Elearning Superstars is a curated list of inspiring elearning examples, published every Tuesday. Subscribe to get weekly updates via email. This week we have some great elearning by Pepsico and Learning Evolution, and David Anderson. We also compiled a list of our four favorite scenario-based elearning examples. Showcase your elearning: Have you created a great piece of elearning that you’re really proud of? Showcase your elearning here to win awards and get published on Elearning Superstars. The post Elearning inspiration: Pepsico, Learning Evolution, David Anderson appeared first on Elucidat Blog.

Are you an elearning manager tasked with training a connected but easily distracted workforce? This article will help you understand what motivates modern learners and how to factor this into your elearning. Meet the modern learner: She is overwhelmed, distracted, and impatient; permanently connected to electronic devices, checking texts and emails and bombarded by notifications, alerts and apps. Some characteristics of the ‘modern learner’ include the following: All ages Uses multiple devices Rapidly switches between devices Bombarded by information Attention spread thinly across multiple distractions Data more quickly processed, but less deeply Josh Bersin created an infographic that neatly captures the modern learner: Modern learners are the people now working in your organization. They have tight schedules and workloads that no longer allow for day-long training programs, and, more importantly, they are not interested in training that’s not relevant to their roles or professional goals. Enter elearning. It’s flexible, available at times that suit the learner, and easy to access on different devices. Modern learners love elearning, but technology alone cannot solve the issue of motivating modern learners; instead, it requires a different approach to training design and implementation. Let’s look at five areas you need to focus on in order to capture the attention of modern learners and to deliver training that aligns your organisation’s goals with their expectations. 1. Make training useful to learners What to do: Create training on topics that will be useful to learners. Give your elearning programs titles that convey value and have the ‘pull’ factor to get your modern learners on board, for example, instead of using ‘Difficult Conversations’ for your title, try ‘5 Top Tips for Approaching Staff about Issues’. Align organisational goals (what you want to teach) with learners’ goals (what they want to learn), and then position your elearning somewhere in between. For example, consider repositioning a unit called ‘Ethics for Sales Staff’ as ‘5 Easy Ways to Avoid a Million Pound Fine’. Adapt instruction to learners. One size does not fit all. By giving learners the freedom to select their own content, you can make it more engaging for them. Try building your learning in ways that allow multiple learning pathways. This helps learners who already have the skills move onto the next step. You can do this by providing ‘Test yourself’ quizzes that place your learners at the most relevant parts of your program for them. 2. Keep training short and to the point What to do: Short attention spans and busy schedules make it imperative that you keep your elearning sessions short and to the point. Video is a great medium to quickly communicate concepts and messages, but be sure to follow the five-minute rule (no video should be longer than five minutes). Tools such as Screenr can help ensure that you don’t make it too long. Prepare properly with a script so that you don’t make mistakes and have to spend hours editing. Draw inspiration from this short, useful program by Utility Warehouse in their New Starter Training. Keep your elearning units to no more than 15 minutes long. Chunk content into small, bite-sized nuggets of training to let users navigate their own learning journey. Build an interactive menu to let learners select topics that interest them. Check out this elearning by Filtered for a good example of how to use an interactive menu. Pace your learning with breaks, checks, feedback and so on. For example, follow up a two-minute chunk of content with a quick check or reflection question, and then ask for feedback. I like to design my elearning in three- to five-minute daily training ‘bursts’. 3. Use visuals to help learners recall information What to do: A picture tells a thousand words. In the past, humans used to ‘write’ in pictures (and some cultures still do). You are a visual animal and so is your learner. To help your learners process and recall information, you should include meaningful visuals (charts, cartoons or backgrounds) that help set the scene. But be careful—don’t add images simply to make your training ‘pretty’. Make sure that the visuals you use are meaningful and content-based. 4. Make training interactive to grab and hold learner’s attention What to do: Games motivate learners. Designing your elearning as a game (or with gaming features) can help to grab and hold the learner’s attention and to insert breaks into drier topics. Kineo’s Till Training Game for McDonald’s is a great example of a fully designed gamified piece of elearning. Try adding gaming elements into your designs by using simple teaser questions, brain games, levels (learners can’t get to the next level until they pass a little test), rewards and leaderboards. 5. Provide training on all devices so it’s accessible anytime, anywhere What to do: Modern learners want training or information anytime, anywhere. You should consider making your elearning fully responsive to these demands so that learners can access training on the go and when it’s convenient for them. A great example of responsive elearning is the Royal Yachting Association’s radio training program. It has been specifically designed for learners to access on their smart phones and tablets. Training that is accessible on any device is great for untethered staff who are not based in the office. This will help you retain control of your content and reduce the chance that workers will need to search outside your organisation for information and assistance. Need more inspiration? Head over to Elearning Superstars for more examples of great elearning programs that are motivating the modern learner. The post Modern Learners Are Overwhelmed, Distracted, And Impatient. Here Are 5 Ways To Motivate Them appeared first on Elucidat Blog.

We love working with our partners from all regions of the world. Here’s a list of 10 Elucidat partners that can help you use Elucidat in your next elearning project. Acteon Communication (UK) Acteon Communication and Learning empowers growth, change, and development through award-winning communication and learning solutions. They design elearning, blended learning, m-learning and distance learning materials. Additionally, Acteon provides software tools so clients can deliver and maintain elearning inhouse. Clients: Bayer, HC-One, Magnox Contact: @ActeonComm on Twitter enquiries@acteoncommunication.com +44 1223 312227 GuyKat Solutions (UK) GuyKat Solutions provide custom elearning solutions and internal communications for corporate clients. Client focus is on FTSE100 and Multi-national organizations. Based in Birmingham UK, but with a global client base and associate network. Contact: @GuyKat on Twitter info@guykat.com +44 (0)121 288 1122 Prosell (UK) Prosell is an international skill development and performance consultancy, specialising in sales and customer service environments. Prosell has developed a digital learning platform that provides an interactive, engaging solution to the sales and customer service needs of businesses. Clients: Comcast, Travelex, Dell, Hertz, Mitsubishi, O2, McDonalds Contact: @ProsellLearning on Twitter info@prosell.com +44 (0) 20 8755 5380 Marshall E-Learning Consultancy (UK) Marshall E-Learning offers flexible, managed elearning services. They focus on quality, speed and innovation with over 250 clients from public, private and voluntary sectors. Clients: Lloyds, Volkswagen, Hitachi, University of Oxford Contact: @MarshallACM on Twitter contactus@marshallacm.co.uk +44 (0)845 123 3909 Mind Click (UK) Mind Click specializes in bespoke e-learning and Totara LMS. They pride themselves on their creativity and flexibility, so that everything is tailored to the clients needs. Clients: Sky, Lewisham Homes, British American Tobacco, BT Contact: @MindClickUK on Twitter sales@mind-click.com +44 (0) 115 906 1270 Comms Learning (UK) Comms Learning focuses on the design, development and management of elearning programs. For over twelve years, they have created bespoke eLearning for hundreds of subjects and dozens of organizations. Clients: Vodafone, Salesforce, BT, News UK, HP Contact: @CommsLearning on Twitter contactus@commslearning.com +44 203 126 4995 Make Sense Design (UK) Make Sense Design creates award-winning online learning experiences for a range of organizations, using visual design techniques to make content that is clear, impactful and memorable.They specialize in Social learning, Micro learning, Educational Games and Learning Portals. Clients: Comcast, The Open University, Pearson Contact: @MakeSenseDesign on Twitter info@makesensedesign.com +44 1273 271 461 My Elearning Store (UK) My eLearning Store is an intuitive blended training platform which is designed to be accessible from any user device giving your organization a simple yet more flexible way to train. They are a  centralized training service that improves employees everyday access to professional and personal development whether it be via online, classroom, or reference materials. Contact: info@arcittraining.co.uk +44 1252 874226 AS&K (UK) AS&K is an award-winning, full service medical communications agency. With teams in London and Chicago, AS&K is an agency with a global vision. Seeing the bigger picture allows them to implement relevant strategies that leverage local knowledge and support your objectives. Contact: info@asandk.com +44 (0)20 7428 2900 Xperteam (France) Based out of France, Xperteam has been a leader in the digital learning space since 1996. Xperteam is both an editor and a software distributor, with a global coverage of all learning technologies. Contact: @Xperteam on Twitter contact@xperteam.fr +33/1 5570 2828 Elearning Experts (USA) Elearning Experts provide consultation, hosting, support, and training for a variety of open source tools. They have expertise in the world’s largest open source LMS platform, Moodle™ and are a member of the Moodle Partner program. Clients: Select Energy Services - Houston, Learningateway, Pearson Embanet Contact: @ElearningExp on Twitter info@elearningexperts.net +1 888-928-3848 Learning Evolution (USA) Learning Evolution was established in 2003 and is a leader in custom learning design and learning management hosted solutions. They build and design unique and engaging training programs for sales teams, management, and new hire training systems. Clients: Pepsico, Starbucks, P&G, Chevron, Red Bull Contact: @LearningEvolved on Twitter support@learningevolution.com +1 619-342-7877 InteSolv (USA) Headquartered in Texas, InteSolv is a global thought leader and solution provider of online events and learning systems. Contact: @InteSolv on Twitter info@intesolv.com +1 512-681-7272 Savv-e (Australia) Savv-e works with clients locally and internationally to create truly unique learning experiences. The company provides everything you need to manage, track and create high-quality elearning for your organization. Clients: American Express, KPMG, Ernst and Young, Pfizer and more Contact: @savvelearning on Twitter info@savv-e.com.au +61 2 9901 4522 Go1 (Australia) GO1 is an Australian based company who creates digital products that are intuitive, elegant and cutting edge. Their software allows enterprises the ability to train their staff and customers through an innovative, cloud-based learning system. Clients: University of Oxford, National Australia Bank, Queensland Government. Contact: @go1creative on Twitter support@go1.com +61 7 3188 7528 eCreators (Australia) The eCreators, established in 2007, are a dedicated team with a passion for online education and all forms of learning technology. Based out of Australia, eCreators expertise are in Instructional Design, Learning Management Systems (LMS) and rapid development using software such as Elucidat, Articulate Storyline, and Adobe Captivate Clients: GE Money, Nissan, Rip Curl, Telstra Contact: @eCreators on Twitter 1300 913 112 Learning Down Under (Australia and New Zealand) LearningDownUnder provides local e-learning and staff professional development advice in the Australia and New Zealand regions. Clients: Sydney Olympic Park Authority (SOPA), Fishing Nets New Zealand. Contact: @learndownunder on Twitter info@learningdownunder.com Ecole Solutions (India) Founded in 2007, Ecole Solutions offers a wide range of technology solutions for academic institutions that influence teaching and the learning delivery processes. Contact: @ecolesolutions on Twitters info@ecoleglobal.com +91-80-26571555 10 elearning agencies using Elucidat to create innovative elearningClick To Tweet The post These 10 elearning agencies use Elucidat to create innovative elearning appeared first on Elucidat Blog.

