Dr. Ravinder Tulsiani's Blog: Ravinder Tulsiani Author, page 3
June 30, 2013
FREE��eBooks for instructional designers and eLearning professionals
Here is a list of FREE eBooks for instructional designers and eLearning professionals available online.
Game Changers: Education and Information Technologies - An EDUCAUSE e-Book
New models and new technologies allow us to rethink many of the premises of education—location and time, credits and credentials, knowledge creation and sharing. Institutions are finding new ways of achieving higher education’s mission without being crippled by constraints or overpowered by greater expectations. Game Changers, a collection of chapters and case studies contributed by college and university presidents, provosts, faculty, and other stakeholders, explores these new models.
Theory and Practice of Online Learning - Athabasca University
Awarded the Charles A. Wedemeyer Award by the University Continuing Education Association. The Charles A. Wedemeyer Award recognizes publications of merit that make significant contributions to research in the field of distance education.
Emerging Technologies in Distance Education by George Veletsianos
A one-stop knowledge resource, Emerging Technologies in Distance Education showcases the international work of research scholars and innovative distance education practitioners who use emerging interactive technologies for teaching and learning at a distance.
Learning Perspectives - The MASIE Center (2011)
Web 2.0 Tools in Education: A Quick Guide by Mohamed Amin Embi.
This book includes 20 2.0 Tools that you can use in Education.
E-Learning: A Guidebook of Principles, Procedures and Practices by Prof Som Naidu, written for CEMCA.
The Strategic Management of e-Learning Support by Franziska Zellweger Moser.
This book includes the research of three innovative American Universities with more than 50 interviews with key persons reflecting a wide variety of perspectives. In this research project the strategic management of e-Learning support at American research universities was studied.
Michael Allen's 2012 e-LEARNING Annual by Michael Allen ("Don't Get Trapped by Your e-Learning Tools" by Allan Henderson).
This Annual offers a revealing discussion and debate, consisting of 27 papers from 30 authors, on the appropriate selection and implementation of technology for learning solutions. “By placing so many viewpoints together, Allen has made it possible to do the classic ‘compare and contrast’ that helps develop insights and identify possibilities and strategies that fit our particular circumstances,” explains Bill Brandon, editor of Learning Solutions Magazine for The eLearning Guild, in his book review. “The authors support all of the content with decision aids, tables, and figures that you will find useful not only for your own understanding, but also for explaining new concepts and ideas to others, including decision-makers”.
Successful e-LEARNING Interface: Making Learning Technology Polite, Effective & Fun by Michael Allen.
(Only Chapter 2: Introducing the CEO of LID). This book will help you use your time and resources effectively to build the best e-learning experiences possible within your contraints. As with the other books in this series, this book is geared toward pragmatic application. It's direct and to the point: here's how to connect with your learners, how to empower learning to make the most of e-learning's capabilies, and how to orchestrate learning events for maximum impact: CEO—connect, empower and orchestrate.
E-Learning Concepts and Techniques - University of Pennsylvania
E-Learning Concepts and Techniques is a collaborative e-book project by Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania's Department of Instructional Technology students and guest authors. It was a project-based assignment for the online class, E-Learning Concepts and Techniques Spring 2006 and is dedicated in memory of Justin Bennett (1989-2006). It is also dedicated to those who love to learn as well as to those who inspire that love in others.
Learning Strategies - The MASIE Center
52 Tips on Best Practices for eLearning Development and Implementation
How can you develop and deploy eLearning quickly, efficiently, and with positive results? Which eLearning development and implementation methods work best and which methods are unreliable or ineffective? This complimentary eBook features 12 experts offering development and implementation tips on areas including Guidelines and Protocols, Making Tools Work for You, Engaging Your Team, and Reaching (and Teaching) Your Audience.
CU Online Handbook - University of Colorado Denver
Do you currently teach online? Have you thought about teaching online but for
some reason haven’t done it yet? Here at CU Online, we believe in the power of online learning. Whether you currently teach online or you are thinking about doing it in the future, we are here to help you sort through this process and we hope that this handbook might help you along the way. The boundaries between traditional face-to-face courses and completely online courses are beginning to blur. Therefore, as we move forward, we all must consider when, how, and why we integrate the tools that we do into our classrooms.
Learning Perspectives - The MASIE Center (2010)
Learning Spaces - An EDUCAUSE e-Book
Space, whether physical or virtual, can have a significant impact on learning. Learning Spaces focuses on how learner expectations influence such spaces, the principles and activities that facilitate learning, and the role of technology from the perspective of those who create learning environments: faculty, learning technologists, librarians, and administrators. Information technology has brought unique capabilities to learning spaces, whether stimulating greater interaction through the use of collaborative tools, videoconferencing with international experts, or opening virtual worlds for exploration. This e-book represents an ongoing exploration as we bring together space, technology, and pedagogy to ensure learner success.
62 Tips on Graphic Design, UI/UX Design, and Visualization for eLearning
Effective eLearning deliverables require more than just text and a few random graphics. Good graphic design, user interface (UI) design, and user experience (UX) design aren’t optional – they’re necessary to ensure maximum learner comprehension and retention. This complimentary eBook features 12 top professionals offering graphic design, UI, UX, and visualization tips on areas including Highlighting Learning, Aesthetic Considerations, and Tricks and Tools.
Down-and-dirty Guidelines for Effective Discussions in Online Courses by Joanna C. Dunlap
65 Tips on Managing Projects and SMEs for eLearning
All the ideas in the world don’t matter if you can’t complete your eLearning project. This complimentary eBook features 11 top learning professionals offering tips on managing eLearning projects and SMEs, including Dealing with Stakeholders and Planning Your Project, Choosing and Managing Your Team, Effective Communication, Constraints and Challenges, and Quality Control.
Learning 2.0 for Associations by Jeff Cobb
“In Learning 2.0 for Associations Jeff delivers an easy-to-read primer on how to leverage social media tools to expand the learning value that associations deliver. It’s a must-read for all association educators!” —Mickie S. Rops, CAE / President, Mickie Rops Consulting Inc. / Chair, ASAE Professional Development Council / http://msrops.blogs.comThe Insider’s Guide to Becoming a Rapid E-Learning Pro by The Rapid e-Learning Blog.
One of the great benefits of rapid e-learning is the ability to create e-learning courses much faster and easier than ever before. However, going faster and making your job easier are not the only considerations. That’s where this free 46-page ebook by Tom Kuhlmann comes in.
53 Tips on Using the Cloud for eLearning
The cloud has tremendous potential in the eLearning world, but there are so many choices. Should you use a public or private cloud? How can you make the online experience more seamless? This complimentary eBook features 11 top eLearning professionals offering tips on areas including Planning, Cost, Content and the User Experience, and Support and Security.
