners have taken away from the course. In this post, I’ll share a few tips to create learner-centric courses. Involve the Learner Gone are the days when you only have to click the Next button and read the content. It is now time to involve learners and make them think. Including activities and scenarios that relate to the situations they face in their lives and allowing them to take decisions is a very good practice. These activities help improve their decision-making skills and also help retain information for a long time. Keep It Relevant When a learner takes up the course, he checks whether the course is useful to him or not. So, it is very essential to communicate the objectives of an online course clearly at the beginning of the course. This gives him a clear picture of what he would gain by the end of the course. Aligning all the topics covered, activities and assessments in the course with its learning objectives would keep a learner motivated to reach the goal of the course. Facilitate Reinforcement It is very difficult to remember too many things at a time. So, it is important to include assessments and activities after every topic to reinforce the learning. Feedback must be given clearly after every correct or incorrect selection of option. This helps the learner retain the information for a long time. Avoid Restrictions Last but not least, do not ever try to restrict the learner. Always allow him to freely navigate through the course. Adult learners get frustrated if they feel that they are being restricted. If a learner feels that he has good knowledge of a topic, he can be allowed to skip it. This can help him develop interest in the course. By following these tips, we can develop highly effective, learner-centric courses. Hope you find this blog useful. Do share your views on this post. Related Posts7 Tips to Design Better E-learning Courses - An Infographic3 Interesting Ways to Design Elearning Intro Pages - Infographic3 Tips to Instructional Designers for Effective E-learning - An Infographic

eLearning Courses Should Be More Immersive and Interactive Than Ever Before Instructional design teams need to leverage advances in learning technology to transport learners on a sensory voyage and make elearning courses more immersive and interactive than ever before. Comics Vs Textbooks In the battle of Comics Vs Textbooks, the comics always won. As a child, I always found my collection of comics far more interesting than my school text books. Thanks to DC and Marvel in no small measure, I could spend hours lost in fascinating stories of legendary superheroes in epic battles. These stories were always far more interesting than math text books filled with quadratic equations which refused to be solved! Ignoring the basics tenets of learning It was only much later, when I was exposed to the science of learning, that I began to understand how the human brain is better tuned to understand concepts that are explained pictorially and made interesting by weaving stories around them. Yet, through much of my career spanning 18 years with large corporates, I have been exposed to eLearning courses that ignore these very basic tenets of learning. As we grow older and busier we also suffer from an information overload which causes the attention spans of adult learners to diminish - drastically reducing their ability to process any information that is not of immediate interest or essence. Studies have shown that the average adult attention span is 8 secs, lower than that of a goldfish! Not very flattering for humans and definitely not a statistic that corporate training departments would like to hear. The bulk of eLearning courses being churned out by organizations today contain content that is staid, serious and plain boring. Amen. Training departments have the unenviable task of regimenting learning and churning out volumes of prescriptive eLearning courses for a generation of millennial learners who are already being bombarded by external stimuli like social media. But as Uncle Ben (Spiderman’s late uncle) aptly said "With great power comes great responsibility" Corporate training and development teams will need to respond to this challenge by using creativity in transforming eLearning courses and content. Rediscovering the basics No wonder then that we are rediscovering the basic fundamental principles of active learning. Scenario based learning, 3D simulations, game-based learning and video-based learning are attempting to put the joy back in learning by creating an immersive learning experience that is truly enjoyable. Advances in learning technology have empowered instructional designers to think out of the box and move beyond creating courses to creating new learning experiences. Further advances in learning technology promise to transport learners on a sensory voyage and make learning more interesting than ever before. It’s only when training managers script this transformation of content that we will begin to see legions of learners take to imbibing learning experiences that start to define them. After all as Batman said, "Its not who I am underneath. But what I do that defines me." This post was first published on eLearning Industry.

Adobe Captivate 8 Tutorial: Location-aware Learning with Adobe Captivate 8 This Adobe Captivate 8 tutorial presents how to utilize the GPS capabilities to deliver timely, location-aware content such as assessments that require learners to be at a particular geo-location with Adobe Captivate 8. The post Adobe Captivate 8 Tutorial: Location-aware Learning with Adobe Captivate 8 appeared first on VivaeLearning: The Best Free Video Tutorials Online.

The most important factor that makes an eLearning course well received by the target audience is its visual appearance. Good visual design helps communicate the key concepts of the course effectively and engage the learner throughout the course. However, some common mistakes are made in the process of making the course appear visually rich. Here is an info-graphic which shares 6 common mistakes that instructional designers make while developing visually engaging eLearning courses. Hope you like this post. Do share your views. Related Posts4 Effective Ways of Presenting Scenarios in E-learning CoursesWhat, Why and How of Instructional Design9 Common Mistakes Instructional Designers can Avoid