We interviewed three leading elearning professionals. Here are their thoughts on elearning, technology, and the future of our industry. Christopher Pappas Christopher Pappas is the owner of the world’s largest elearning network, ElearningIndustry.com. He’s a very busy man, overlooking eight elearning sites and taking on the role of community manager of the Instructional Design and E-Learning Professionals’ Group. Christopher beliefs cloud-based LMSs are the future of elearning. This is because "they are secure, have low initial costs, are easily accessible (anytime, anywhere) and do not require storage space on devices". Read the full interview with Christopher Pappas interview Craig Weiss Craig Weiss is the owner of 24/7 Elearning and author of their popular elearning blog. Craig is always looking at new tools and new technology. In 2009, he was laughed at when he predicted tablets would be the future of elearning. Now tablet learning is a huge part elearning solutions. He believes the biggest challenge for elearning professionals is the ability to create real world scenarios. He says, "A scenario is much more effective than an assessment. All an assessment tells me is that you know how to memorise, it doesn’t tell me that you know how to synthesis". Read the full interview with Craig Weiss Steve Rayson Steve Rayson is the founder and former managing director of Kineo. Steve spends his time now with social search engine, Buzzsumo. He says the biggest change in elearning over the last few years was the adoption of the iPad in technical design. With no support for Flash on iPads, technical designers had to adapt to deliver elearning solutions on tablets. When asked about the future of elearning, Steve believes the future is all about blended learning designs. Solutions that combine online content learning with master-classes to put that learning into practice. Read the full interview with Steve Rayson interview We interviewed Christopher Pappas, Craig Weiss and Steve Rayson. Here are their thoughts on…Click To Tweet   The post We interviewed Christopher Pappas, Craig Weiss and Steve Rayson. Here are their thoughts on elearning, technology, and the future of our industry. appeared first on Elucidat Blog.

Scenario-based elearning can be an effective way to improve your learners engagement levels. Draw inspiration from these four scenario-based elearning examples. Tom Kuhlmann: Scenario elearning with powerpoint Developed by Tom Kuhlmann, this elearning uses powerpoint for storyboarding scenario-based learning. We like how Tom presents an overview of the process, focused less on the content and more on the mechanics of working in PowerPoint. Additionally, you can download the powerpoint file to help design your own scenario elearning. Read more on Elearning Superstars: Tom Kulmann’s scenario elearning with powerpoint Lost IoP: Scenario-based elearning from 2003 Cutting edge for its time, this piece of scenario-based elearning was created in 2003. Developed by Leo Learning, this elearning example still stands out from the crowd over 10 years later. What we like: Full screen, high impact video-based scenarios High-quality production value using professional actors Real world feel with real life scenarios Simulation design Read more on Elearning Superstars: Lost IOP’s scenario-based elearning Broken Co-worker: Not your typical elearning experience Elearner Engaged developed this scenario-based course with a unique comic book feel. The comic book layout gives the learning good visual appeal and a strong story-based structure. Read more on Elearning Superstars: Broken Co-worker is not your typical elearning experience BBC: Finance for non-financial managers This elearning game was developed by Leo Learning for the BBC. It won a gold and bronze at the 2011 Elearning Age awards. What we like: Scenario-based:  Situates the user in the role of decision-maker in front of which a series of characters come to bid for time, money and resources. Tailored feedback at each decision point Each stage is timed - a dynamic counter ups the ante and piles on the pressure to be decisive Read more on Elearning Superstars: BBC’s finance for non-financial managers Which one of these scenario-based elearning examples is your favorite? Check them out: https://t.co/OUp3inam4A — Elucidat (@elucidat) October 27, 2015 The post 4 examples of scenario-based elearning appeared first on Elucidat Blog.