Protocols for Online Discussions by Joanna C. Dunlap
58 Tips for Breakthrough eLearning Instructional Design
This eBook draws on the ideas and experience of 14 Instructional Design experts who are leading sessions that are part of The eLearning Guild’s May 2012 Online Forum on “eLearning Instructional Design: Advanced and Breakthrough Techniques.” These tips will enhance the way you design eLearning.
Designing Successful e-Learning by Michael Allen
(Only Chapter 7: Designing Outside The Box). "While its target audience is instructional designers, this book should also be required reading for all training managers seeking guidelines on implementing world-class training. Allen bridges the gap from theory to practice on both training and educational programs. His guidance is as applicable to classroom-based as it is to e-learning based training." by Patty Crowell, director, Global Education Services, LSI Logic
Facilitation Online - The Center for Education Technology.
The guide contains the course model, week-by-week learning activities, general guidance to the course leader on how to implement and customize the course and specific guidelines on each learning activity. The latest version of the course manual includes several minor corrections and is dedicated to the memory of our co-author Jeanne Smuts who died on 28th July 2009.
75 Tips to Reduce eLearning Costs
In this eBook, eLearning Guild members reveal imaginative ways to cut eLearning costs, and share insights on how to optimize your resources to get the job done more efficiently and effectively, without sacrificing quality. See how others are doing amazing things with limited budgets, and how innovative cost-saving ideas can help you do more with less.
Educating the Net Generation - An EDUCAUSE e-Book
The Net Generation has grown up with information technology. The aptitudes, attitudes, expectations, and learning styles of Net Gen students reflect the environment in which they were raised—one that is decidedly different from that which existed when faculty and administrators were growing up.This collection explores the Net Gen and the implications for institutions in areas such as teaching, service, learning space design, faculty development, and curriculum. Contributions by educators and students are included.
701 e-Learning Tips - The MASIE Center
Thanks to The MASIE Center’s TRENDS readers and Learning Consortium Members, over 1000 e-Learning tips were received, analyzed, and categorized. These tips are from senior managers and training professionals from major corporations around the world. We have edited and compiled 141 pages and 14 chapters covering the ABC’s of getting started to global implementation strategies.
98 Tips for Selecting and Working with e-Learning Service Providers
In this eBook we discuss how we can work best together, identifying what should be done inhouse or where outsourcing would be more economical, and how a team approach can align the brainpower of widely diverse groups, often across the miles.
Videoconferencing Cookbook - ViDe
Who are the Intended Readers? Members of the higher education academic and research communities, K-12 educators and technologists and workplace technology integrators.
65 Tips for Getting the Most Out of Your e-Learning Budget
This eBook on maximizing your e-Learning development budget demonstrates the ingenuity of our industry and our commitment to learn all-ways. You will find tips on enduring themes such as where to begin your e-Learning programs, getting the most from subject matter experts, lending your skills to other departments, and lessons learned the hard way.
144 Tips on Synchronous e-Learning Strategy + Research
The eLearning Guild conducted a survey of its members, asking for their favorite tips relating to strategies for effectively creating, managing, and using synchronous e-Learning. These tips will be useful to any designer or developer looking for best practices to incorporate into their own processes. This eBook is sponsored by Adobe Systems, Inc.
Improving the Odds of Effective Collaborative Work in Online Courses by Joanna C. Dunlap
239 Tips for Producing and Managing Flash-based e-Learning Content
In February and March, 2008, The eLearning Guild conducted a survey of its members, asking for their favorite tips for producing and managing Flash-based e-Learning. Members could submit tips relating to any or all of 19 different tools (plus an “other” category) that either produce Flash output or that can incorporate Flash content.
The Instructional Use of Learning Objects
This is the online version of The Instructional Use of Learning Objects, a new book that tries to go beyond the technological hype and connect learning objects to instruction and learning. You can read the full text of the book here for free. The chapters presented here are © their respective authors and are licensed under the Open Publication License, meaning that you are free to copy and redistribute them in any electronic or non-commercial print form. For-profit print rights are held by AIT/AECT. The book was edited by David Wiley, and printed versions of the book are published by the Association for Instructional Technology and the Association for Educational Communications and Technology. If you find the online book useful, please consider purchasing a printed copy.
162 Tips and Tricks for Working with e-Learning Tools
In October and November 2007, The eLearning Guild conducted a survey of its members, asking for their favorite tips for using software to create e-Learning. Members could submit tips in any or all of these five categories: Courseware authoring and e-Learning development tools, rapid e-Learning tools, simulation tools, media tools, and combining and deploying authoring tools.
The eLearning Guild's Handbook of e-Learning Strategy
This FREE Digital Handbook will help you make a broad, fundamental connection between learning, e-Learning, and your organization's mission, business objectives, and the bottom line. Chapters address everything from crafting a focused strategy, to keeping your strategy focused, to change management. This eBook is sponsored by Adobe Systems, Inc.
The eLearning Guild's Handbook on Synchronous e-Learning
This FREE Digital Handbook on Synchronous e-Learning is intended for anyone and everyone who wants to produce, lead, or promote live, interactive learning events on the Web. It's packed with job aids, references, examples, and information to significantly reduce the amount of time required to produce online learning events. This eBook is sponsored by WebEx Communications, Inc.
Learning Leaders Fieldbook - The MASIE Center
382 Tips on the SELECTION of an LMS or LCMS
This FREE Digital Book is an awesome collection of tips from hundreds of your professional colleagues. These tips will help you navigate the LMS minefield, streamline your selection process, and help you save money! Nowhere will you find a more comprehensive set of tips that you can use to improve your LMS and LCMS selection efforts.My Most Memorable Teacher - The MASIE Center
339 Tips on the IMPLEMENTATION of an LMS or LCMS
This FREE Digital Book is an amazing collection of tips from hundreds of your professional colleagues. Nowhere will you find a more comprehensive set of tips that you can use to improve your LMS and LCMS implementation efforts.
What Keeps You Up At Night - The MASIE Center
311 Tips on the MANAGEMENT of an LMS or LCMS
This FREE Digital Book is an incredible collection of tips from hundreds of your professional colleagues. Why reinvent the wheel when you can learn from these tips on the management of your LMS or LCMS system! Nowhere will you find a more comprehensive set of tips that you can use to improve your LMS and LCMS management efforts.
834 Tips for Successful Online Instruction
This FREE Digital Book is a wonderful collection of tips from 336 of your professional colleagues. Nowhere will you find a more comprehensive set of tips that you can use to improve your knowledge and skills in online instruction. This eBook is sponsored by WebEx Communications, Inc.