Why You Should Adapt Your Onboarding With Diversity It requires only moderate shifts in philosophy to start putting this diversity to good use. By respecting a wide variety of different learning styles, using cross-training to introduce each employee to the range of functions at your organization, and ensuring that workers have good relationships they can leverage in both work and play, you can build that dream team. There Is No Such Thing as a "Bad" Learning Style People have different learning styles, whether they stem from occupational, generational, or auditory versus visual differences. Although the history of the developed world has leaned heavily toward rote visual and auditory learning with emphases on regurgitation, the pedagogical world has increasingly realized the importance of playing to a wide variety of different learning styles. A 2008 study at Northern Arizona University concluded that appealing to a wide range of learning modalities effectively nullified the artificial differences in the course grade that using only one learning style caused by privileging one learning style over another. The take-home? Using a variety of different teaching practices in training or when introducing employees to their tasks can help to ensure that they learn information quickly and retain it better. Employee Cross-training Gives New Hires the "Big Picture" Employee cross-training aids companies in responding to a wide range of problems. Consider, for instance, the case of absenteeism. In addition to costing the U.S. economy $117 billion in wage replacement and $232 in medical and pharmacy bills in 2012, poor health also cost $227 billion in lost productivity. Much of this lost productivity cost is due to absenteeism or what’s known as "presenteeism," where the employee is present in body but not necessarily able to perform the tasks for which he or she was hired. Cross-training can help, enabling companies to make use of "pinch hitters" rather than simply writing off that role for the days or weeks the employee is gone. Not only does cross-training employees help to mitigate some of these staggering costs, it gives your workers a much more well-rounded idea of what actually goes on at your workplace. This benefits your organization in several ways, including: Helping employees truly understand what they can promise clients or customers Better respecting each other’s time Working together more efficiently within and across teams Enabling them to do smaller tasks themselves that formerly they might have had to ask someone from another department to do Encouraging Good Relations among Employees Puts Diversity to Work Onboarding should not just consist of training; it should include meeting the team and enjoying company outings even before they're hired, depending on the position. Why, you’re wondering? Isn’t this just a waste of company resources, especially if you don’t end up hiring that person? Not at all. Giving employees a sense of unity with their peers is critical to creating an engaging, productive and effective workplace. In fact, fostering that sense of unity by allowing all workers to take their breaks simultaneously can increase worker satisfaction by as much as 10 percent, and according to some case studies, can decrease a call center team’s average call handling time by 20 percent. This points to a widely known but little-heeded maxim: the team that plays together stays together. But perhaps a more important takeaway here is that encouraging your employees to get to know one another will make the best possible use of their diversity in learning style, job function, preference and personal background. When employees know and respect one another, they are able to make much better use of what others bring to the table. Onboarding employees isn’t always the easiest process, but doing it right can pay massive dividends in terms of organizational performance, productivity and employee satisfaction. Next time you make a round of hires or bring on even one new employee, remember to pay homage to their individual learning styles, to cross-train for "big picture" benefits, and to encourage unity. Doing so will result in the happy, efficient workforce you’ve always dreamed of. This post was first published on eLearning Industry.

Jim is the manager of a Destination Management Organization (DMO) which offers several tourist packages for people who wish to travel different serene destinations. As a part of his efforts to expand the organization, he hired travel agents who explain about different destinations to tourists and started training them. But he noticed that the training was ineffective and time taking, involving prolonged "time-off" jobs. Even after extensive training, the agents couldn’t retain the information on different destinations when the tourists enquired them. He was disappointed as the poor quality of training resulted in his business taking a beating. This is a common problem faced by many managers of DMOs. But, why is the travel agent so important for a DMO? According to the ASTA, 2011; Tnooz, 2011; Travel Market Report, 2011 Tnooz, it was revealed that travelers generally rely on the travel agencies and their recommendations to choose their travel destinations. This is because they believe that the agency has the required knowledge and experience to suggest the right tourist destination. This observation highlights not only the role of the travel agent in planning tours, but also the role of a DMO in training the travel agent effectively. Previously, DMOs used different ways to train travel agents like making them read books/ magazines and attend educational trips, conferences, seminars, etc. on different destinations. However, owing to the dynamic nature of the industry, the organizations started relying on digital technologies not only to promote themselves but also to train their employees effectively. With the number of travelers visiting new destinations increasing day by day, destination management has become very important for travel managers and their agents. The courses imparted through eLearning are going a long way filling the need and helping agents increase their knowledge. E-learning courses on destination management can cover the following topics, which are required by travel agents. Destination Attractions: This is the most important information needed by the travelers. All information about the main attractions at the destinations like museums, malls etc. can be included in the online course. With a good LMS,notifications and solutions related to travel packages can be introduced. In this way, announcements and e-mail notifications directly reach agents’ inboxes. Information on the Tourist Site: The "tourist appeal" of a place can be enhanced by providing information about the climate, currency accepted, languages spoken, nightlife and places to shop. General information on that particular destination can also be detailed as per the traveler’s requirement. Making all this information accessible on an LMS proves beneficial as it helps agents get the latest information on a tourist site. Information on Local Transport facilities: Many tourists would like to have information on the transportation facilities available at a tourist spot. So, the travel agent should have comprehensive information on bus and railway stations, airports and other facilities available, in the area. They can be introduced in the online course using interactive games. Special Offers at the Destination: Offers at a destination change from season to season. The travel agent should keep himself abreastof these ever-changing offers. These details can be introduced as scenarios or situations in an eLearning courses and given to travel agents to help them understand and explain the same to tourists. I hope you liked this post. Would love to hear back. Related Posts9 Strategies for Marketing eLearning to EmployeesCreative Ways to Present Click on Tab Interactivity in E-learning Courses - An InfographicCommLab India Celebrates Thanksgiving with its Heroes

Camtasia Studio 8 Tutorial: Editing Dimensions Basics This Camtasia Studio 8 Tutorial covers the following topics: 00:00 - Intro 00:15 - Default editing dimensions 00:30 - Maximum 720p HD option 01:10 - Changing the editing dimensions 02:15 - Changing the background color 02:45 - Wrap-up / feedback The post Camtasia Studio 8 Tutorial: Editing Dimensions Basics appeared first on VivaeLearning: The Best Free Video Tutorials Online.