Are you considering using a learning portal for your organization? Not sure what to look for or what’s out there? This article will guide you through seven key points you need to consider when evaluating a learning portal. What Is A Learning Portal? A learning portal is a gateway to all the courses, resources, and instruments that facilitate teaching and learning. Technically speaking, it’s a website that acts as a repository for teaching and learning materials. It’s a place where you store all your documents, podcasts, videos, presentations, and so on. Learning portals can also include applications that facilitate communication: Discussion forums, messaging services, email, calendars, and so on. In its simplest form, a learning portal can be a shop-front where your learners can discover or be assigned content. In its complex form, a portal can be an ecosystem for managing all teaching and learning. Whether simple or complex, a learning portal must: Let your learners get into the system and keep out those who aren’t registered. Provide easy routes for learners to navigate through the content. You don’t want your learners stepping over pools of alligators or having to pass through cages of lions along the way! With that in mind, here are 7 points to consider when selecting a learning portal. 1. Learning Portals must personalize the learning journey One size no longer fits all. The key to a successful modern-day learning strategy is to move away from the sheep-dip and toward the shop-front model. A learning portal is the most effective means by which today’s learner can get to content that’s relevant to them and their organization. To make your portal as flexible as possible, you need to keep each piece of content disaggregated and chunked into small discernible parts. Why? Because this makes it easier for you to create a variety of courses or programs. For example, imagine you have a minute of really good video that helps explain a new product. By keeping it small, you can provide it as a stand-alone object in your library of content (even if it’s also included in a longer eLearning module). This provides your learners with additional options for accessing content that’s of interest to them. 2. Learning Portals must make content "discoverable" This is one of the most difficult things to achieve. A learning portal, by its very definition, needs to make it easy to access content quickly. Portals need to provide multiple routes to content, and they need recommendation systems that suggest content that is relevant to learners. A great way to achieve this is to embrace the "like/dislike" feature that is popular on social media sites. By asking learners to recommend (or like) content, the content can be organized in such a way that it suits the learners. 3. Learning Portals must be flexible Large or diverse organizations need a learning portal that offers sufficient flexibility to customize the learning journey and to customize the look and feel of the learning environment. Different departments have different needs and wants, so it’s important for large organizations to find a solution that offers flexibility. You may also have experts who want to manage their own learning resources. In this instance, look for a tool that gives you design control so you can structure how the content is presented. Elucidat is a tool that can give you design control while providing authors with the flexibility to change brand identity and content. 4. Learning Portals must enable community interaction A learning journey shouldn’t be a lonely experience. While it is important to encourage self-directed autonomous learning, you should provide opportunities for learners to interact with other learners and teachers. Discussion forums, blogs, and sharing buttons are great communication tools that can create an environment that encourages learner-learner and learner-teacher interaction around the content. 5. Learning Portals must recognize achievement Use your learning portal to recognize learner achievements. Give awards to those who complete courses and finish programs of study. Smaller achievements can be recognized by using a system of badges that are awarded after specific course goals have been met. Make sure you choose a tool that lets you build badges into each level of your course. This provides learners with a sense of achievement - or a progress report - that keeps them motivated to complete the course. 6. Learning Portals must blend online and offline learning A learning portal can do so much more than simply act as a gateway to your online courses. As part of your overall learning strategy, you’ll want to be looking at value-adding as well as efficiency saving. If you are using face-to-face training in combination with online training, you should provide routes in and out of the portal so learners can access information online while they are involved with face-to-face training. For example, consider letting learners access the content online before they attend a scheduled mini master class or lunchtime huddle. By promoting these lunchtime huddles through the portal, you can bring online learners into an offline environment where they can discuss the content with a facilitator or expert. 7. Learning Portals must be accessible on all devices The modern learner wants to learn on the go. Your portal must be accessible and easy to use across a range of devices so that the learning can begin at the desk and then continue on smart devices. Choose a tool that synchronizes learners’ progress across multiple devices. Conclusion: What Makes A Good Learning Portal? In summary, here are 5 features every learning portal should have: It encourages your learners to be independent. It enables your learners to curate content that’s relevant to them. It provides multiple learning journeys. It allows learners to communicate and connect with other learners and their teachers. It allows learning to take place in all contexts across all devices. For inspiration, take a look at these 3 great examples of learning portals: Jurys Inn: Learning portal awarded silver in the ‘Best LMS Implementation’ category Sky: Global LMS trains 36,000 learners Plan International: Plan Academy is a learning community Stay on top of the latest eLearning ideas, trends, and technologies by subscribing to the Elucidat weekly newsletter. The post What makes an effective learning portal? Here are 7 key points to consider appeared first on Elucidat Blog.

Patrick Dunn shares some of his ideas in a series of six videos for the Elucidat blog. 1. The anatomy of a high-performance elearning team Key points: Overlapping skills: A graphic designers should be able to edit a text. Collaborative working: Stakeholders can make real-time comments and edits. Flexible development process: Cut down content documentation. This should be written directly into the tool your using. Appropriate culture: Rapid elearning development requires a culture of tolerance, openness and flexibility. 2. How to produce rapid elearning really slowly (what not to do) Key Points: Cut your documentation and content in half. Use a suite of connected or integrated technologies. Select the right type of person for the job. Simplify the process. 3. Elearning engagement: 5 little factors that can make a huge difference Patrick produced a model called "CREAM" to make sure his learning engages people. This is what CREAM stands for: C is Control: Learners need to feel that they are in control. R is Relevance: Keep your content up to date. E is Emotion: Tap into the learner’s emotions through storytelling. A is Action: Set up learners up in decision-making situations so they have to take rather than a more passive approach. M is Multimedia: Use a variety of multimedia to create a multi-sensory learning environment. 4. Why instructional designers secretly hate mobile learning Key points: True mobile learning is simple, direct, and functional. More focus on action and doing, rather than a tremendous amount of content. Mobile learning is more about interaction design and experience design. Again, less focus on large content and text. 5. Elearning Scenarios: It’s not as difficult as you think Key points: With advances in authoring technologies, any elearning designer can create quality elearning scenarios Why is scenario based learning effective? Learners are driven by goals Stories are an engaging way to tie information together Take action - learners make decisions and see consequences 6. The 3 rules of rapid elearning prototyping The 3 rules: Do it soon: Produce a prototype quickly. Within a few days, not weeks. Do it rough: Don’t be worried if there are a few mistakes and rough edges in the prototype. This can be a good thing. Do it often. This gives you the ability to work with your stakeholders progressively so they know what they’re getting. Videos from Patrick Dunn on rapid elearning and designClick To Tweet   The post Patrick Dunn tackles six elearning topics in six videos appeared first on Elucidat Blog.

Elearning Superstars is a curated list of inspiring elearning examples, published every Tuesday. Subscribe to get weekly updates via email. Showcase your elearning: Have you created a great piece of elearning that you’re really proud of? Showcase your elearning here to win awards and get published on Elearning Superstars. Qmusic: Titanic Music Event University of South Wales: Mixing Paint 4 learning portal examples: Sky (2), Jury’s Inn and Vaillant The post Elearning inspiration: Qmusic, University of South Wales, 4 learning portals appeared first on Elucidat Blog.

Are you developing a learning portal for your organization? Check out these four examples from Sky, Jury’s Inn and Vaillant. Sky’s Global Totara LMS This learning portal from Sky assists over 36,000 employees with their training. Developed by Mind Click, this is a great example of a Totara LMS solution for customer service staff. Features we like: Integrates with internal systems, including HR and induction systems with single sign-on. Contains search engine functionality, face to face session workflows and reporting. Looks great on a range of devices. Visit elearning: Sky’s Global Totara LMS Sky Employee Induction Portal Sky and Brightwave joined forces to create Sky’s induction training portal. Features we like: Portal-driven solution with good content. Multi-channel backed up by an LMS. There is a variety of content to suit a large and diverse audience. Leaderboard style scoring system keeps learners enthused and engaged. Visit elearning: Sky employee induction portal Jury’s Inn: Learning Portal Learning Pool developed this award-winning learning portal for Jury’s Inn. We like the integrated approach that draws on different technologies and services: Totara LMS, Classroom Connect and Knowledge Bank Administration, user setup and management, Reporting and management information Content development Visit elearning: Jury’s Inn: Learning Portal Vaillant Learning Portal   Vaillant, a one hundred and forty year old family business, revolutionizes its approach to training with this successful blended learning solution. It combines elearning, workshops, hands-on skills and online performance support into a single sign-on Totara LMS. This learning portal was developed by Mind Click. Visit elearning: Vaillant Learning Portal The post 4 excellent learning portal examples appeared first on Elucidat Blog.