In Search of Learning Agility
This publication deviates from the typical eLearning Guild eBook. We’re publishing it here because we believe that it contains a powerful and insightful view of the role educational technology plays in organizations. The central premise is that enduring competitive advantage must be built on organizational learning agility. This is a “must read” for managers and executives who are interested in aligning learning and training efforts and investments with larger business objectives.
e-Learning Practices - Editor: Prof. Dr. Ugur Demiray
e-Learning Survival Guide by e-Learning Queen (a.k.a Susan Smith Nash)
Everything you need to succeed in the wild world of mobile learning, e-learning, and hybrid college, K-12, and career courses.
Web Teaching by David Brooks, Diane Nolan, and Susan Gallaghe
Game Changers: Education and Information Technologies - An EDUCAUSE e-Book
New models and new technologies allow us to rethink many of the premises of education—location and time, credits and credentials, knowledge creation and sharing. Institutions are finding new ways of achieving higher education’s mission without being crippled by constraints or overpowered by greater expectations. Game Changers, a collection of chapters and case studies contributed by college and university presidents, provosts, faculty, and other stakeholders, explores these new models.
Theory and Practice of Online Learning - Athabasca University
Awarded the Charles A. Wedemeyer Award by the University Continuing Education Association. The Charles A. Wedemeyer Award recognizes publications of merit that make significant contributions to research in the field of distance education.
Emerging Technologies in Distance Education by George Veletsianos
A one-stop knowledge resource, Emerging Technologies in Distance Education showcases the international work of research scholars and innovative distance education practitioners who use emerging interactive technologies for teaching and learning at a distance.
Learning Perspectives - The MASIE Center (2011)
Web 2.0 Tools in Education: A Quick Guide by Mohamed Amin Embi.
This book includes 20 2.0 Tools that you can use in Education.
E-Learning: A Guidebook of Principles, Procedures and Practices by Prof Som Naidu, written for CEMCA.
The Strategic Management of e-Learning Support by Franziska Zellweger Moser.
This book includes the research of three innovative American Universities with more than 50 interviews with key persons reflecting a wide variety of perspectives. In this research project the strategic management of e-Learning support at American research universities was studied.
Michael Allen's 2012 e-LEARNING Annual by Michael Allen ("Don't Get Trapped by Your e-Learning Tools" by Allan Henderson).
This Annual offers a revealing discussion and debate, consisting of 27 papers from 30 authors, on the appropriate selection and implementation of technology for learning solutions. “By placing so many viewpoints together, Allen has made it possible to do the classic ‘compare and contrast’ that helps develop insights and identify possibilities and strategies that fit our particular circumstances,” explains Bill Brandon, editor of Learning Solutions Magazine for The eLearning Guild, in his book review. “The authors support all of the content with decision aids, tables, and figures that you will find useful not only for your own understanding, but also for explaining new concepts and ideas to others, including decision-makers”.
Successful e-LEARNING Interface: Making Learning Technology Polite, Effective & Fun by Michael Allen.
(Only Chapter 2: Introducing the CEO of LID). This book will help you use your time and resources effectively to build the best e-learning experiences possible within your contraints. As with the other books in this series, this book is geared toward pragmatic application. It's direct and to the point: here's how to connect with your learners, how to empower learning to make the most of e-learning's capabilies, and how to orchestrate learning events for maximum impact: CEO—connect, empower and orchestrate.
E-Learning Concepts and Techniques - University of Pennsylvania
E-Learning Concepts and Techniques is a collaborative e-book project by Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania's Department of Instructional Technology students and guest authors. It was a project-based assignment for the online class, E-Learning Concepts and Techniques Spring 2006 and is dedicated in memory of Justin Bennett (1989-2006). It is also dedicated to those who love to learn as well as to those who inspire that love in others.
Learning Strategies - The MASIE Center
52 Tips on Best Practices for eLearning Development and Implementation
How can you develop and deploy eLearning quickly, efficiently, and with positive results? Which eLearning development and implementation methods work best and which methods are unreliable or ineffective? This complimentary eBook features 12 experts offering development and implementation tips on areas including Guidelines and Protocols, Making Tools Work for You, Engaging Your Team, and Reaching (and Teaching) Your Audience.
CU Online Handbook - University of Colorado Denver
Do you currently teach online? Have you thought about teaching online but for
some reason haven’t done it yet? Here at CU Online, we believe in the power of online learning. Whether you currently teach online or you are thinking about doing it in the future, we are here to help you sort through this process and we hope that this handbook might help you along the way. The boundaries between traditional face-to-face courses and completely online courses are beginning to blur. Therefore, as we move forward, we all must consider when, how, and why we integrate the tools that we do into our classrooms.
Learning Perspectives - The MASIE Center (2010)
Learning Spaces - An EDUCAUSE e-Book
Space, whether physical or virtual, can have a significant impact on learning. Learning Spaces focuses on how learner expectations influence such spaces, the principles and activities that facilitate learning, and the role of technology from the perspective of those who create learning environments: faculty, learning technologists, librarians, and administrators. Information technology has brought unique capabilities to learning spaces, whether stimulating greater interaction through the use of collaborative tools, videoconferencing with international experts, or opening virtual worlds for exploration. This e-book represents an ongoing exploration as we bring together space, technology, and pedagogy to ensure learner success.
62 Tips on Graphic Design, UI/UX Design, and Visualization for eLearning
Effective eLearning deliverables require more than just text and a few random graphics. Good graphic design, user interface (UI) design, and user experience (UX) design aren’t optional – they’re necessary to ensure maximum learner comprehension and retention. This complimentary eBook features 12 top professionals offering graphic design, UI, UX, and visualization tips on areas including Highlighting Learning, Aesthetic Considerations, and Tricks and Tools.
Down-and-dirty Guidelines for Effective Discussions in Online Courses by Joanna C. Dunlap
65 Tips on Managing Projects and SMEs for eLearning
All the ideas in the world don’t matter if you can’t complete your eLearning project. This complimentary eBook features 11 top learning professionals offering tips on managing eLearning projects and SMEs, including Dealing with Stakeholders and Planning Your Project, Choosing and Managing Your Team, Effective Communication, Constraints and Challenges, and Quality Control.
Learning 2.0 for Associations by Jeff Cobb
“In Learning 2.0 for Associations Jeff delivers an easy-to-read primer on how to leverage social media tools to expand the learning value that associations deliver. It’s a must-read for all association educators!” —Mickie S. Rops, CAE / President, Mickie Rops Consulting Inc. / Chair, ASAE Professional Development Council / http://msrops.blogs.comThe Insider’s Guide to Becoming a Rapid E-Learning Pro by The Rapid e-Learning Blog.
One of the great benefits of rapid e-learning is the ability to create e-learning courses much faster and easier than ever before. However, going faster and making your job easier are not the only considerations. That’s where this free 46-page ebook by Tom Kuhlmann comes in.
53 Tips on Using the Cloud for eLearning
The cloud has tremendous potential in the eLearning world, but there are so many choices. Should you use a public or private cloud? How can you make the online experience more seamless? This complimentary eBook features 11 top eLearning professionals offering tips on areas including Planning, Cost, Content and the User Experience, and Support and Security.