As an instructional designer or a learning technology professional, you may always be in search of information that can help you create highly engaging and effective online courses. I have compiled a list of eBooks that can make your search easy. 1. 25 Incredible Examples of E-learning Assessments It is well-known that assessments play a key role in the learning process and they are used to measure learners’ understanding of the subject. In an eLearning course, two types of assessments are used - formative and summative. Formative assessments are conducted after completing each topic, and feedback is provided immediately after a question is answered. On the other hand, a summative assessment is an evaluation at the end of the course, and here, feedback is not provided. Assessments can be more effective if they are presented in the form of games. For example, we can present an assessment question using the game of cricket. If the learner selects the right answer, an "animated player" hits a six, and if he selects an incorrect answer, the ball hits the stumps. This eBook provides detailed answers to the following. What are the ways to make your formative assessments interactive and engaging? What are the ideas to gamify your assessments? What are the games which you can use while designing assessments for your online course? Click here to download eBook for free 2. 10 E-learning Interactivities that Engage Your Learners As instructional designers, we always think of new ways to present information to help learners get involved in the learning process and retain information for longer periods. It is important to choose the right interactivities, so that you can ensure that the learners "connect" themselves with the course. This eBook will help instructional designers make the best use of interactivities in online courses and contains comprehensive information about 10 eLearning interactivities that engage your learners. They are: Click on Images Hotspots Rollovers Tabs Timelines Numbers/ Processes Slideshows Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Flip Cards Flipbooks Click here to download eBook for free 3. Best Practices for Content Chunking to Create Cogent E-learning Courses As we all know, one of the important aspects of instructional design is content chunking. Instructional designers need to break long strings of information into understandable chunks and delete extraneous data. When the content is divided into small chunks, it becomes easy for the learner to understand the topic and helps him retain information longer and recall it effectively.  You will find answers to questions such as the following. What is content chunking? Why is content chunking important? What are the steps in the content chunking process? How to chunk content, easily, and effectively? What are the aspects to be considered before chunking learning content? Click here to download eBook for free 4. Best Practices for E-learning Design and Development Do you want to learn how to build professional, engaging, and interactive eLearning courses that meet your specific training objectives? Here is an eBook where you can learn to design an excellent eLearning course. The eBook answers the following. What does it take to design an effective eLearning program? What are the stages of an eLearning development process? How can you develop a strategy for your online course? Why do you need to review the developed online course? How can you deploy online courses? Click here to download eBook for free 5. How to Select the Right Rapid Authoring Tool Today, in the market, there are many rapid authoring tools, and choosing the right authoring tool is a difficult task. It is very important to know the features, advantages and limitations of various tools to make an informed choice. This eBook will help you select the "ideal" tool by providing comprehensive information about 5 widely used rapid authoring tools. They are: Articulate Storyline Articulate Studio 13 Adobe Captivate 8 Lectora Inspire 11 iSpring Presenter 7 It also covers the features of: Adobe Presenter 9 Adobe Premiere FlipBook Maker  Click here to download eBook for free 6. Articulate Storyline for Building E-learning Courses In today’s market, there are many rapid authoring tools. Articulate Storyline is the most popular among them. Articulate Storyline can be used to build eLearning courses, very efficiently, in quick time, at low cost. By reading this eBook, you will get answers to the following. How is Articulate Storyline different from traditional authoring tools? What are the features of Storyline that make it very popular with eLearning designers and developers? How can you develop interactive courses using Storyline? How does Storyline simplify the implementation of learning strategies? How can Storyline be used in different training situations? Click here to download eBook for free 7. Mobile Learning 101 - All You Need to Know to Get Started  Mobile technology has transformed our lives significantly, and today, there is a phenomenal growth in the number of users of the "mobile Internet". This growth is compelling companies to develop and deliver online courses that can be accessed effectively on mobile devices. This free eBook provides comprehensive information on the design and development of mobile learning courses. The eBook will give answers to the following. Why does mobile learning require a separate strategy? How can mobile learning be blended with existing training programs? What are the factors that you need to consider to implement mobile learning? What are the learning design strategies that are unique to mobile learning? How can you use mobile learning in different training situations? Click here to download eBook for free I hope you find these eBooks useful. To know more about our eBooks on eLearning, click here. Related Posts4 Effective Ways of Presenting Scenarios in E-learning Courses5 Gamified Assessments for Your E-learning Course - An Infographic5 Creative Ways to Gamify Your E-learning Assessments - An Infographic