Are you a modern author looking for ways to use gamification to create engaging and more intriguing digital learning experiences? In this article I’ll share some ideas to show you how you can gamify your digital learning and turn your learners into gamers. Three core instructional principles underlay gaming design in digital learning: Engagement and motivation, challenge, and accomplishment. In this article, I’ll dive into these principles and show you some simple ways to gamify your digital learning. 1. Focus on engagement and motivation Games are about the player’s journey from novice to master. This is what makes them engaging or even addictive. Think of your learners like gamers; build your digital learning in a way that encourages learners to reach the next stage. Chunk up your content. Present learners with a series of small achievable challenges or steps along the way to reaching an overall goal. Use quests. High levels of interactivity like quests can engage and motivate people. You can get started with a simple question or quiz interaction. Remember to create an experience for learners even when they fail. Good learning happens when your learners can learn from mistakes, so make sure you provide great feedback. Good learning also shows learners where they went wrong and gives them a chance to try again. I find this helps to keep learners motivated to continue. Video is a great medium to use for feedback in a challenge. Utility Warehouse uses video feedback well in its New Starter Training program. Short talking-head videos are placed on response layers in interactive question screens to coach learners and provide relevant information regardless of the answers they selected. Here’s another example of an engaging elearning program that has multiple small, achievable challenges (built with Elucidat): 2. Make it a challenge Design your course with lots of small incremental challenges so you can keep learners motivated to improve their skills or knowledge. Make these challenges achievable or level-based, and provide feedback and branching to keep the course relevant and engaging. A simple but effective example of this is demonstrated in a mini course called Preventing Fraud (built with Elucidat): In this example, learners can jump to the next stage of the course only if they respond correctly to a challenge. Learners are taken on different twists and turns until they reach the desired outcome. Tip 1: Set a score. In the Preventing Fraud example, a "score" is set to lock the level by setting the value to "greater than" and setting the score slider to 50%. With this rule set up in this way, learners will only be able to get to this part of the course if they have scored 50% up to this point in the learning. This is useful if you want to create a page that learners can view only if they have attained a score over 50% and have seen 50% of the course. Tip 2: Add rules. Adding rule groups allows you to organize your rules and use both "AND" and "OR" statements simultaneously. Like so: Related: Learn how to use branching and the rules function in Elucidat City Witness utilized Elucidat to set up complex branching using "rules". Complex branching ensures your learners’ journeys are based on the decisions they make at each stage. Draw inspiration from this eLearning program by City Witness called Medieval Swansea: Medieval Swansea is an interactive historical game that enables learners to take on the role of a detective to solve a mystery. Learners must complete challenges to unlock stages. Here are some of the gamification features I liked in Medieval Swansea: Scenario learning. Learners choose their journeys by completing interactive challenges and quests. Storytelling. Narrates the different stages and character witnesses. Progression. Dynamic map shows player-learners what stage they are at and what’s left to do. Dynamic polling. Vote on solving the mystery and see how other players are voting. Challenging. Lots of opportunities to gather points and bonuses that can unlock future stages. 3. Create a sense of accomplishment Learners need to have their progress affirmed. I bet you love taking tests and getting 100%. Once learners pass a test or a level, give them something to show they’ve done well. Badges in digital learning can be awarded to learners each time they demonstrate knowledge or competence.  These "trophies" attest to the fact that learners have successfully completed specific stages in a program. Badges can be used for both internal and external accreditations. Elucidat is an eLearning authoring tool that lets you create simple achievement badges to help you add a simple gamification element to your eLearning. Here’s a quick screenshot to show how badges are created inside Elucidat: What’s more, badges and achievement rewards can be used to "unlock" levels in your course. This shows learners they have to reach a certain competency before they can move on. I like using badges in compliance training to demonstrate the competence of a workforce. Learners also like badges because they can transform dry content into a fun and competitive experience. Related: Stay on top of the latest eLearning ideas, trends, and technologies by subscribing to the Elucidat weekly newsletter. Next Steps Browse these excellent examples of gamified eLearning programs on Elearning Superstars: BBC and LEO: Finance Game McDonald’s and Kineo: Till Training Game Heineken and Brightwave: Capability Academy City Witness and Make Sense Design: Medieval Swansea UK Resuscitation Council and Unit9: Lifesaver The post Can You Turn Learners Into Gamers? Here Are 3 Simple Ways To Gamify Your Digital Learning appeared first on Elucidat Blog.

What is a storyboard? Should you use storyboards when you create elearning? Steve Penfold believes storyboarding can increase the efficiency of your elearning design and development process. Read on to discover four reasons why you should consider integrating storyboards into your elearning creation process. It’s said that when Mozart wrote down musical parts for the first time, he never made a mistake. The music was fully formed and flawless in his head before he started writing. Sadly, you and I probably don’t have this ability in music - or when developing elearning. Most of us need a written plan of one type or another to allow us to grow our ideas iteratively. For elearning deliverables, this plan often takes the form of a storyboard. The shape of the storyboard and how detailed it is will depend on the size of the project, who will be using it, what software you have, and the authoring tool you’ll be using to build the elearning. But whatever the form of your storyboard, the storyboarding process is an important phase of elearning development. Here’s why… 1. Storyboarding helps you validate concepts early As an elearning author you have several masters to serve. On the one hand, you have the consumers who will be learning from your course. You want to include the right content, in the right amount, and in a way that will engage and inform your target audience. And then, you have the people who commissioned the work, and who have their own agenda that you must consider. Maybe they want to include (or exclude) particular materials for political rather than andragogical reasons. Sometimes you walk a tightrope, balancing the needs of these two groups. A high-level storyboard, describing the content elements and how they fit into the course, can be a quick way to get consensus from all stakeholder groups. Your storyboard might be as simple as a flowchart (consider using Visio or PowerPoint), with each flowchart node representing an elearning screen. A simple comment on each node can indicate what would be covered on that screen. Advantages of this include: It takes only an hour or two to make. An entire elearning deliverable can be represented on one or two A4 pages. It’s easy to share and discuss. It’ll highlight holes in the content or flow. It’s easy to change if it exposes flaws in your thinking. 2. Storyboarding keeps you within budget An interested party in many elearning projects is the Project Manager. He or she will have a distinct view on what’s ‘in scope’ for the project. A good storyboard will give an indication of how many screens are to be in the course (assuming it is a screen-based project), how many complex interactions there are, and what media elements will be required. These can be compared against logistic considerations like when the project has to be delivered and how much money has been allocated for video shoots etc. Again, if the storyboard doesn’t meet with stakeholder (in this case project manager) expectations, it’s relatively easy to change to match the budgetary constraints - and a great deal easier than having to rebuild a fully working deliverable. 3. Storyboarding helps you identify errors Errors can take several forms in an elearning deliverable. Examples are: Typos and grammatical errors Missing content Questionable or erroneous content Ambiguous content Logic errors, e.g. scenario branches that go to the wrong place. Some errors will be simple to fix, but others could require a massive rework. Imagine if a department name was wrong in a video and the talent and video crew had to be recalled for a reshoot. Usually, no one individual will recognize all types of error: Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) should recognize content related issues, a proof reader will see grammatical errors, but It might take an instructional designer to realize that a proposed branching link won’t work. By having various stakeholders review a detailed storyboard prior to the first build, that build will be as error-free as possible. This is crucial for efficient development, because rework disrupts the production phase, wastes time and duplicates effort. 4. Storyboarding can set your mind free Perhaps this sounds a bit new-age, but it’s true. If you launch into a prototype build in an elearning authoring package without a firm plan of what you want to build, your ideas will be shaped by what that particular tool prompts you to do. If, on the other hand, you sit down with a blank storyboard template as your canvas, your options are far more open. You’ll be designing with the end goal in mind, rather than around what the authoring tool designers thought would be a good idea. You might devise a plan that’s impossible to implement with your chosen tool, but that’s unlikely. Most modern authoring tools, like Elucidat, are very flexible. You might need to be creative with the authoring tool to make it do what’s in your storyboard, but that’s far better than the other way around - and your course will be interesting and fresh because you’ve pushed the boundaries a bit. In conclusion Like any other plan, what constitutes a good storyboard will depend on what it needs to do and who needs to work with it. And remember that its form can change as ideas mature and more detail is needed. But whatever form it takes, the time spent creating your storyboard will help to ensure that all your stakeholders will be satisfied, the production phase will be as efficient as possible, and your elearning program will reflect your creativity. Stay on top of the latest eLearning ideas, trends, and technologies by subscribing to the Elucidat weekly newsletter. The post Why storyboards for elearning are important (4 reasons) appeared first on Elucidat Blog.

Animation is a fun way to engage and motivate learners. Here are three of our favorite uses of animation in elearning. Virgin Atlantic: Visually appealing animated flight safety film Virgin Atlantic has used a novel approach to spicing up the boring safety message before take off. A storytelling animated video provides a fun, attention grabbing message to all passengers. The animation is stylish, well designed, and has a strong plotline. The video provides an education and memorable experience for customers. Visit elearning: Virgin Atlantic’s safety message video Northern Imagination: Tesla Statue This fun animation video was used to raise funds to build a statue of Nikola Tesla in Silicon Valley. Built with popular animation software GoAnimate, it does a great job of communicating key ideas in a fun and engaging manner. Animation features we like: Available in HTML5 and Flash. Good script, storyboarding and voice-over Excellent use of audio effects Visit elearning: Watch the animation film by Northern Imagination National Film Board of Canada: Highrise documentary project This example of animation, by the National Film Board of Canada, explores vertical living around the world. It does a good job of combining stunning imagery with animation and gamification. The program plays like a movie, but you can stop it at points and explore more in depth through interactions such as pop-ups.  By using HTML5, learners can complete it on a range of different devices. Visit elearning: Highrise Documentary Project 3 excellent examples of animation in elearningClick To Tweet   The post 3 excellent examples of animation in elearning appeared first on Elucidat Blog.