Protocols for Online Discussions by Joanna C. Dunlap
58 Tips for Breakthrough eLearning Instructional Design
This eBook draws on the ideas and experience of 14 Instructional Design experts who are leading sessions that are part of The eLearning Guild’s May 2012 Online Forum on “eLearning Instructional Design: Advanced and Breakthrough Techniques.” These tips will enhance the way you design eLearning.
Designing Successful e-Learning by Michael Allen
(Only Chapter 7: Designing Outside The Box). "While its target audience is instructional designers, this book should also be required reading for all training managers seeking guidelines on implementing world-class training. Allen bridges the gap from theory to practice on both training and educational programs. His guidance is as applicable to classroom-based as it is to e-learning based training." by Patty Crowell, director, Global Education Services, LSI Logic
Facilitation Online - The Center for Education Technology.
The guide contains the course model, week-by-week learning activities, general guidance to the course leader on how to implement and customize the course and specific guidelines on each learning activity. The latest version of the course manual includes several minor corrections and is dedicated to the memory of our co-author Jeanne Smuts who died on 28th July 2009.
75 Tips to Reduce eLearning Costs
In this eBook, eLearning Guild members reveal imaginative ways to cut eLearning costs, and share insights on how to optimize your resources to get the job done more efficiently and effectively, without sacrificing quality. See how others are doing amazing things with limited budgets, and how innovative cost-saving ideas can help you do more with less.
Educating the Net Generation - An EDUCAUSE e-Book
The Net Generation has grown up with information technology. The aptitudes, attitudes, expectations, and learning styles of Net Gen students reflect the environment in which they were raised—one that is decidedly different from that which existed when faculty and administrators were growing up.This collection explores the Net Gen and the implications for institutions in areas such as teaching, service, learning space design, faculty development, and curriculum. Contributions by educators and students are included.
701 e-Learning Tips - The MASIE Center
Thanks to The MASIE Center’s TRENDS readers and Learning Consortium Members, over 1000 e-Learning tips were received, analyzed, and categorized. These tips are from senior managers and training professionals from major corporations around the world. We have edited and compiled 141 pages and 14 chapters covering the ABC’s of getting started to global implementation strategies.
98 Tips for Selecting and Working with e-Learning Service Providers
In this eBook we discuss how we can work best together, identifying what should be done inhouse or where outsourcing would be more economical, and how a team approach can align the brainpower of widely diverse groups, often across the miles.
Videoconferencing Cookbook - ViDe
Who are the Intended Readers? Members of the higher education academic and research communities, K-12 educators and technologists and workplace technology integrators.
65 Tips for Getting the Most Out of Your e-Learning Budget
This eBook on maximizing your e-Learning development budget demonstrates the ingenuity of our industry and our commitment to learn all-ways. You will find tips on enduring themes such as where to begin your e-Learning programs, getting the most from subject matter experts, lending your skills to other departments, and lessons learned the hard way.
144 Tips on Synchronous e-Learning Strategy + Research
The eLearning Guild conducted a survey of its members, asking for their favorite tips relating to strategies for effectively creating, managing, and using synchronous e-Learning. These tips will be useful to any designer or developer looking for best practices to incorporate into their own processes. This eBook is sponsored by Adobe Systems, Inc.
Improving the Odds of Effective Collaborative Work in Online Courses by Joanna C. Dunlap
239 Tips for Producing and Managing Flash-based e-Learning Content
In February and March, 2008, The eLearning Guild conducted a survey of its members, asking for their favorite tips for producing and managing Flash-based e-Learning. Members could submit tips relating to any or all of 19 different tools (plus an “other” category) that either produce Flash output or that can incorporate Flash content.
The Instructional Use of Learning Objects
This is the online version of The Instructional Use of Learning Objects, a new book that tries to go beyond the technological hype and connect learning objects to instruction and learning. You can read the full text of the book here for free. The chapters presented here are © their respective authors and are licensed under the Open Publication License, meaning that you are free to copy and redistribute them in any electronic or non-commercial print form. For-profit print rights are held by AIT/AECT. The book was edited by David Wiley, and printed versions of the book are published by the Association for Instructional Technology and the Association for Educational Communications and Technology. If you find the online book useful, please consider purchasing a printed copy.
162 Tips and Tricks for Working with e-Learning Tools
In October and November 2007, The eLearning Guild conducted a survey of its members, asking for their favorite tips for using software to create e-Learning. Members could submit tips in any or all of these five categories: Courseware authoring and e-Learning development tools, rapid e-Learning tools, simulation tools, media tools, and combining and deploying authoring tools.
The eLearning Guild's Handbook of e-Learning Strategy
This FREE Digital Handbook will help you make a broad, fundamental connection between learning, e-Learning, and your organization's mission, business objectives, and the bottom line. Chapters address everything from crafting a focused strategy, to keeping your strategy focused, to change management. This eBook is sponsored by Adobe Systems, Inc.
The eLearning Guild's Handbook on Synchronous e-Learning
This FREE Digital Handbook on Synchronous e-Learning is intended for anyone and everyone who wants to produce, lead, or promote live, interactive learning events on the Web. It's packed with job aids, references, examples, and information to significantly reduce the amount of time required to produce online learning events. This eBook is sponsored by WebEx Communications, Inc.
Learning Leaders Fieldbook - The MASIE Center
382 Tips on the SELECTION of an LMS or LCMS
This FREE Digital Book is an awesome collection of tips from hundreds of your professional colleagues. These tips will help you navigate the LMS minefield, streamline your selection process, and help you save money! Nowhere will you find a more comprehensive set of tips that you can use to improve your LMS and LCMS selection efforts.My Most Memorable Teacher - The MASIE Center
339 Tips on the IMPLEMENTATION of an LMS or LCMS
This FREE Digital Book is an amazing collection of tips from hundreds of your professional colleagues. Nowhere will you find a more comprehensive set of tips that you can use to improve your LMS and LCMS implementation efforts.
What Keeps You Up At Night - The MASIE Center
311 Tips on the MANAGEMENT of an LMS or LCMS
This FREE Digital Book is an incredible collection of tips from hundreds of your professional colleagues. Why reinvent the wheel when you can learn from these tips on the management of your LMS or LCMS system! Nowhere will you find a more comprehensive set of tips that you can use to improve your LMS and LCMS management efforts.
834 Tips for Successful Online Instruction
This FREE Digital Book is a wonderful collection of tips from 336 of your professional colleagues. Nowhere will you find a more comprehensive set of tips that you can use to improve your knowledge and skills in online instruction. This eBook is sponsored by WebEx Communications, Inc.