Top Qualities That Shape A Successful eLearning Freelancer Taking the leap from full-time to freelance employment is a risky career decision, but when done properly can be truly liberating and rewarding. But what does it take to be a successful eLearning freelancer? In this article, I´ll share the top 12 qualities that shape an eLearning freelancer in order to help you determine whether this eLearning career option is right for you and ensure that your freelance business is in for the long run. Passion for learning. eLearning freelancers have an inherent thirst for knowledge. They want to know everything about the eLearning industry. From instructional design theories and graphic design principles to information technologies, successful eLearning freelancers are constantly looking for ways to expand their knowledge base. In the eLearning industry, technologies and tools change all the time; staying on top of these changes will help you develop new skills that will differentiate you from other eLearning freelancers. However, it is difficult to stay up-to-date with all eLearning trends if you don’t have a true passion for learning. Being a successful eLearning freelancer requires having a wealth of knowledge about a variety of things, from eLearning authoring tools and software to instructional design models and ways to develop eLearning video scripts. But there are no shortcuts to knowledge; you need to always be curious, ask questions, and take every opportunity to learn something new. An insatiable curiosity is a vital quality for all eLearning professionals. And it is this natural passion for knowledge that helps them to design eLearning experiences that make an impact upon their learners, because they know how they learn and what motivates them to become active participants in the learning process. Leadership skills. Even if you have no one working under you, you still need to have leadership skills as an eLearning freelancer. There will be clients who need guidance during the eLearning course design process, as well as subject matter experts and other eLearning professionals who require some degree of management. Taking care of the client billing, filling out the necessary forms, and managing the books also requires a fair amount of leadership skills. Self-discipline. Being your own boss means that there is no one to look over your shoulder or create a set schedule. One of the best things about being an eLearning freelancer is not having to report to anyone, but that also happens to be one of the disadvantages. If there is no one to hold you accountable, you must have the self-discipline to stay on track and see your projects through to the end. Perhaps self-discipline is the most important quality freelancers should have; without self-discipline, you simply cannot be a successful eLearning freelancer. For some people, not having a boss breathing down their neck may be a problem. When you don’t have someone to tell you what time to start working and what time to stop, you need to put all the effort to focus yourself. Not having to deal with a strict 9-to-5 type schedule will tempt you to do things you like as often as possible; watching movies, surfing the web, staying up late, drinking coffee with your friends on Tuesday mornings. However, you will soon realize that by doing this you will be at risk of missing deadlines and disappointing your clients. You simply cannot have fun all the time; you need to stay focused, avoid distractions, and organize a daily routine that includes your freelance working hours. It can be tempting to "call in sick" for the day when you feel burnt out or to find reasons not to work, even though there is plenty to be done. However, being an eLearning freelancer doesn’t mean that you sit around all day and work whenever you feel like it; rather, it means that you are able to choose how to set your working schedule. Self-direction, self-motivation, and self-discipline are vital skills for success in the eLearning freelancing field. If you have the self-discipline to work hard and stay focused on the task at hand, then you are more likely to be successful. Time management skills.  Time management skills are often associated with developing a productive work schedule. While this is important when you’re an eLearning freelancer, the ability to manage your time effectively actually has a variety of benefits. Most notably, it helps you to create accurate estimates for your clients based upon the fact that you can properly gauge how much time each task will require, and thus enables you to prioritize your projects and charge your client accordingly. For example, if you set aside five hours of time to work on the storyboard for an eLearning course and it takes you ten, then, you will either have to charge the client more, which can diminish your credibility, or miss out on five hours of pay. Tracking time spent on projects by breaking down your working hours into categories such as designing and developing your eLearning course, communicating with your client, creating eLearning videos and so on, will help you manage your time wisely. By doing so, you will be able to calculate your freelance hourly rate and ensure that you are paid fairly. Not being able to manage time and prioritize activities will be a problem if you want to be a productive and successful eLearning freelancer. Decisiveness.  If you have been an employee for a long time before becoming an eLearning freelancer, you may be used to someone telling you what to do all the time. Now that you are your own boss, you will no longer be told what to do; you need to come forward and take action. You need to ask questions; you need to be decisive; you need to take full responsibility for both your decisions and your actions. Taking initiative means making things happen, and this is something your clients always appreciate. Taking initiative also means taking responsibility for every aspect of your business. While you may work with other eLearning freelancers to complete projects, when all is said and done you are the one who is in charge of meeting deadlines, landing new projects, and ensuring that you deliver a high quality finished product. This is often one of the most difficult attributes to develop if you are used to being an employee, as you will be required to carry the burden of running your own business so that you can enjoy all of the perks. Communication skills.  You may think that when working almost exclusively online, as most eLearning freelancers do, it is not of utmost importance that you have strong communication skills. This is a mistake; a clear and precise communication between you and your clients is essential at all times, whether in person or not. Keep in mind to always reply to your emails within 24 hours and, if you cannot, send an email confirming that you received the message and you will answer questions asked as soon as possible. Communicate your ideas in a clear and professional way in live chats or video calls, and be smart enough to know when your advice is wanted and when it is not. This last one doesn’t mean that you need to compromise the quality of your product, but it is important to be sensitive and not force your advice on an unwilling client. Try to be flexible and suggest alternative ways of doing things, so that you will be able to keep both yourself and your client happy. Quick thinking.  eLearning freelance competition can be really tough, and thinking quickly will make it more likely to secure something before someone else does. This is not only about being able to "get" what your clients want fast, which is essential, but also about making quick and effective decisions when confronted with complex situations. If it takes a long time for you to adapt to different circumstances or to make a decision on the spot, your clients will simply look for another eLearning freelancer next time. Persistence.  As is the case with all professions, there are going to be times when you feel like throwing in the towel. This is when determination and persistence comes into play. When business is slow or clients become difficult, persistence is going to keep you focused and on-track, so that you can push through the challenges and reap all the rewards of a successful career. Being persistent is crucial, especially at the beginning of your career as an eLearning freelancer. When you have completed one or two eLearning projects, it will be easier to land a job; but at first, when you need to prove yourself, you must believe in your skills and abilities. Rejection from a variety of different clients is a common situation for most eLearning freelancers and should not discourage you. Taking no for an answer doesn’t mean that you need to give up, but rather to keep trying and not stop looking for new opportunities. Freelancing is exciting, but it can get frustrating; being persistent is of utmost importance when the road is rough and steep. Flexibility.  Another benefit of being an eLearning freelancer is that you have the opportunity to work with a wide variety of people. When working as an eLearning freelancer, no two days, no two clients, and no two projects are ever the same, which means that every opportunity is exciting and new. As such, you need to be able to adapt to every situation and to be flexible. Different clients are going to have different work processes and different expectations. If you don’t have the power to adapt to the ever-changing tide of the eLearning industry, then you simply won’t get the same opportunities as those who do. Being flexible will help you tremendously not only in learning new things and developing new skills, but also in decision making, as the more able you are to adjust yourself and your work to different circumstances, the easier it will be to decide whether to undertake rush jobs that come your way. Charging extra for rush jobs or not is another decision you must make; but successfully handling short notice deadlines is always highly appreciated, as it is important for your clients to know they can rely on you in tough times. Empathy. This may seem like a rather peculiar item on this list, but empathy is an essential quality for eLearning freelancers. You must be able to get into the minds and hearts of your learners. You have to find out what makes them tick, how and why their brains absorb the information, and what it will take to connect with them throughout their eLearning experience. In many respects, eLearning freelancers must put themselves in the shoes of their learners in order to figure out what they need to take away from the eLearning course, what they expect, and how the information should be delivered. Professionalism.  Can you think of what you look for in your ideal client? Honesty, trustworthiness, effective communication, consistency, reliability; all these elements are also what your clients look for in you. Being professional means earning the trust of your clients, and in order to do this you need to always keep your promises and deliver high quality products on time. Trust is difficult to build and very easy to destroy; you can’t expect from someone you have disappointed once to give you another chance, so you must always respond promptly to your clients’ requests. Putting your customers’ satisfaction first, showing that you are willing to go the extra mile, and being reliable will take you a long way. Networking skills.  Networking is considered to be the most effective way to land a job as an eLearning freelancer, and your personal website, blog, and social media accounts can work as great marketing and networking tools. Make sure that you keep your Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter accounts active and updated, so it will be easy for people to find and contact you. Don't hesitate to publish eLearning articles on other relative top ranking eLearning sites. This will give you the chance to immediately reach your target audience, build your online presence, and market yourself as Top eLearning Author. Furthermore, try to attend as many eLearning events as possible, always making sure that you bring plenty business cards with you, as eLearning events are great opportunities for networking. Finally, keep in mind to ask for a recommendation from a client you have had a great experience with, as word of mouth is the best form of advertising. Experience and continued education can also help to fine tune eLearning freelancer skill sets and talents. Ultimately, dedication to your craft and the constant pursuit of knowledge and personal growth are key to being a successful eLearning professional. Interested in landing more jobs as an eLearning freelancer? The article 7 Tips Every eLearning Freelancer Should Know To Land More Jobs features top tips that can help you get more eLearning design and development projects and build your instructional design portfolio. Also interested in learning more about how to build a long term and thriving eLearning freelance career? Read the article 7 Tips To Find your Niche as an eLearning Freelancer and find out all the factors that are involved in choosing the eLearning niche that is just right for you. This post was first published on eLearning Industry.

