The Freesound Project aims to create a huge collaborative database of audio snippets, samples, recordings, bleeps, ... released under the Creative Commons Sampling Plus License. The Freesound Project provides new and interesting ways of accessing these samples, allowing users to: browse the sounds in new ways using keywords, a "sounds-like" type of browsing and moreup and download sounds to and from the database, under the same creative commons licenseinteract with fellow sound-artists!Check it out:  http://www.freesound.org/

Thinking about Earth Dayhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dz3tPxUFGbYhttp://storyofstuff.org/

crocodoc takes any PDF, Word document, PowerPoint presentation, image, or web page and lets you view and mark it up online. Documents can be shared with others, who can collaboratively highlight or strikeout text, add notes and comments, and make revisions.   Whenever you and friends or colleagues are marking up the same document at the same time, you'll see each other's changes reflected in near real-time.  Save your marked up version of your document as a PDF, in native file format or directly to your Google Docs account.The free version of the software allows you to do everything except for the option of password-protecting documents, which are uploaded and viewed using bank-grade SSL encryption.   The Pro version of the software costs $36 per year - a real bargain when you compare it to competing products.Check it out:  http://crocodoc.com/

Came across a great website containing tools and resources for English as a second language. For example, the site has 257 free English language quizzes covering grammar, usage and vocabulary for beginner, intermediate and advanced level English students.Check it out: http://www.usingenglish.com/I especially liked the reading comprehension test - see how you do.  http://www.usingenglish.com/comprehension/46.html

Tom Kuhlmann is the VP of Community at Articulate and the author of The Rapid eLearning Blog.  Check out this podcast he did on Rapid E-Learning and Design.  You can download portions of the podcast or the entire podcast to share with your development team.Check it out:  http://www.kineo.com/e-learning-interviews/tom-kuhlmann-on-rapid-elearning-and-design.htmlBooks mentioned in the podcast include: 

Upgrade from Captivate 4 - $299.Check it out:  http://blogs.adobe.com/rjacquez/2010/05/say_hello_to_adobe_captivate_5.html

May 2010 T+DThis simple but often forgotten step in the development process can maximize the course shelf life of your e-learning programs.Free for ASTD members:Article:  http://www.astd.org/TD/Archives/2010/May/1005_Maintenance.htmNot an ASTD member?  Buy the article:  http://store.astd.org/Default.aspx?tabid=167&ProductId=21156Free Podcast:  http://www.astd.org/NR/rdonlyres/DA826AC4-4318-4126-BEA4-8B1145EB61AA/0/MaintenanceTheForgottenStep.mp3

Each of the seminars below last about an hour.  You must have an ADOBE ID to view the seminars.What's new in Adobe Captivate 5http://www.adobe.com/cfusion/event/index.cfm?event=register_no_session&id=1607945&loc=en_usAdobe Captivate 5 for Machttp://www.adobe.com/cfusion/event/index.cfm?event=register_no_session&id=1607950&loc=en_usGetting Started in Adobe Captivate 5http://www.adobe.com/cfusion/event/index.cfm?event=register_no_session&id=1607939&loc=en_usWhat's New in Adobe eLearning Suite 2http://www.adobe.com/cfusion/event/index.cfm?event=register_no_session&id=1609160&loc=en_usAdobe eLearning Suite 2 for Machttp://www.adobe.com/cfusion/event/index.cfm?event=register_no_session&id=1609163&loc=en_usGetting Started with Adobe eLearning Suite 2http://www.adobe.com/cfusion/event/index.cfm?event=register_no_session&id=1609157&loc=en_us

Webinar - Free to eLearning Guild members:May 18, 201010:30AM to 11:30AM Pacific Time Connie Malamed Author of Visual Language For Designers Do you get stuck trying to figure out the best graphics to use in a course or training session? Do you waste coveted screen or slide space with ineffective visuals? Although audiences remember more from visuals than from other mediums, few learning professionals are given guidelines for creating graphics that will impact learning.This session will provide instructional designers, trainers, SMEs, developers and graphic designers with practical and actionable guidelines for invigorating the learning visuals in their courses and products. Check it out:  http://www.elearningguild.com/content.cfm?selection=doc.1529   If you aren't a member of the eLearning Guild, I would encourage you to check it out.  I consider it one of the best resources - the Thought Leader Webinar Series is just one of the many member benefits.

Here's a nifty tool that you can use to embed audio files (besides the ones that come up on the page) into a course as a web object.Check it out: http://soundcloud.com/ Watch a demo using Ariculate Presenter:   http://screenr.com/3ZC

At the Think Outside The Slide channel on YouTube, you will find a bi-weekly slide makeover video podcasts as well as a sample of the short "how-to" videos that are available on the "Think Outside The Slide" website. So far, there are 51 video podcasts - short, sweet and to the point.Check it out:  http://www.youtube.com/user/ThinkOutsideTheSlide

Spend a day with Tom Kuhlmann of Articulate in Baton Rouge, LA.  For only $99, you get a practical 6 hour session on Becoming a Rapid E-Learning Pro. Sign up before August 23 and use this code RAPIDBLOG. National ASTD members pay only $89! Use discount code "NATIONAL" when registering online to receive the $40 savings!