In Search of Learning Agility
This publication deviates from the typical eLearning Guild eBook. We’re publishing it here because we believe that it contains a powerful and insightful view of the role educational technology plays in organizations. The central premise is that enduring competitive advantage must be built on organizational learning agility. This is a “must read” for managers and executives who are interested in aligning learning and training efforts and investments with larger business objectives.
e-Learning Practices - Editor: Prof. Dr. Ugur Demiray
e-Learning Survival Guide by e-Learning Queen (a.k.a Susan Smith Nash)
Everything you need to succeed in the wild world of mobile learning, e-learning, and hybrid college, K-12, and career courses.
Web Teaching by David Brooks, Diane Nolan, and Susan Gallaghe
FREE eBooks for instructional designers and eLearning professionals
Here is a list of FREE eBooks for instructional designers and eLearning professionals available online.
Game Changers: Education and Information Technologies - An EDUCAUSE e-Book
New models and new technologies allow us to rethink many of the premises of education—location and time, credits and credentials, knowledge creation and sharing. Institutions are finding new ways of achieving higher education’s mission without being crippled by constraints or overpowered by greater expectations. Game Changers, a collection of chapters and case studies contributed by college and university presidents, provosts, faculty, and other stakeholders, explores these new models.
Theory and Practice of Online Learning - Athabasca University
Awarded the Charles A. Wedemeyer Award by the University Continuing Education Association. The Charles A. Wedemeyer Award recognizes publications of merit that make significant contributions to research in the field of distance education.
Emerging Technologies in Distance Education by George Veletsianos
A one-stop knowledge resource, Emerging Technologies in Distance Education showcases the international work of research scholars and innovative distance education practitioners who use emerging interactive technologies for teaching and learning at a distance.
Learning Perspectives - The MASIE Center (2011)
Web 2.0 Tools in Education: A Quick Guide by Mohamed Amin Embi.
This book includes 20 2.0 Tools that you can use in Education.
E-Learning: A Guidebook of Principles, Procedures and Practices by Prof Som Naidu, written for CEMCA.
The Strategic Management of e-Learning Support by Franziska Zellweger Moser.
This book includes the research of three innovative American Universities with more than 50 interviews with key persons reflecting a wide variety of perspectives. In this research project the strategic management of e-Learning support at American research universities was studied.
Michael Allen's 2012 e-LEARNING Annual by Michael Allen ("Don't Get Trapped by Your e-Learning Tools" by Allan Henderson).
This Annual offers a revealing discussion and debate, consisting of 27 papers from 30 authors, on the appropriate selection and implementation of technology for learning solutions. “By placing so many viewpoints together, Allen has made it possible to do the classic ‘compare and contrast’ that helps develop insights and identify possibilities and strategies that fit our particular circumstances,” explains Bill Brandon, editor of Learning Solutions Magazine for The eLearning Guild, in his book review. “The authors support all of the content with decision aids, tables, and figures that you will find useful not only for your own understanding, but also for explaining new concepts and ideas to others, including decision-makers”.
Successful e-LEARNING Interface: Making Learning Technology Polite, Effective & Fun by Michael Allen.
(Only Chapter 2: Introducing the CEO of LID). This book will help you use your time and resources effectively to build the best e-learning experiences possible within your contraints. As with the other books in this series, this book is geared toward pragmatic application. It's direct and to the point: here's how to connect with your learners, how to empower learning to make the most of e-learning's capabilies, and how to orchestrate learning events for maximum impact: CEO—connect, empower and orchestrate.
E-Learning Concepts and Techniques - University of Pennsylvania
E-Learning Concepts and Techniques is a collaborative e-book project by Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania's Department of Instructional Technology students and guest authors. It was a project-based assignment for the online class, E-Learning Concepts and Techniques Spring 2006 and is dedicated in memory of Justin Bennett (1989-2006). It is also dedicated to those who love to learn as well as to those who inspire that love in others.
Learning Strategies - The MASIE Center
52 Tips on Best Practices for eLearning Development and Implementation
How can you develop and deploy eLearning quickly, efficiently, and with positive results? Which eLearning development and implementation methods work best and which methods are unreliable or ineffective? This complimentary eBook features 12 experts offering development and implementation tips on areas including Guidelines and Protocols, Making Tools Work for You, Engaging Your Team, and Reaching (and Teaching) Your Audience.
CU Online Handbook - University of Colorado Denver
Do you currently teach online? Have you thought about teaching online but for
some reason haven’t done it yet? Here at CU Online, we believe in the power of online learning. Whether you currently teach online or you are thinking about doing it in the future, we are here to help you sort through this process and we hope that this handbook might help you along the way. The boundaries between traditional face-to-face courses and completely online courses are beginning to blur. Therefore, as we move forward, we all must consider when, how, and why we integrate the tools that we do into our classrooms.
Learning Perspectives - The MASIE Center (2010)
Learning Spaces - An EDUCAUSE e-Book
Space, whether physical or virtual, can have a significant impact on learning. Learning Spaces focuses on how learner expectations influence such spaces, the principles and activities that facilitate learning, and the role of technology from the perspective of those who create learning environments: faculty, learning technologists, librarians, and administrators. Information technology has brought unique capabilities to learning spaces, whether stimulating greater interaction through the use of collaborative tools, videoconferencing with international experts, or opening virtual worlds for exploration. This e-book represents an ongoing exploration as we bring together space, technology, and pedagogy to ensure learner success.
62 Tips on Graphic Design, UI/UX Design, and Visualization for eLearning
Effective eLearning deliverables require more than just text and a few random graphics. Good graphic design, user interface (UI) design, and user experience (UX) design aren’t optional – they’re necessary to ensure maximum learner comprehension and retention. This complimentary eBook features 12 top professionals offering graphic design, UI, UX, and visualization tips on areas including Highlighting Learning, Aesthetic Considerations, and Tricks and Tools.
Down-and-dirty Guidelines for Effective Discussions in Online Courses by Joanna C. Dunlap
65 Tips on Managing Projects and SMEs for eLearning
All the ideas in the world don’t matter if you can’t complete your eLearning project. This complimentary eBook features 11 top learning professionals offering tips on managing eLearning projects and SMEs, including Dealing with Stakeholders and Planning Your Project, Choosing and Managing Your Team, Effective Communication, Constraints and Challenges, and Quality Control.
Learning 2.0 for Associations by Jeff Cobb
“In Learning 2.0 for Associations Jeff delivers an easy-to-read primer on how to leverage social media tools to expand the learning value that associations deliver. It’s a must-read for all association educators!” —Mickie S. Rops, CAE / President, Mickie Rops Consulting Inc. / Chair, ASAE Professional Development Council / http://msrops.blogs.comThe Insider’s Guide to Becoming a Rapid E-Learning Pro by The Rapid e-Learning Blog.