Adobe Captivate 8 Tutorial: Natively Import HTML5 Animations in Adobe Captivate 8 This Adobe Captivate 8 tutorial presents how to import HTML5 animations into your Adobe Captivate project without requiring any plug-ins. The post Adobe Captivate 8 Tutorial: Natively Import HTML5 Animations in Adobe Captivate 8 appeared first on VivaeLearning: The Best Free Video Tutorials Online.

Recently, we got an interesting requirement from one of our clients. We were asked to develop an online course on their product which needs to be delivered to four types of audience (sales people, service technicians, customers and consultants). In the first slide of the course, the learners should select the category to which they belong (sales people, service technicians, customers and consultants). Depending on the category, the learner should be directed to specific slides of the course. For example, if the learner selects the service technician category, he should be directed to slides 4, 7, 9, 24 and so on. There are no assessments in the course. Once he goes through all slides intended for his category of learners, the course completion status should appear as "completed". In general, an eLearning course will be tracked based on the number of slides visited in the course or on attempting the final quiz (Through Result Slide). Moreover, as we don’t have a quiz in this case, the learner need not go through all slides of the course to complete it. The tracking should be done based on the number of slides visited. Solution: After struggling a bit, I found an effective way of tracking an eLearning course in which only some slides are visited. We can achieve this with the Result Slide. Follow the steps below to know how to get the ‘completed’ status for eLearning courses though some slides of the course are not visited. Step 1: Create a branching scenario with four users (I have added images here). Step 2: Add navigation for each user as shown in the screenshot below. Step 3: Click the Insert tab. Step 4: Click New Slide. Step 5: In the Quizzing category, select Blank Result Slide and then click on the Insert button. Step 6: In the window opened, set the Passing Score option to 0% in the Results category. Step 7: In the Options category, uncheck all options, and then, click the OK button. Step 8: This adds the Result Slide to your course. Now add a trigger in the ending slide of each user to jump to the Result Slide, when learner clicks the Next button. In this way, we can track an eLearning course even when only a few slides are visited. Have anything to say? Please do share. Related PostsRapid E-learning through Storyline Tool: 5 Infographics Sharing Key FeaturesHow to Combine Your Adobe Captivate Projects Into Single Course?Navigation in Articulate Storyline Based on Learner Specified Time Limit

The 2015 National Forum on Active Learning Classrooms (NF-ALC 2015) at the University of Minnesota focuses on advancing practice and research on active learning classroom spaces. Our expectation is that participants from a wide variety of institutions will attend the NF-ALC 2015 to a) examine common issues affecting the effective use of these spaces and chart a path for their resolution b) share successful practices that have enriched the student and faculty experience in active learning classrooms c) build and deepen networks with colleagues in order to advance their campus efforts. The forum is framed by the alignment between the use of new learning spaces and achieving the academic priorities of many universities and colleges, such as increased retention, improved graduation rates, student engagement, emerging technologies, and global learning. Since these priorities are of broad interest to all working in higher education, international participation is most welcome. NF-ALC 2015 Featured Speakers Keynote Speaker Active Learning Classrooms: Cultivating Opportunities for Growth, Play, and Transformation Kim Eby, Associate Provost for Faculty Development; Director, Center for Teaching and Faculty Excellence, George Mason University Opening Remarks The opening night speaker for the NF-ALC 2015 is Robert H. Bruininks, President Emeritus of the University of Minnesota. Closing Remarks What Is a Classroom Anyway? Thomas Fisher, University of Minnesota; Former dean of the College of Design; Dayton Hudson Chair in Urban Design in the School of Architecture at the University of Minnesota. The 2015 National Forum on Active Learning Classrooms (NF-ALC 2015) will be held at the University of Minnesota on August 5-7 2015.   This post was first published on eLearning Industry.

It is common knowledge that well-trained sales teams play critical role in the success of today’s organizations. But, with companies releasing hundreds of products into the market, how can sales people be trained effectively? How can organizations ensure that their sales personnel are equipped with the needed knowledge and skills to meet the challenges posed by a dynamic world of business? Well, firms need to focus on 6 vital aspects to deliver first-rate training to their sales forces. Let us see what they are and why they are very important. Hope you find this post interesting. How do you train your sales people? We’d love to know. Related Posts7 Tips To Create Effective Sales Training Courses For Gen Y Workforce - An InfographicWhy do You Need to Go Beyond ‘E-learning Development Cost Per Hour’?6 Sure-fire Tips to Market Your E-learning Course - An Infographic

Camtasia Studio 8 Tutorial: Custom Production Settings This Camtasia Studio 8 Tutorial covers the following topics: 0:00 — Intro 0:20 — Production Wizard 1:15 — Choose a format 1:45 — The Controller tab 3:10 — Video and embed sizes 3:40 — Video settings 4:15 — Audio settings 4:40 — Interactive features 5:00 — Wrap-up / feedback The post Camtasia Studio 8 Tutorial: Custom Production Settings appeared first on VivaeLearning: The Best Free Video Tutorials Online.