Elearning Superstars is a curated list of inspiring elearning examples, published every Tuesday. Subscribe to get weekly updates via email. Scootpad: Adaptive online learning platform for PreK-8 and primary schools Smart Sparrow: Save a Life is virtual ED room where you’ll learn to test and operate a defibrillator with a Virtual Patient Animation in elearning: 3 excellent examples Showcase your elearning: Have you created a great piece of elearning that you’re really proud of? Showcase your elearning here to win awards and get published on Elearning Superstars. Elearning inspiration: Scootpad, Smart Sparrow, 3 examples of animation in elearningClick To Tweet   The post Elearning inspiration: Scootpad, Smart Sparrow and more appeared first on Elucidat Blog.

Fast-paced organizations need just-in-time (JIT) learning. Nano or micro-learning gives learning managers a quick and simple way to adapt to the fast-changing needs of their learners. In this article, I’ll show you how to create nano-learning in under 15 minutes. You are likely under pressure to deliver more learning in less time. Nano-learning is gaining popularity because it lets you create smaller chunks of content. But, what is nano-learning? Generally speaking, nano-learning is: Five to 15 minutes long. Highly targeted; covers a single objective. Self-contained; offers small nuggets of information. Responsive; can be viewed on a range of devices. Easy to find. Multimedia; include text, video, sound, and images. To author a nano-learning object in 15 minutes, look for an elearning authoring tool that lets you do the following: Create templates for interactions that you can reuse. Build a "theme" that you can personalize or brand. Is cloud-based so that more than one member of the team can work on it at the same time. Use a pre-built menu so you don’t have to build your own. Gain access to a database of media files that are ready to use (images, graphics, and icons). Publish to an LMS (Learning Management System), LRS (Learning Record Store), and browsers in seconds. Create content that can be viewed immediately on a range of devices. 1. Use pre-built templates Pre-built templates give you the confidence that they are tested, bug-free, and ready for you to author your content. Choose a tool that ships with templates. At the very minimum, you will want presentation and question interactions, and even better, some video and sound files. 2. Create reusable themes that have your company branding already built in Ideally, your eLearning authoring tool will be easy to set up with your company’s branding, look, and feel. Once you’ve got this built, you can reuse the theme over and over again. This means you don’t have to develop the basic structure each time you want to create a new nano-learning object. 3. Use cloud-based authoring tools that are accessible anywhere, anytime When you work in the cloud, you don’t want to waste time packaging up your project files and sending them to other authors to work on. Cloud tools with collaboration functionality can empower multiple members of your team to work on the same project at the same time. Picture yourself uploading or writing the copy while a graphic artist works on the visuals. Tools -like Elucidat- will automatically synchronize updates to ensure all stakeholders are working on the most recent project update. 4. Leverage a database of rich media (photos, graphics, artwork, icons, etc) Choose a tool that includes free, high-quality media assets. For example, Elucidat’s rich media is specifically created with eLearning in mind. This will save you heaps of time because you won’t have to source your own. If you want more personalized imagery, choose a tool that lets you upload your own images and assets so you can keep them organized and accessible within your projects. 5. Use a tool that enables you to quickly publish, deploy and maintain eLearning To get your nano-learning out to your learners fast, you need a system that lets you publish and deploy it in minutes. Some tools -like Elucidat- let you push content straight into a Learning Management System that automatically updates the module in seconds. 6. Use a tool that automatically scales to respond to different mobile and tablet screen sizes You can’t afford to waste time creating learning for devices of different sizes. Choose a tool that automatically scales your content to fit devices of all sizes. For example, Elucidat’s responsive slider automatically scales content so you can see exactly how your learning looks on mobile and tablet devices. Look for a tool that lets you build once, but deploy to multiple devices. Final Thoughts Nano-learning makes it easier for you to handle a greater volume of learning content and get it out to learners fast. New technologies make nano-learning more accessible to learning managers at a wide variety of companies. When you are choosing an eLearning authoring tool, make sure it has these features: Streamlines learning publishing and deploys quickly. Simple to use so non-technical people with no previous experience can author. Automatically scales content so learners can view it on devices of all sizes. Stay on top of the latest eLearning ideas, trends, and technologies by subscribing to the Elucidat weekly newsletter. The post Nano-Learning Is Fast And Simple. Here Are 6 Ideas To Help You Create Nano-Learning In Under 15 Minutes appeared first on Elucidat Blog.

As our industry embraces new technology, elearning programs need to be built with responsiveness in mind. Here are seven examples of responsive elearning. Virgin Media: Empowering colleagues to share knowledge through the company This elearning captures years of knowledge from 15,000 colleagues.  Virgin media uses Snagit to record simple informative videos to share with the rest of the organization. This is a great example of how a large organization can capture tacit knowledge for company-wide distribution. Visit elearning: Virgin Media: Empowering colleagues to share knowledge through the company Open University: To lie or not to lie Through gamification, Open University learners input their moral responses to different types of lies through four case studies. Users can then compare their views to those of some major western philosophers. This elearning was developed by Make Sense Design. Features we like: Responsive design - functions great on all devices. Interactive, engaging and entertaining. Multi-media approach using video, narrative and ‘talking heads’. Formative feedback for learner responses helps learners align philosophical principles to key questions about morality. Tracks the learners’ responses and builds a learner’s philosophical profile. Visit elearning: Open University: To lie or not to lie Connect Group: The Golden Rules The Golden Rules elearning course, developed by Make Sense Design, replaces 20,000 words of written material with engaging interactive content. The elearning has a fully responsive design with an engaging approach to create a memorable learning experience. Also, did we mention it won silver at the 2014 ELearning Awards! Visit elearning: Connect Group: The Golden Rules Codecademy: Self-guided coding courses In the past, barriers to entry in the coding industry has made it difficult for the average learner to get involved.  With Codecademy, anyone with an internet connection can access free courses on a range of devices. Codecademy has over 25 million users and offers courses in a number of popular coding languages ranging from HTML to Ruby. Visit elearning: Codecademy: Self-guided coding courses Petsync: Living with a dog in a shared community Petsync was looking for a way to deliver their Path to Responsible Dog Ownership series to a wide audience. With help from Designing Digitally, they developed an elearning solution which was far more engaging than a traditional paper pamphlet. The course uses HTML5, which is displayed beautifully on desktops as well as mobile devices without the need to install native applications. Visit elearning: Petsync: Living with a dog in a shared community Journeys: Six step sales process Allen Interactions developed this elearning for Journeys stores to provide new employees with consistent and impactful training for their sales process. The courses were designed so that media assets, such as shoe images and lifestyles, can easily be swapped out as styles change. The elearning is touch-screen friendly and compatible with most devices. Visit elearning: Journeys: Six step sales process Faun Trackway: Computer-based training NSC used computer-aided imagery and animation to bring FAUN Trackway’s systems to life in this browser-based elearning system. We love the detailed digital imagery, high-fidelity animations and slick multimedia clips. Features we like: Responsive design - can be used on a large range of devices and operating systems. Simulation-based approach provides realistic training without the risk. Tabbed resources are available from a sidebar (glossary, menu etc.) and a progress bar lets you see where you are in the module. Visit elearning: Faun Trackway: Computer-based training The post 7 outstanding examples of responsive elearning appeared first on Elucidat Blog.