Great interactive example with audio instructions.Check it out:  http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=111494514

David Anderson posted sample files and instructions for inserting Engage as Flash object in Presenter.  Also includes using icons for navigation.  Check it out:  http://www.articulate.com/forums/articulate-engage/16923-inserting-engage-flash-object-presenter.html

http://www.ted.com/talks/simon_sinek_how_great_leaders_inspire_action.html

Garin Hess, CEO of Rapid Intake posted a very comprehensive article on the Apple vs. Adobe Flash discussion.Check it out:  http://shoutout.rapidintake.com/2010/05/apple-adobe-and-flash-elearning-future.html

I am presenting at the Houston ASTD Leveraging Technology for Learning conference - Friday, June 25,2010 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM CDT.  My topic is LMS 101- What you need to know.  Hope to see you there!How can organizations make smart purchasing decisions about learning management systems? Although every implementation is different, there are some common factors to address when evaluating the right LMS for your organization. In this session, Debbie Richards shares her experiences with LMS selection, implementation and deployment. She will compare and contrast large systems to Moodle. She will also address how LMS relates to Web 2.0 (decentralization) and Integrated Talent Management Systems (centralization). Check it out:  http://astdhouston.org/en/cev/370

"This story was originally published in September 2000, but it offers an insight into a aspect of the Gulf oil spill coverage that's been overlooked in recent coverage: life on board an oil rig -- in this case, Shell Oil's Ursa platform. At the time of original publication it was a brand new, state-of-the-art operation."Check it out:  http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/39/shell.html

Check it out:  http://bit.ly/a0bTE0

The PowerPoint Twitter Tools allow presenters to see and react to tweets in real-time, embedded directly within their presentations, either as a ticker or refreshable comment page. Require only PowerPoint for Windows and Adobe Flash to run. Check it out: http://www.sapweb20.com/blog/powerpoint-twitter-tools

Date: Tuesday, June 08, 2010Time: 10:00AM Pacific / 1:00PM Eastern (60 Minute Session)"In today's challenging economy, companies and training departments are faced with three major challenges: trying to do more with less, preparing for change and planning for recovery. Simply cutting budgets isn't the answer. Learning leaders have a key role in helping their organizations learn to survive, perform and prosper.This webinar explores Learning Paths, a proven methodology, that enables learning leaders to take an active and more strategic role in ramping up capabilities, addressing competitive challenges and preparing the future workforce." Check it out:  http://www.trainingmagnetwork.com/topics/show/1804

If you need to send all the files for an Articulate project to another developer or to archive your project, including embedded Engage, Quizmaker and other inserted media files (such as Flash movies), you can use the Send to Articulate Presenter feature. The Send to Articulate Presenter Package is an often overlooked feature of Articulate Presenter, mainly because it’s not on the Articulate Presenter Ribbon. In PowerPoint 2007, click the Microsoft Office button. Select Send - Articulate Package.The Articulate Presenter Package dialog box opens.Select the location where you want the package to be created.You can also specify optional Package Notes, including the project name, the version number, the author of the project with email and other special instructions.Click Create Package.A dialog box tells you if the package was successfully created, giving you the option to view the folder with the package files. The packaged file is a zip file - besides all the project files, it contains a notes page with the Package Notes. It also includes a list of all the files included in the project.When the other developer receives the ZIP file, they just need to unzip the contents to a folder on their local hard drive. If all your files are not included in the Articulate Presenter Package, read this article from the Articulate site for help - http://www.articulate.com/support/presenter09/kb/?p=2416 Keep in mind that audio, SWFs, attachments, logos, templates and the Engage/Quizmaker files inserted into your slides (these are not your working files) reside in the PPTA file.If you created external graphics or custom Flash files, these editable source files are NOT included when the Articulate Package file is created. You will need to manually add these files to the Articulate Package afterwards. 

"The Quarterly iPass Mobile Workforce Report reveals the behaviors of mobile employees, and identifies common characteristics to segment users into five categories: mobile minimalists, mobile minority, mobile majority, mobile masters, and mobile maniacs. The iPass Mobile Workforce Survey conducted as part of the report asked mobile employees what technologies provided a gain or a drain to their productivity, how often they were checking their smartphones during downtime, how often they worked from home, and if mobility influenced their work/life balance."Check it out:  http://www3.ipass.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/Mobile-Workforce-Report-052010.pdf