The telecom industry has witnessed exponential growth in the past decade. The presence of an increasing number of smart-phones in the market and better availability of high speed internet connectivity make the telecom industry a vibrant sector of the economy.But, this fast technological change and the volatility within the industry need quick solutions to such complex problems. Thus, with growth, the telecom industry is also susceptible to challenges. It has to make sure that its employees are well-versed in the use of the latest technology available in the market. What Are the Training Solutions Needed by This Industry? The training solutions can be categorized into: Product and Technical support Sales support Compliance Leadership and Management Does E-learning make sense in this industry?  The first answer should be "Yes, it makes sense". Let’s see how. With employees spread across the globe, eLearning helps to reach and meet each of their training requirements. New employees can be ‘raised up to a competent level’ easily with eLearning courses, which they can take at the comfortable time.  Often, content has to be updated to suit the changing market conditions and technologies. This can be done easily with eLearning, without making major changes in the delivery mechanism. Thus, it saves valuable time and money for the organization.  What Is the Impact of E-learning on This Industry? The telecom industry comprises of workforce from various verticals having different educational and socio-economic backgrounds. E-learning must address training requirements of these different learner profiles. Sales personnel, who spend a better part of their day outside the office premises and have limited access to computer, can be trained through mobile devices. An interactive, bite-sized learning solution can be used to help them understand telecom technologies to sell the product better to the consumer. Technical persons, who are more comfortable dealing with software, can be trained through simulations. These simulations give them the option to practice and master the software with ease. Call-center personnel, who focus mainly on solving customers’ problems, can be equipped with the needed knowledge and skills using eLearning courses containing scenarios. Scenarios are the ideal tools to teach them how to handle different customer objections and provide quick solutions. For managers, who need to understand the nitty gritty about corporate affairs, eLearning courses with case-studies are crucial to understand the concepts in detail. Thus, a simple eLearning course has a lot more to offer to the telecom industry. To summarize, with ever-increasing technological developments, the time has come to implement eLearning to meet the training requirements of the telecom industry. Related Posts5 Questions you Need to Ask Before Designing a Course for the iPadBlended Learning for Effectively Meeting Challenges in the Telecom SectorE-learning: Helping Telecommunication Companies Impart Training Better

Cross-Training Employees: Why It Makes Sense When you use the words "cross-training" many business executives and staff immediately think of sports. We have visions of the triathlete who is simultaneously honing their swimming, cycling, and archery skills, so they can compete in some extraordinary challenging event at the world level. In fact, it is a word that is coming out of North American boardrooms more and more these days, as corporations find themselves having to deal with the new realities of rapidly changing markets and increasing production and service challenges. In business terms today, cross-training is used to describe the process of training employees so that they can do several jobs within an organization. On a production line, for example, a person is able to move from their original position to another completely different skill. In a food operation, a front-line order taker must also be able to handle short order cooking skills, clean tables, and order supplies. What it means for the Human Resources professional is crafting job descriptions much more loosely to allow for such an eventuality and finding ways to motivate whole generations of employees who believe they can refuse a task on grounds of "it's not my job". If you run a restaurant, for example, and you have a wedding booked, but five out of fifteen of your staff suddenly find themselves stricken with flu, you may have to call on your bookkeeper, your maintenance person, and one of your line cooks to come forward and help wait on the guests. If they have no training, your inability to deliver the service will be obvious; but if the bookkeeper has also been trained as a bartender, the glitch will go completely unnoticed. The trend has spread around the world as well. The Japanese car manufacturer Toyota insists that each employee is able to work competently on a variety of car models on one assembly line. The "Jack or Jill of all trades", a relic of the past in an age of specialists, is now the most coveted of employees again. From a Human Resources perspective, there are a number of advantages that can be discussed in the process of overcoming employee resistance. For example, when one employee knows how to do another's job, they immediately have more empathy for what is involved. The process builds a deep understanding of the various components of the company. Secondly, cross-trained employees appear less apt to suffer burnout and stress related illness, because they are often energized by the process of changing what they do regularly. They no longer suffer from the "same-old, same-old" mindset when discussing their day. Do you believe that cross-training employees will become the norm in modern day organizations or will specialized employees still be the most sought after? Share with us your thoughts and opinions.  This post was first published on eLearning Industry.

Adobe Captivate 8 Tutorial: Drag & Drop Interaction in Adobe Captivate 8 This Adobe Captivate 8 tutorial presents how to create a drag and drop interaction in Adobe Captivate 8. The post Adobe Captivate 8 Tutorial: Drag & Drop Interaction in Adobe Captivate 8 appeared first on VivaeLearning: The Best Free Video Tutorials Online.

In this age of distraction, where literally every second counts, how do you grab your online learner’s attention? Believe it or not, first impressions count, and when it comes to an eLearning course, you have only 30 seconds to impress your learners! So, here’s how you can captivate your learners in 30 seconds. The First Ten Seconds The very first page makes or breaks your course. And, the first thing your learner sees on the launch page is the course description. This is where you need to be as creative as possible; a monotonous course description will kill your learner’s mood. For instance ‘This module provides insights into the management of invoices and payments to a vendor’ is boring. However, if the same is written as "This module will help you get insights into the management of invoices and payments to a vendor.So, close other windows and dedicate your attention. It’s pretty interesting, and you will learn quite a bit."Colloquial language will have a great impact on your learner in the first ten seconds. The Second Ten Seconds  Now that you have won your learner over with a fun description, it’s time to attract your learner visually. Your course needs to look professional as well as different at the same time. Colors and graphics add ‘that additional factor’ to attract and impress your learners. Visuals are what your learner is attracted to the most; however, it is also important to ensure consistency throughout your eLearning course, and for this, you can use of design templates that make your job easier. The Third and Final Ten Seconds  All said and done, the most important slide of your course is the learning objectives slide. Time and again, learning objectives are shown as mere bullets and icons. Remember, this is your main takeaway and your learner’s motivator. So kill the bullets and present your learning objectives creatively. Time’s up, and you have impressed your learner; make sure you retain the same level of interest throughout the course, and you’d have the perfect online course. Related PostsHow to Create a Customized E-Learning Course? Step 2 - Instructional Design Process3 Things to Get The Ball Rolling for E-learning - An Infographic3 E-learning Design Tips to Keep Your Creativity Flowing