One of the great benefits of rapid e-learning is the ability to create e-learning courses much faster and easier than ever before. However, going faster and making your job easier are not the only considerations. That’s where this free 46-page ebook by Tom Kuhlmann comes in.
53 Tips on Using the Cloud for eLearning
The cloud has tremendous potential in the eLearning world, but there are so many choices. Should you use a public or private cloud? How can you make the online experience more seamless? This complimentary eBook features 11 top eLearning professionals offering tips on areas including Planning, Cost, Content and the User Experience, and Support and Security.
Protocols for Online Discussions by Joanna C. Dunlap
58 Tips for Breakthrough eLearning Instructional Design
This eBook draws on the ideas and experience of 14 Instructional Design experts who are leading sessions that are part of The eLearning Guild’s May 2012 Online Forum on “eLearning Instructional Design: Advanced and Breakthrough Techniques.” These tips will enhance the way you design eLearning.
Designing Successful e-Learning by Michael Allen
(Only Chapter 7: Designing Outside The Box). "While its target audience is instructional designers, this book should also be required reading for all training managers seeking guidelines on implementing world-class training. Allen bridges the gap from theory to practice on both training and educational programs. His guidance is as applicable to classroom-based as it is to e-learning based training." by Patty Crowell, director, Global Education Services, LSI Logic
Facilitation Online - The Center for Education Technology.
The guide contains the course model, week-by-week learning activities, general guidance to the course leader on how to implement and customize the course and specific guidelines on each learning activity. The latest version of the course manual includes several minor corrections and is dedicated to the memory of our co-author Jeanne Smuts who died on 28th July 2009.
75 Tips to Reduce eLearning Costs
In this eBook, eLearning Guild members reveal imaginative ways to cut eLearning costs, and share insights on how to optimize your resources to get the job done more efficiently and effectively, without sacrificing quality. See how others are doing amazing things with limited budgets, and how innovative cost-saving ideas can help you do more with less.
Educating the Net Generation - An EDUCAUSE e-Book
The Net Generation has grown up with information technology. The aptitudes, attitudes, expectations, and learning styles of Net Gen students reflect the environment in which they were raised—one that is decidedly different from that which existed when faculty and administrators were growing up.This collection explores the Net Gen and the implications for institutions in areas such as teaching, service, learning space design, faculty development, and curriculum. Contributions by educators and students are included.
701 e-Learning Tips - The MASIE Center
Thanks to The MASIE Center’s TRENDS readers and Learning Consortium Members, over 1000 e-Learning tips were received, analyzed, and categorized. These tips are from senior managers and training professionals from major corporations around the world. We have edited and compiled 141 pages and 14 chapters covering the ABC’s of getting started to global implementation strategies.
98 Tips for Selecting and Working with e-Learning Service Providers
In this eBook we discuss how we can work best together, identifying what should be done inhouse or where outsourcing would be more economical, and how a team approach can align the brainpower of widely diverse groups, often across the miles.
Videoconferencing Cookbook - ViDe
Who are the Intended Readers? Members of the higher education academic and research communities, K-12 educators and technologists and workplace technology integrators.
65 Tips for Getting the Most Out of Your e-Learning Budget
This eBook on maximizing your e-Learning development budget demonstrates the ingenuity of our industry and our commitment to learn all-ways. You will find tips on enduring themes such as where to begin your e-Learning programs, getting the most from subject matter experts, lending your skills to other departments, and lessons learned the hard way.
144 Tips on Synchronous e-Learning Strategy + Research
The eLearning Guild conducted a survey of its members, asking for their favorite tips relating to strategies for effectively creating, managing, and using synchronous e-Learning. These tips will be useful to any designer or developer looking for best practices to incorporate into their own processes. This eBook is sponsored by Adobe Systems, Inc.
Improving the Odds of Effective Collaborative Work in Online Courses by Joanna C. Dunlap
239 Tips for Producing and Managing Flash-based e-Learning Content
In February and March, 2008, The eLearning Guild conducted a survey of its members, asking for their favorite tips for producing and managing Flash-based e-Learning. Members could submit tips relating to any or all of 19 different tools (plus an “other” category) that either produce Flash output or that can incorporate Flash content.
The Instructional Use of Learning Objects
This is the online version of The Instructional Use of Learning Objects, a new book that tries to go beyond the technological hype and connect learning objects to instruction and learning. You can read the full text of the book here for free. The chapters presented here are © their respective authors and are licensed under the Open Publication License, meaning that you are free to copy and redistribute them in any electronic or non-commercial print form. For-profit print rights are held by AIT/AECT. The book was edited by David Wiley, and printed versions of the book are published by the Association for Instructional Technology and the Association for Educational Communications and Technology. If you find the online book useful, please consider purchasing a printed copy.
162 Tips and Tricks for Working with e-Learning Tools
In October and November 2007, The eLearning Guild conducted a survey of its members, asking for their favorite tips for using software to create e-Learning. Members could submit tips in any or all of these five categories: Courseware authoring and e-Learning development tools, rapid e-Learning tools, simulation tools, media tools, and combining and deploying authoring tools.
The eLearning Guild's Handbook of e-Learning Strategy
This FREE Digital Handbook will help you make a broad, fundamental connection between learning, e-Learning, and your organization's mission, business objectives, and the bottom line. Chapters address everything from crafting a focused strategy, to keeping your strategy focused, to change management. This eBook is sponsored by Adobe Systems, Inc.
The eLearning Guild's Handbook on Synchronous e-Learning
This FREE Digital Handbook on Synchronous e-Learning is intended for anyone and everyone who wants to produce, lead, or promote live, interactive learning events on the Web. It's packed with job aids, references, examples, and information to significantly reduce the amount of time required to produce online learning events. This eBook is sponsored by WebEx Communications, Inc.
Learning Leaders Fieldbook - The MASIE Center
382 Tips on the SELECTION of an LMS or LCMS
This FREE Digital Book is an awesome collection of tips from hundreds of your professional colleagues. These tips will help you navigate the LMS minefield, streamline your selection process, and help you save money! Nowhere will you find a more comprehensive set of tips that you can use to improve your LMS and LCMS selection efforts.My Most Memorable Teacher - The MASIE Center
339 Tips on the IMPLEMENTATION of an LMS or LCMS
This FREE Digital Book is an amazing collection of tips from hundreds of your professional colleagues. Nowhere will you find a more comprehensive set of tips that you can use to improve your LMS and LCMS implementation efforts.
What Keeps You Up At Night - The MASIE Center
311 Tips on the MANAGEMENT of an LMS or LCMS
This FREE Digital Book is an incredible collection of tips from hundreds of your professional colleagues. Why reinvent the wheel when you can learn from these tips on the management of your LMS or LCMS system! Nowhere will you find a more comprehensive set of tips that you can use to improve your LMS and LCMS management efforts.