Elearning Superstars is a curated list of inspiring elearning examples, published every Tuesday. Subscribe to get weekly updates via email.   CommLab India: A short course that demonstrates basic ergonomic best practices Why we like it: Good example of a short, clear module of elearning that gets to the point. Demonstrates good beginning and ending - setting concise objectives and summarising the main points. Uses basic learning design principles: set objectives, definition and examples, knowledge check, practical demonstration, and summary. Joanna Kurpiewska: Global Food Waste Why we like it: Good example of how to use impact to help create memorable elearning. Could be used as a great opening for a longer course. Attention grabbing. Good use of high quality, full screen graphics with minimal text. Integrates interactive question using graphics and minimal text. 7 outstanding examples of responsive elearning As our industry embraces new technology, elearning programs need to be built with responsiveness in mind. Take a look at these examples by the following companies: Virgin Media Open University Connect Group Codecademy Petsync Journeys Faun Trackway Showcase your elearning: Have you created a great piece of elearning that you’re really proud of? Showcase your elearning here to win awards and get published on Elearning Superstars. Elearning inspiration: Ergonomic best practices, Global Food Waste, 7 responsive elearning examplesClick To Tweet The post Elearning inspiration: Ergonomic best practices, Global Food Waste, 7 responsive elearning examples appeared first on Elucidat Blog.

We are excited to announce that Elucidat now integrates with Docebo’s LMS platform. Instead of spending hours manually exporting and uploading your elearning programs to an LMS, you can now send them directly to Docebo in a few short steps. Docebo is a cloud-based LMS that comes with an ecosystem of features and modules that can be enabled or disabled. The platform is extendable and flexible to meet a wide array of requirements. Docebo’s integration with Elucidat means you can quickly create and access your Elucidat projects directly inside the app. Let’s look at three benefits of the Docebo Elucidat integration. Save time and deliver elearning content faster Forget exporting your elearning projects and then uploading them to your LMS. This is a time-consuming task that has now been eliminated, thanks to the Docebo Elucidat integration. While inside Docebo, you can simply select your Elucidat project and add it as a learning object to your elearning course. Instantly update learning content with Rapid Release Elucidat’s Rapid Release republishing feature quickly updates content without the need to re-upload any SCORM files. You can now make small changes faster and more efficiently. This means you can always keep your learning content up to date. Don’t worry about Tin Can or SCORM compliance Tin Can and SCORM compliance is a pain that keeps coming back every time you need to make a change to your learning content. Since Elucidat’s Rapid Release updates learning content instantly, you bypass the need to check compliance each time you make a change. Try Docebo for free If you already have an Elucidat account, you can try Docebo on a 14-day free trial. Visit the Knowledge Base to learn how to install the Elucidat app in Docebo. Still have more questions? Contact us via live chat or support@elucidat.com The post Docebo partners with Elucidat to deliver seamless integration between LMS and authoring tool appeared first on Elucidat Blog.

Learning should take place at the individual level. Today’s modern learners have a wide variety of different needs and it’s your job to personalize learning journeys to appeal to their individual requirements. In this article, I’ll look at some personalization trends and show you how to implement personalization in your own elearning. Personalization represents a move away from the one-size-fits-all training strategy. New technologies and platforms enable learning to be very customized and accessible anywhere, any time. Let’s look at three personalization trends: 1. Adaptive learning tools can help you understand the individual needs of your learners Your learners are used to personalized experiences when they buy products. For example, when you visit Amazon.com you’ll see a section that offers suggestions based on what other customers have viewed or bought. Adaptive learning is similar to this example, but instead of recommending products, it presents learners with personalized content based on their progress in the elearning program. Learning managers, Instructional Designers, and content authors now need to respond quickly to the needs of the organization and its learners. Learning Management Systems (LMSs) and authoring tools are assisting with this new challenge, offering analytics to help learning teams better understand how their learners are progressing through their content. Here’s a quick look at the analytics inside Elucidat’s authoring tool: Analytics like this help you identify what parts of your courses are being viewed and completed. You can use this intelligence to improve the experience for your learners. For example, if some content is being skipped over you can rethink how you communicate that section of the course. You might need to make it shorter -or chunk it up- so that it’s easier for learners to digest. Modern learners need a personalized experience. You can no longer stick with the mantra of one size fits all. Tools like Elucidat make delivering adaptive elearning fast and simple. 2. Experience API captures additional learner insights outside the Learning Management System Your elearning is probably only one part of a blend that combines face-to-face sessions, on-the-job training, coaching, and other learning interactions. If your organization conforms to the 70:20:10 model, then most of the learning takes place like this: 70% from on-the-job experience. 20% from feedback and working with other colleagues. 10% from training courses. How are you tracking this multi-channel experience? Your Learning Management System may be able to track 10% of the learning, but how do you track performance of on-the-job experience and feedback from others? Finding ways to create record stores of individuals’ learning experiences from multiple sources can help you leverage the 90% learning that’s taking place in the tacit or informal channels. Elucidat uses SCORM to track learner progress, but it doesn’t capture the 90% of learning that goes on outside the Learning Management System. Experience API (Tin Can), also known as xAPI, can help you define a more personalized approach to managing learning. xAPI can record learning from mobile devices and content not delivered via Learning Management System. It allows you to track, capture, share, and analyze learning across different devices. Elearning authoring tools that utilize xAPI can help you capture learning experiences that are currently invisible. The data that Tin Can API collects will give you greater insights into how relevant and useful your content is to learners. 3. Augmented learning is where virtual reality meets adaptive learning Imagine learning environments not constrained in a training room that can adapt in real time to learners’ inputs or needs. Augmented learning is where virtual reality meets adaptive learning. Developments in technology and devices such as the virtual reality headset, Oculus Rift, have big potential for making learning more personalized. A very simple demonstration of the use of such technology is BMW’s vision for training service personnel using augmented learning. How To Design Personalized Learning Experiences You don’t need an Oculus Rift headset to design personalized learning experiences. Learning can be personalized in a number of simple ways. For example, you could offer a personalized certificate upon completion of a course. Here are five ideas to help you design personalized learning paths: Create an ecosystem to support people in their jobs. Job aids, just-in-time learning nuggets, and small chunks of learning or resources can provide additional support to learners on the job. Create placement tests. These will help start individual learners at the right point in the learning journey. Some learners may need to start at the beginning, whilst other may not. Some parts of a course may be relevant for all learners, whilst other areas may be relevant only to a few. Build continuous assessments into programs. This will help learners understand how they are progressing and whether they need to go back to review previous content. Create dynamic menus. Learners can use these menus to identify where they are in the course and quickly jump straight into parts offering the content they need to learn. Build branching courses. Use an authoring tool that enables you to create scenario questions that take learners to different parts of the course depending on how they respond. Here’s a screenshot of a scenario question inside a course built with Elucidat: Final Takeaways Remember that personalization is all about offering learners a personal choice. Not all learners are equal; many will have different needs, goals, and styles of learning. Keep the following points in mind when you’re designing personalized learning: Learners have different goals. Frequent feedback is the best way to let learners know how they are doing. Regular assessments help learners understand what they don’t know and what they should focus on learning. Learners need continuous opportunities to consolidate their learning through on-the-job practice. Stay on top of the latest elearning ideas, trends, and technologies by subscribing to the Elucidat weekly newsletter. The post Personalization Is The Future: How To Design Personalized Learning Experiences appeared first on Elucidat Blog.