I've written a White Paper, available here, on spaced-practice that includes the theoretical basis, along with informal, formal and technological solutions. Lots of detail, with full citations but here's some simple techniques for implementing spaced-practice without too much effort. Spaced-practice, despite being well known since Ebbinghaus first suggested it as a solution to his forgetting curve, in 1885, remains a rarely practiced technique in learning. The reasons are obvious enough. Most education and training delivers isolated doses of learning, lectures, presentations, classroom courses and the learners walk out of the door at the end, job supposedly done. Teachers had no real way of getting to them after the event had finished. Spaced-practice needs to be habitual. John Locke and William James both emphasised the key role that ‘habit’ plays in learning, lessons we’ve ignored. Good learners, in my experience have developed good learning habits. They always have something to read in their pocket or bag. They tend to be obsessive note takers, often with a long series of filled notebooks. They habitually elaborate what they hear and actively try to remember. They replay and recall in their own minds, through dialogue and re-reading their notes. They also tend to kick start new learning habits, such as blogging, using Evernote and so on. So how can we make spaced-practice habitual? Top and tail As a teacher, if you deliver a series of lectures, classes, modules, whatever, the simple practice of summarising what was taught in the last lecture, period, class or event and doing the same at the end of the lecture/class/event, gives two reinforcement events for the price of one. There’s a double dividend in that you take advantage of primacy and recency (also discovered by Ebbinhaus), the fact that learners tend to remember the first and last things more than what comes in between. Note taking As a learner, get into the habit, not only of taking notes, but rereading and rewriting those notes. Wittrick and Alesandrini (1990) found that written summaries increased learning by 30% through summaries and 22% using written analogies, compared to the control group. If you take notes AND review them, you do better on assessments (Kiewra 1989, 1991). Interestingly, Peper and Mayer (1978) found that note taking increased skills transfer and problem solving in computer programming and science (1986). Shrager and Mayer (1989) found similar effects in college students, learning about cameras. It would seem that note taking allows learners to relate knowledge to experience. Places Planes, trains and automobiles, as well as airports and any other place where you find yourself hanging around - opportuntiy for a bit of recall. There are other things in life you do regularly, like eat, go to the toilet, leave the house and so on. Email If all of your learners use email then this is an easy and efficient way to deliver spaced-practice events. Group emails, set up and timed for release, can get whatever reinforcement event you wish to design straight to your audience. A simple text email, infographic, question, video, even piece of e-learning; anything that makes them rethink, will help fix the learning in long-term memory. Blog Bloggers regularly report the learning value of writing and crystalising their thoughts in blog posts. This, in itself, involved deep processing, therefore better encoding, retention and recall. Blogging is, in this sense, a massively effective way to reinforce learning. It’s one of those things that, when it becomes habitual, is massively effective as an aide memoire. Twitter and Facebook Given the fact that 1.5 billion people are on Facebook there’s a good chance that your learners are easier to reach on Facebook than they are in your institution, library or any other physical space. The notifications system on Facebook is superbly efficient and that little red circle with a number in it is a strong stimulus for attention. Simply message your students with a series of cues from the lecture or course. Sleep One of the most effective methods of habitually delivering spaced-practice is to encourage learners to get into the habit of a little practice and recall just before they go to sleep. This takes discipline but studies show that it is very effective as the brain appears to consolidate memory during sleep. Exercise If you exercise regularly, that is the chance to recall and reinforce whatever you want to retain. A podcast through your headphones in the gym? Simply record your own lists, notes, reinforcement events and replay on demand. Get into the habit and you’ll get both physical and psychological gains Mobile Systems, like ENCORE, deliver reinforcement events, spaced between any two times to your learners’ mobiles. You can choose what to deliver when using a variety of media. This system gets to that powerful, personal, portable device in the pocket of every learner. Adaptive spaced-practice Systems are emerging with personalised spaced-practice that is delivered according to your needs, paying attention to your preferred channels, interleaving known and less well known items for practice, avoiding cognitive overload when you miss some and so on. Conclusion Spaced-practice is arguably the most powerful, yet most overlooked benefit in learning. Implemented properly and it is possible to have huge gains in productivity, namely the retention and recall of whatever has been learnt. I’d go further and say that if you don’t have a spaced-practice strategy, you don’t have a properly designed course. This post was first published on eLearning Industry.

Camtasia Studio 8 Tutorial: Audio Basics This Camtasia Studio 8 Tutorial covers the following topics: 0:20 - Interpreting a waveform 0:45 - Changing the waveform display 1:20 - Previewing audio 1:45 - Raising the volume 2:35 - Removing white noise The post Camtasia Studio 8 Tutorial: Audio Basics appeared first on VivaeLearning: The Best Free Video Tutorials Online.

What is blended learning? Why do we choose blended learning solutions? Blended learning is a "mix" of two different training delivery methods. Here, the traditional and online learning formats are combined together to create a comprehensive learning experience. As we know, the two learning media have their own distinctive advantages and disadvantages. Now, we blend ILT with eLearning for the best results. By integrating ILT with eLearning, you can mix several learning strategies, methods, and media to ensure that your learning objectives are met successfully. Here, I would like to share a few best practices of blended learning. Do NOT pre-select the delivery format without performing a thorough content analysis and knowing the requirements of your target audience. It is advisable to use eLearning to deliver fundamental concepts and for pre-training preparation/induction. Then, get your learners together into a classroom for advanced concepts, practices and hands-on exercises. ILT programs could be used to train learners on complex concepts, whereas eLearning courses could be used to complement and reinforce the learning. As we know, long courses are very difficult to handle and increase the cognitive load on learners. So, it is better to keep them short and precise. Short courses are easy to handle and digest. Be realistic in your expectations from various groups. For example, you don’t expect your sales engineers to spend several hours taking your eLearning courses before they attend a classroom training session. Make sure you know their choices/ requirements before providing them with the courses. Now, I would like to conclude that the original ILT was 80% of lectures using PPTs in the classroom and 20% of hands-on training. In a blended solution, 60% of training is conducted online, 20% of hands-on training and remaining 20% for clarifying doubts or dealing with complex concepts with instructors in the classroom. These are some of the best practices of blended learning. Do share your thoughts! Related PostsInstructional Designers Keep it Simple! 3 Awesome Ways to Simplify E-learning Design4 E-learning Elements to Leave Your Learners Spellbound - An Infographic3 Tips to Instructional Designers for Effective E-learning - An Infographic