834 Tips for Successful Online Instruction
This FREE Digital Book is a wonderful collection of tips from 336 of your professional colleagues. Nowhere will you find a more comprehensive set of tips that you can use to improve your knowledge and skills in online instruction. This eBook is sponsored by WebEx Communications, Inc.
In Search of Learning Agility
This publication deviates from the typical eLearning Guild eBook. We’re publishing it here because we believe that it contains a powerful and insightful view of the role educational technology plays in organizations. The central premise is that enduring competitive advantage must be built on organizational learning agility. This is a “must read” for managers and executives who are interested in aligning learning and training efforts and investments with larger business objectives.
e-Learning Practices - Editor: Prof. Dr. Ugur Demiray
e-Learning Survival Guide by e-Learning Queen (a.k.a Susan Smith Nash)
Everything you need to succeed in the wild world of mobile learning, e-learning, and hybrid college, K-12, and career courses.
Web Teaching by David Brooks, Diane Nolan, and Susan Gallaghe
Game Changers: Education and Information Technologies - An EDUCAUSE e-Book
New models and new technologies allow us to rethink many of the premises of education—location and time, credits and credentials, knowledge creation and sharing. Institutions are finding new ways of achieving higher education’s mission without being crippled by constraints or overpowered by greater expectations. Game Changers, a collection of chapters and case studies contributed by college and university presidents, provosts, faculty, and other stakeholders, explores these new models.
Theory and Practice of Online Learning - Athabasca University
Awarded the Charles A. Wedemeyer Award by the University Continuing Education Association. The Charles A. Wedemeyer Award recognizes publications of merit that make significant contributions to research in the field of distance education.
Emerging Technologies in Distance Education by George Veletsianos
A one-stop knowledge resource, Emerging Technologies in Distance Education showcases the international work of research scholars and innovative distance education practitioners who use emerging interactive technologies for teaching and learning at a distance.
Learning Perspectives - The MASIE Center (2011)
Web 2.0 Tools in Education: A Quick Guide by Mohamed Amin Embi.
This book includes 20 2.0 Tools that you can use in Education.
E-Learning: A Guidebook of Principles, Procedures and Practices by Prof Som Naidu, written for CEMCA.
The Strategic Management of e-Learning Support by Franziska Zellweger Moser.
This book includes the research of three innovative American Universities with more than 50 interviews with key persons reflecting a wide variety of perspectives. In this research project the strategic management of e-Learning support at American research universities was studied.
Michael Allen's 2012 e-LEARNING Annual by Michael Allen ("Don't Get Trapped by Your e-Learning Tools" by Allan Henderson).
This Annual offers a revealing discussion and debate, consisting of 27 papers from 30 authors, on the appropriate selection and implementation of technology for learning solutions. “By placing so many viewpoints together, Allen has made it possible to do the classic ‘compare and contrast’ that helps develop insights and identify possibilities and strategies that fit our particular circumstances,” explains Bill Brandon, editor of Learning Solutions Magazine for The eLearning Guild, in his book review. “The authors support all of the content with decision aids, tables, and figures that you will find useful not only for your own understanding, but also for explaining new concepts and ideas to others, including decision-makers”.
Successful e-LEARNING Interface: Making Learning Technology Polite, Effective & Fun by Michael Allen.
(Only Chapter 2: Introducing the CEO of LID). This book will help you use your time and resources effectively to build the best e-learning experiences possible within your contraints. As with the other books in this series, this book is geared toward pragmatic application. It's direct and to the point: here's how to connect with your learners, how to empower learning to make the most of e-learning's capabilies, and how to orchestrate learning events for maximum impact: CEO—connect, empower and orchestrate.
E-Learning Concepts and Techniques - University of Pennsylvania
E-Learning Concepts and Techniques is a collaborative e-book project by Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania's Department of Instructional Technology students and guest authors. It was a project-based assignment for the online class, E-Learning Concepts and Techniques Spring 2006 and is dedicated in memory of Justin Bennett (1989-2006). It is also dedicated to those who love to learn as well as to those who inspire that love in others.
Learning Strategies - The MASIE Center
52 Tips on Best Practices for eLearning Development and Implementation
How can you develop and deploy eLearning quickly, efficiently, and with positive results? Which eLearning development and implementation methods work best and which methods are unreliable or ineffective? This complimentary eBook features 12 experts offering development and implementation tips on areas including Guidelines and Protocols, Making Tools Work for You, Engaging Your Team, and Reaching (and Teaching) Your Audience.
CU Online Handbook - University of Colorado Denver
Do you currently teach online? Have you thought about teaching online but for
some reason haven’t done it yet? Here at CU Online, we believe in the power of online learning. Whether you currently teach online or you are thinking about doing it in the future, we are here to help you sort through this process and we hope that this handbook might help you along the way. The boundaries between traditional face-to-face courses and completely online courses are beginning to blur. Therefore, as we move forward, we all must consider when, how, and why we integrate the tools that we do into our classrooms.
Learning Perspectives - The MASIE Center (2010)
Learning Spaces - An EDUCAUSE e-Book
Space, whether physical or virtual, can have a significant impact on learning. Learning Spaces focuses on how learner expectations influence such spaces, the principles and activities that facilitate learning, and the role of technology from the perspective of those who create learning environments: faculty, learning technologists, librarians, and administrators. Information technology has brought unique capabilities to learning spaces, whether stimulating greater interaction through the use of collaborative tools, videoconferencing with international experts, or opening virtual worlds for exploration. This e-book represents an ongoing exploration as we bring together space, technology, and pedagogy to ensure learner success.
62 Tips on Graphic Design, UI/UX Design, and Visualization for eLearning
Effective eLearning deliverables require more than just text and a few random graphics. Good graphic design, user interface (UI) design, and user experience (UX) design aren’t optional – they’re necessary to ensure maximum learner comprehension and retention. This complimentary eBook features 12 top professionals offering graphic design, UI, UX, and visualization tips on areas including Highlighting Learning, Aesthetic Considerations, and Tricks and Tools.
Down-and-dirty Guidelines for Effective Discussions in Online Courses by Joanna C. Dunlap
65 Tips on Managing Projects and SMEs for eLearning
All the ideas in the world don’t matter if you can’t complete your eLearning project. This complimentary eBook features 11 top learning professionals offering tips on managing eLearning projects and SMEs, including Dealing with Stakeholders and Planning Your Project, Choosing and Managing Your Team, Effective Communication, Constraints and Challenges, and Quality Control.
Learning 2.0 for Associations by Jeff Cobb
“In Learning 2.0 for Associations Jeff delivers an easy-to-read primer on how to leverage social media tools to expand the learning value that associations deliver. It’s a must-read for all association educators!” —Mickie S. Rops, CAE / President, Mickie Rops Consulting Inc. / Chair, ASAE Professional Development Council / http://msrops.blogs.comThe Insider’s Guide to Becoming a Rapid E-Learning Pro by The Rapid e-Learning Blog.