Branching scenarios are a form of storytelling. Branching techniques can improve learners interaction and retention. Here are six excellent examples of branching in elearning. Training Bricks: On the farm This elearning course, developed by Training Bricks, is an excellent example of how branching features can be both effective and fun to work with. Users are sent back to previous knowledge sections if they fail a task, creating an adaptive learning environment. We like that the resources are neatly classified and easy to search for when jumping around sections of the course. Features we like: Nice interactions and graphics. Good use of sounds to enhance the farm experience e.g. you get a moo sound when you make a mistake in the activity related to cows. User-driven learning - menu allows you to do the knowledge/learning stuff or jump straight into the test to see what you know already and identify the gaps Visit elearning: Training Bricks: On the farm Lifesaver: Crisis Simulation Lifesaver is an award winning simulator that uses interactivity and live-action film to teach cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). In this elearning, real-life situations are designed to put learners in the role of problem solver. If the exercise is not completed correctly, users have to adapt their approach until you achieve the correct outcome. Features we like: Fully immersive, game-based and experiential design Timed decision-making activities Strong storyboarding and scripting Real-time game-style progress stats and points Visit elearning: Lifesaver: Crisis Simulation Lost IOP: Scenario-based elearning Cutting edge for its time, this great piece of branching based elearning was created by Leo Learning in 2003 and still stands out from the crowd. We love the complex branching in this course which creates multiple non-linear pathways. Features we like: Full screen, high impact video-based scenarios High-quality production value using professional actors Real world feel with real life scenarios Simulation design Visit elearning: Lost IOP: Scenario-based elearning BBC: Finance for non-financial managers This elearning game was developed by Leo Learning for the BBC. It won a gold and bronze at the 2011 Elearning Age awards. It has effective branching logic designed into the levels of the game to unlock more options if you make good selections. Features we like: Design situates the user in the role of decision-maker for a number of  decision-making scenarios. Tailored feedback at each decision point Each stage is timed - a dynamic counter ups the ante and piles on the pressure to be decisive Visit elearning: BBC: Finance for non-financial managers Medieval Swansea: City witness Medieval Swansea is an interactive historical game that enables learners to take on the role of detective to solve a mystery. The elearning game uses scenario branching to take learners through interactive challenges where they attempt to complete a variety of quests. We like the story based approach, which include narrative stages and character witnesses. This elearning was developed by Make Sense Design and made with Elucidat. Visit elearning: Medieval Swansea: City witness Pepsico: Analyzing data and trends Pepsico and Learning Evolution developed this fun and interactive theme to train employees on how to analyze data and identify industry trends. The course uses a branching menu to give learners a chance to explore the content in their own desired way. Features we like:  Use of relevant content imagery for other visual elements. Course can be navigated via topics and sub-topics so learners can personalize their own learning journey. Subtle use of avatar features such as animation and voice over for the ‘Dick Tracy’ character. This elearning was made with Elucidat. Visit elearning: Pepsico: Analyzing data and trends The post 6 elearning examples that have used branching scenarios appeared first on Elucidat Blog.

Elearning Superstars is a curated list of inspiring elearning examples, published every Tuesday. Subscribe to get weekly updates via email. Queensland Government: Clinical Skills Development Service Features we like: Good use of a range of graphic styles including photographic and illustrative. The illustrative graphic style enhances the visuals of the course and provides flexibility for demonstrating specialist topics. Uses a comic strip design approach to present real-life scenarios. This helps motivate and hook the learner. The Environment Agency: Strategic and Tactical Incident Management Features we like: Learners must make decisions to manage a range of risks. A ‘respect-o-meter’ allows learners to gauge how effectively they’re handling the situation. A summary at the end of each scenario provides an in-depth analysis of their overall performance. 6 branching scenario elearning examples Showcase your elearning: Have you created a great piece of elearning that you’re really proud of? Showcase your elearning here to win awards and get published on Elearning Superstars. Elearning inspiration: Queensland Government, The Environment Agency, 6 branching scenario examplesClick To Tweet The post Elearning inspiration: Queensland Government, The Environment Agency, 6 branching scenario examples appeared first on Elucidat Blog.

Ever since our cave-dwelling ancestors first passed on information on how to avoid saber tooth tigers, stories have been considered the most effective way to exchange knowledge. Interactive scenarios are elearning’s 21st-century stories, allowing learners to participate in the narrative and influence the story’s outcome. But what makes scenarios so effective in learning? Here are four reasons why… 1. Scenarios motivate learners Our natural curiosity draws us to the unexpected. What will happen next? Are my predictions correct? What are the long- and short-term implications of what’s just happened? Will the likeable character succeed, while the less-likeable one fail? A well-constructed scenario will keep learners asking these questions and fuel their intrinsic motivation. The award-winning Broken Co-Worker scenario by Elearner Engaged is a great example of this. This scenario is based on the grey area of inter-office relationships. The characters and storyline keep learners engaged and curious about how the situations will unfold. And, as in many interactive scenarios, the power of learners to influence the story just adds to the motivation. 2. Scenarios challenge learners to learn from mistakes Connect with Haji Kamal by Kinection is another example of an interactive scenario that allows multiple branching paths through the learning process. This scenario places the learner as an advisor to an inexperienced army officer in Afghanistan. By giving learners decision-making tools, such as a diverse range of advice and opinions from fellow officers and Afghani responses to earlier decisions, learners steer the young military officer through sensitive cultural situations. The way the story unfolds, based on learner input, challenges learners by allowing them to make mistakes, see the impact of those mistakes and then take remedial action to recover—or make the situation even worse by making more poor decisions! The learners’ ability to run the scenario multiple times, coming to an optimal outcome more directly as they learn from earlier mistakes, is a natural motivator and powerful learning reinforcement mechanism. 3. Scenarios recreate real-life situations in which learners can gain real-world skills and experience Scenarios set in a contextual setting familiar to learners—or at least a setting they can imagine themselves in—allows them to more readily understand the situations presented. This also makes it easier to transfer knowledge and ideas from short-term to long-term memory. And the realistic, learner-centric context common to quality scenarios make the learners’ actions easier to transfer to the real world. The BAFTA award winning Lifesaver ‘Crisis Simulator’ from Unit9 is a cutting-edge example of an immersive scenario. The emotive storylines and realism give learners an experience that would be difficult to replicate in other modes of elearning. 4. Scenarios allow safe exploration of risky or sensitive situations Another important advantage of elearning scenarios is their ability to allow learners to explore situations that might be too risky, difficult, sensitive or expensive to explore in real life, or are at the extreme ends of what mainstream training might cover. And learners have the luxury of being able to repeat these experiences over and over again, without risk to themselves or others, until they are comfortable with the concepts. Kognito provides some good examples of scenarios that deal with sensitive mental health issues, among other things. These scenarios allow learners to explore and experiment with various ways to approach these sensitive and potentially damaging situations. In conclusion The experiential nature of learning within a well-devised scenario allows learners to participate in the situation they’re learning about and exercise their problem-solving skills. They also tap into many basic human emotions and tick several of the boxes that make gamification such a potent learning device. This makes scenarios a very powerful tool in the L&D team’s arsenal. And the good news is that modern elearning authoring tools, like Elucidat, allow you to build branching scenarios easily. You’ve seen some great examples in this post. Have you come across others? If you have, share them in the comments below along with what you especially like about them. Stay on top of the latest elearning ideas, trends, and technologies by subscribing to the Elucidat weekly newsletter. The post Why scenario-based learning is important (4 reasons) appeared first on Elucidat Blog.

A poor elearning beginning can leave a lasting impression. If you want your elearning to get off to a good start, read this article to discover four ideas that will help you create more effective beginnings. People make split-second judgments about an elearning course, so, if a program gets off to a slow start, learners aren’t likely to continue let alone return.  And even if your program is mandatory, and learners don’t have the choice of turning it off, a lack of interest will lead to a lack of motivation, which means that little learning is likely to take place. This article will focus on helping you to design programs with great beginnings, getting your learners off to a good start. 1. Grab attention To grab your learners attention, your opening needs to make an impact. In the movies this is done with sweeping landscapes, action chases, or a shocking or mysterious event. In elearning, you can aim for the same kind of effect by using high quality images. The human brain processes visual imagery faster than information from the other sensory channels. Let’s look at some examples of great beginnings: Cathy Moore achieves this in her opening to the program "Connect with Haji Kamal" by adopting an illustrative style which sets the scene, introduces the characters and hooks the learner in the opening screen: Jackie Vannice’s short program covering the outbreak of Ebola in West Africa uses full screen, good quality photographs with small chunks of text placed over the top in transparent background boxes. I particularly like this example because it creates a sense of anticipation - complexity, uncertainty, unpredictability all help raise the level of anticipation. The BBC’s Spanish language learning program adopts a movie style opening, using a graphical design reminiscent of a movie poster. This would be relatively easy to achieve with PowerPoint if you don’t have the help of a graphic artist. As The Resuscitation Council UK’s ‘Lifesaver’ program opens, you are immediately drawn into the drama with high spec full screen videos setting the scene and getting the adrenalin going. 2. Setting objectives The next step in a good beginning involves informing learners about the objectives of the program. Instead of listing learning objectives with statements about what they will learn, try to grab their attention and make them care about the subject. Try framing the objectives as: A wake-up call A challenge A target or goal An explanation of what’s in it for the learner Through these approaches the learner becomes engaged in the program, understanding what is going to be required from them and, crucially, what they will get out of it. In the example below, a scenario draws the learner into the topic. The goal is to help a fictional character increase his investment, and the challenge is set quickly and simply. In the next example, you can see that the objectives are communicated as challenges, inviting the learner to become actively involved and to explore each one further. 3. Set the scene and describe what’s in it for the learner Enticing your learners through a call-to-action is a good technique for opening your elearning. It works by encouraging learners to take a specific action and offering something irresistible as a reward for completion. Thought-provoking challenges and competing against the clock are two ways of achieving such an opening. In the example below, you can see a compelling scene that invites learners to take up the challenge. The time limit helps to create a sense of urgency and competition. 4. Challenge preconceptions Another effective way of beginning your elearning program is to present compelling information that challenges your learners’ preconceptions. A great example of this technique is Joanna Kurpiewska’s Global Food Waste in which she uses full screen, impactful graphics that pose interactive myth-busting questions. Check it out below: In this next example, learners are presented with a compelling fact and then challenged to recognize how much they actually know about the topic. This is a fun and engaging way to get learners interested in finding out more about a topic. If they get it right, they get an instant reward - a sense of achievement - and want to go on to see how much more they know. Or, if they get it wrong, they have found out a surprising fact that challenges their preconceptions and entices them to go on to learn more. Here is the response screen: Summary Why is a good beginning important in your elearning program? It’s important because a bad beginning can quickly lead to learners opting out. The ultimate purpose of a good beginning is to motivate learners and to give them a reason for engaging further with the program. For some more great examples of good beginnings, head over to the showcase at Elearning Superstars. The post First impressions can make or break your elearning. Learn how to create a beginning that engages and motivates learners appeared first on Elucidat Blog.