Online Presentations: 10 Creative Ideas For eLearning Professionals How you present your eLearning content to your audience is critical. Engaging your learners requires a creative approach to visual design and, more often than not, effective online presentations are creative presentations. Luckily, there are several tools you can use to build your own presentation, such as Prezi, Aurasma, and Powtoon; all you need to do is bring in your fresh ideas. In this article, I´ll share 10 creative ideas for online presentations eLearning professionals may use in order to create an inspiring eLearning product and an unforgettable eLearning experience for their audience. Engage your audience. An online presentation should never be a static activity. On the contrary; the more your audience participates, the more effective it is. Integrate as much interactivity as possible into your online presentation by including scenarios, eLearning games, and drag and drop interactions, always making sure that your navigation system is easy enough to use. Once your learners interact with your eLearning content, their levels of engagement automatically raise. Furthermore, consider leaving a thought-provoking question for the end of your online presentation; if you leave your learners with an interesting question they cannot answer right away, and you make them think about it hours after your online presentation is over, you have done a great job. Make sure, however, that this question will be answered later on in the eLearning course. Take advantage of metaphors. A good metaphor brings an online presentation to life by simplifying a concept and further engaging your learners, as it helps them not only to get your idea instantly, but also leaves a lasting impression in their minds. In other words, by comparing a topic to a situation that your learners already know, you make it relevant, which facilitates the process this information gets transferred into their long-term memory. To incorporate metaphors into your online presentation, think of the point you want to make and use stock images that showcase the comparison. It may take you some time to find the appropriate metaphor, but keep in mind that the more unusual the metaphors you use are, the better they will stand out in the minds of your audience. Tell a story. By integrating stories into your online presentation you can bring your learners to your world. No matter how many facts and figures you need to use for making your point, you can instantly turn boring material into something exciting by sharing a story behind it. Research the background of your subject matter, build a storyline around it, develop your characters, and let them narrate the facts. People love stories; storytelling is one of the best online presentation ideas in order for eLearning professionals to truly capture and engage their audiences, as are all by default more attracted to stories than to abstract ideas. Add music. Adding a soundtrack to your online presentation will truly take it to another level. Music creates emotional responses, as it tells things words cannot express, communicates a feel-good vibe, and instantly connects people. Furthermore, strong melodic hooks become easily memorable, as they grab the attention of your audience and slip the parts of your eLearning content that are surrounded by music into their long-term memory. Just remember to give copyright credit to the composer and obey licensing laws. Add videos. A good video can bring into your online presentation the life that static slides lack. eLearning videos can optimize the effectiveness of your online presentation, as long as you don’t use them too often; a maximum of three short video clips is more than enough. A good idea is to use well known movie clips, as when your learners recognize the material it is easier for them to make connections with the eLearning content presented. Furthermore, you can create and produce your own eLearning videos, so that you can be more focused on your eLearning content and directly communicate your eLearning objectives. Replace bullet points with powerful images. While the adage "a picture is worth a thousand words" is pretty much as cliché as it gets, it is 100% true. Picture superiority effect is not a myth; images communicate concepts faster and more effectively, as they are more likely to be remembered than words, even if these words are only a few and presented as bullet points. But be careful; whether you use stock images or you create your own pictures, you always need to remember that for your visuals to be effective, they must be of high quality and relevant to your eLearning content. Low resolution, cheesy, unrealistic, and irrelevant to your topic images, will not only fail to get your point across, but they will also decrease the effectiveness of you eLearning content, as they can be distracting and confusing. All in all, don’t hesitate to be very selective and take the extra time to find or create aesthetically pleasing images that are directly related to your message. Use animations. Animations don’t just eliminate language barriers; when used properly, they can turn your online presentation into an almost cinematic experience. However, as it happens with images, they simply don’t work if they are distracting. They can easily get irritating, so choose them carefully and don’t overwhelm your online presentation with lots of bells and whistles. Use tasteful animated characters to demonstrate key points and communicate your more complicated topics, and consider implementing a friendly narration to accompany them, in order to increase your learners’ engagement levels. Include a small dose of humor. Using humor in eLearning can be tricky, either because there is a risk for your audience to get carried away as it may overshadow the subject matter, or your audience’s different humor levels may lead to misunderstandings. To make sure that you neither overdo it nor potentially offend any of your learners, add only small doses of humor and keep them inspirational and positive. If you have the slightest doubt that your witty joke could offend someone, leave it out. It may sound complicated to keep balance, but it is definitely worth giving it a try; humor is not only entertaining, but also capable to help your audience instantly relate to your eLearning content. Include podcasts. Adding a podcast can be a very creative idea with respect to online presentations for eLearning. There is a variety of free podcast tools for creating your own cost-effective, approachable, and high quality podcasts. You can use them to incorporate stories, interviews, or even well-crafted open-ended questions. Podcasting, when done right, is a great way to engage your audience, especially its auditory members. Keep the surprises coming. Finally, consider not relying only on tried-and-tested recipes. To use your online presentation for creating a memorable eLearning experience you need to intrigue your audience by keeping the surprises coming. Enrich your message with eLearning tools and ways that your learners are not expecting and you can be certain that your online presentation will stay in your audience’s minds for a long, long, time. Now that you can take advantage of these creative ideas for online presentations for eLearning, you may be looking for additional ways to bring a creative spark in your eLearning course. Read the article 7 Tips To Use Learners' Creativity In eLearning and explore how you can transform the most tedious subject matter into a unique and memorable eLearning experience. This post was first published on eLearning Industry.

According to the Horizon Report, 2011, by 2015, about 80% of people will be accessing the Internet using mobile devices only, for educational purposes. The phenomenal growth in the number of users of the "mobile Internet" is compelling companies to develop and deliver online courses which can be accessed on mobile devices. A Chinese proverb says, "One picture is worth ten thousand words. This is true for our mLearning courses as well. Effective usage of visuals not only enhances the efficacy of your mLearning courses, but also keeps the learner engaged throughout the course. However, there are some visual design strategies that are to be kept in mind while developing courses for the mobile. Here is an info graphic which lists 5 visual design tips to develop mLearning courses. Hope you liked this post. Do share your thoughts. Related PostsBest Practices for Developing M-learning Courses - An InfographicAssessment Strategy for M-learning5 Tips to Get the Visual Design of Your M-learning Course Right- An Infographic