How do you close out an elearning program? An ending can’t be a simple thank you page. Instead, it should be memorable and give learners a recap or provide some next steps. In this article, Li Whybrow explores three ways you can create a more effective ending. In the words of Stephen Covey: begin with an end in mind. In terms of elearning design, that means having a direction that guides the structure of your course. Having a clear end in mind can help you visualize an overview of the course before you even begin. Developing a script or storyboard provides a framework for the beginning, the middle and the end of your course, it creates a clear pathway for your learners. Very much like a story. Being clear about your objectives and the outcomes to be achieved will drive your ending. Let’s look at three ways you can create an effective ending: 1. Set a ‘real world’ challenge If your elearning has included a scenario or case study, try to bring it to a conclusion with a ‘real’ problem for the learners to solve. This can be done in a multiple-choice format. You can position the results in relation to the original learning goal, using the final screen to recap on the original goal and to report on how well the learner has done. Here’s a quick example to show you what I mean: Another effective technique is to end your elearning course with a call to action. Design activities that learners can do offline using the information and skills they’ve taken from the course. Encourage them to apply these skills in their everyday work or function. Here’s a good example of a call to action: Key points to remember: If the elearning course has involved systems training, invite the learners to move on to apply what they’ve practiced using the real system. Include a ‘next steps’ or ‘to do’ list that learners can download, work on and take with them. This could involve a template for a personal development plan, or for SMART goals. Create a screen summarizing key learning points, possibly from a scenario or case study, and ask learners to draw parallels with their own context. For example, invite them to rank points in order of relevance to their own role. This will help them to reflect on key learning points and this will improve retention. End with a task that reinforces the key learning points and rewards learners with personalized feedback and possibly lets them compare their results with others’. For example, by using a poll or quiz screen, you can design a task like the one shown below. Including a ‘share this’ function can also cement engagement by allowing learners to share their results and see how others performed. 2. Personalize the learning Everything is more memorable if it relates directly to you and your personal context. The same is true of elearning courses. At the start of a course, it’s a good idea to let learners choose their own pathways through the material, especially if the course is aimed at a range of learners where not all of the content is relevant to everyone. The same principle is true for good endings. Consider designing the end of your course so that it speaks to the individual. For example, if your course contains an assessment or quiz, the summary screen could show the learner’s score and provide some advice about next steps. Are there more topics they should revisit if they scored low on certain questions, or is there a way to improve their score and retry the assessment? I particularly like this example below that provides a link to a take-away summary document. This gives the learner something tangible that recognizes his or her achievement. Key points to remember: Design courses that are personalized to individual learners. Let users choose their pathways so they can focus on learning what is relevant to them. Provide a personalized takeaway document that highlights scores and key points the learner needs to work on. 3. Link to further support and/or resources An elearning module is often part of a blended learning experience. The end of a module is a great opportunity to point to further learning opportunities and to encourage the learner to act on what they have learned. Think of the final screen as a launch pad to go and do something else. The example course below demonstrates how you can present personalized results, using badges to indicate the tasks or topics that this learner has completed successfully. I also like how the final screen links to further learning resources. Key points to remember: Provide a link to post-course information. Point learners to additional resources such as job aids, links to helpful websites, or a list of key contacts. Give learners any follow-up information, for example, if a certificate is available. Final thoughts Every good story needs a good ending. Your elearning program is no different. Good endings offer a resolution, provide a reward, and stand out from the crowd. A good resolution makes the learner feel like they’ve completed the journey. You can go back to your course objectives and summarize how the journey has achieved these. A reward gives your learners a pat on the back and feedback on how they’ve done. This may come in the form of a certificate or badge, and advice be accompanied by some next steps and how to continue improving. A memorable elearning program stands out by being creative. The last screen should break the mold and do something different like this fun example. Try something different like this fun example: Did you like this article? Stay on top of the latest eLearning ideas, trends, and technologies by subscribing to the Elucidat weekly newsletter. The post What makes a good ending? Here are three ways to create an effective elearning ending appeared first on Elucidat Blog.

Our collaboration with Johnson & Johnson Vision Care (JJVC) and perceptive, the Eye Education App won an award in the Best use of mobile learning category at the 2015 UK National E-Learning Awards. This is a great achievement by all involved. At Elucidat, we strive to push the boundaries with elearning, always looking for innovative ways to create better-looking, more effective elearning solutions. Related: The Eye Education App is available here. Why was the Eye Education App needed? JJVC were experiencing a challenge. The General Optical Council (GOC) required Eye Care Practitioners (ECPs) to achieve a minimum of 36 Continuing Education Training (CET) points in a three-year period. New rules were introduced in 2013 that require at least half the CET points to come from training classified as interactive. So, how could JJVC continue to provide distance learning while accommodating the new rules on interactivity? JJVC needed an interactive elearning solution that took into account the needs of the modern, time-poor ECP. Why did JJVC choose Elucidat? Multi-device compatible: ECPs were screaming for access to training on their mobiles because many don’t have ready access to desktops. Bite-sized modules: ECPs have little free time during the day. Elucidat’s bite-sized modules make learning possible in the gaps between patients. Hosted in the cloud: JJCV needed the ability to make ongoing changes to their courses so they can stay in step with any new regulatory requirements. Elucidat’s content is hosted in the cloud so changes can be made instantly. API: JJVC needed to embed their content into a smartphone and tablet App. Elucidat’s API made this possible. What were the results for JJVC? JJVC is now delivering twice as much training to ECPs. There is a 740% increase in the number of course completions. 2420 learners represent a 12% ECP market penetration. Modules can be done in breaks between patients. The app has opened up direct communication channels with ECPs. JJVC now sends push notifications to let ECPs know when new courses and training events are available. Marcella McParland, Director of Professional Affairs UK & Ireland at Johnson & Johnson Medical, shared a few words on how the Eye Education App has helped the company. "The Eye Education App has been much more successful than we ever thought. Using the insight that ECPs needed something easy to use at a time that suits them really helped us to deliver the perfect solution - interactive education on all the required competencies delivering CET points directly to their phone or tablet. We have been staggered by the excellent feedback the App continues to receive, and we are committed to using mobile learning into the future." Elucidat helps organizations create more effective learning, faster Elucidat is a simple and intuitive authoring tool with features that empower organisations to create better looking, more effective elearning, faster. If you’re struggling to meet the changing needs of the modern learner, contact our team to discuss how Elucidat can help you. Learn how Elucidat works The post Elucidat wins elearning award for best use of mobile learning appeared first on Elucidat Blog.