One of the great benefits of rapid e-learning is the ability to create e-learning courses much faster and easier than ever before. However, going faster and making your job easier are not the only considerations. That’s where this free 46-page ebook by Tom Kuhlmann comes in.
53 Tips on Using the Cloud for eLearning
The cloud has tremendous potential in the eLearning world, but there are so many choices. Should you use a public or private cloud? How can you make the online experience more seamless? This complimentary eBook features 11 top eLearning professionals offering tips on areas including Planning, Cost, Content and the User Experience, and Support and Security.
Protocols for Online Discussions by Joanna C. Dunlap
58 Tips for Breakthrough eLearning Instructional Design
This eBook draws on the ideas and experience of 14 Instructional Design experts who are leading sessions that are part of The eLearning Guild’s May 2012 Online Forum on “eLearning Instructional Design: Advanced and Breakthrough Techniques.” These tips will enhance the way you design eLearning.
Designing Successful e-Learning by Michael Allen
(Only Chapter 7: Designing Outside The Box). "While its target audience is instructional designers, this book should also be required reading for all training managers seeking guidelines on implementing world-class training. Allen bridges the gap from theory to practice on both training and educational programs. His guidance is as applicable to classroom-based as it is to e-learning based training." by Patty Crowell, director, Global Education Services, LSI Logic
Facilitation Online - The Center for Education Technology.
The guide contains the course model, week-by-week learning activities, general guidance to the course leader on how to implement and customize the course and specific guidelines on each learning activity. The latest version of the course manual includes several minor corrections and is dedicated to the memory of our co-author Jeanne Smuts who died on 28th July 2009.
75 Tips to Reduce eLearning Costs
In this eBook, eLearning Guild members reveal imaginative ways to cut eLearning costs, and share insights on how to optimize your resources to get the job done more efficiently and effectively, without sacrificing quality. See how others are doing amazing things with limited budgets, and how innovative cost-saving ideas can help you do more with less.
Educating the Net Generation - An EDUCAUSE e-Book
The Net Generation has grown up with information technology. The aptitudes, attitudes, expectations, and learning styles of Net Gen students reflect the environment in which they were raised—one that is decidedly different from that which existed when faculty and administrators were growing up.This collection explores the Net Gen and the implications for institutions in areas such as teaching, service, learning space design, faculty development, and curriculum. Contributions by educators and students are included.
701 e-Learning Tips - The MASIE Center
Thanks to The MASIE Center’s TRENDS readers and Learning Consortium Members, over 1000 e-Learning tips were received, analyzed, and categorized. These tips are from senior managers and training professionals from major corporations around the world. We have edited and compiled 141 pages and 14 chapters covering the ABC’s of getting started to global implementation strategies.
98 Tips for Selecting and Working with e-Learning Service Providers
In this eBook we discuss how we can work best together, identifying what should be done inhouse or where outsourcing would be more economical, and how a team approach can align the brainpower of widely diverse groups, often across the miles.
Videoconferencing Cookbook - ViDe
Who are the Intended Readers? Members of the higher education academic and research communities, K-12 educators and technologists and workplace technology integrators.
65 Tips for Getting the Most Out of Your e-Learning Budget
This eBook on maximizing your e-Learning development budget demonstrates the ingenuity of our industry and our commitment to learn all-ways. You will find tips on enduring themes such as where to begin your e-Learning programs, getting the most from subject matter experts, lending your skills to other departments, and lessons learned the hard way.
144 Tips on Synchronous e-Learning Strategy + Research
The eLearning Guild conducted a survey of its members, asking for their favorite tips relating to strategies for effectively creating, managing, and using synchronous e-Learning. These tips will be useful to any designer or developer looking for best practices to incorporate into their own processes. This eBook is sponsored by Adobe Systems, Inc.
Improving the Odds of Effective Collaborative Work in Online Courses by Joanna C. Dunlap
239 Tips for Producing and Managing Flash-based e-Learning Content
In February and March, 2008, The eLearning Guild conducted a survey of its members, asking for their favorite tips for producing and managing Flash-based e-Learning. Members could submit tips relating to any or all of 19 different tools (plus an “other” category) that either produce Flash output or that can incorporate Flash content.
The Instructional Use of Learning Objects
This is the online version of The Instructional Use of Learning Objects, a new book that tries to go beyond the technological hype and connect learning objects to instruction and learning. You can read the full text of the book here for free. The chapters presented here are © their respective authors and are licensed under the Open Publication License, meaning that you are free to copy and redistribute them in any electronic or non-commercial print form. For-profit print rights are held by AIT/AECT. The book was edited by David Wiley, and printed versions of the book are published by the Association for Instructional Technology and the Association for Educational Communications and Technology. If you find the online book useful, please consider purchasing a printed copy.
162 Tips and Tricks for Working with e-Learning Tools
In October and November 2007, The eLearning Guild conducted a survey of its members, asking for their favorite tips for using software to create e-Learning. Members could submit tips in any or all of these five categories: Courseware authoring and e-Learning development tools, rapid e-Learning tools, simulation tools, media tools, and combining and deploying authoring tools.
The eLearning Guild's Handbook of e-Learning Strategy
This FREE Digital Handbook will help you make a broad, fundamental connection between learning, e-Learning, and your organization's mission, business objectives, and the bottom line. Chapters address everything from crafting a focused strategy, to keeping your strategy focused, to change management. This eBook is sponsored by Adobe Systems, Inc.
The eLearning Guild's Handbook on Synchronous e-Learning
This FREE Digital Handbook on Synchronous e-Learning is intended for anyone and everyone who wants to produce, lead, or promote live, interactive learning events on the Web. It's packed with job aids, references, examples, and information to significantly reduce the amount of time required to produce online learning events. This eBook is sponsored by WebEx Communications, Inc.
Learning Leaders Fieldbook - The MASIE Center
382 Tips on the SELECTION of an LMS or LCMS
This FREE Digital Book is an awesome collection of tips from hundreds of your professional colleagues. These tips will help you navigate the LMS minefield, streamline your selection process, and help you save money! Nowhere will you find a more comprehensive set of tips that you can use to improve your LMS and LCMS selection efforts.My Most Memorable Teacher - The MASIE Center
339 Tips on the IMPLEMENTATION of an LMS or LCMS
This FREE Digital Book is an amazing collection of tips from hundreds of your professional colleagues. Nowhere will you find a more comprehensive set of tips that you can use to improve your LMS and LCMS implementation efforts.
What Keeps You Up At Night - The MASIE Center
311 Tips on the MANAGEMENT of an LMS or LCMS
This FREE Digital Book is an incredible collection of tips from hundreds of your professional colleagues. Why reinvent the wheel when you can learn from these tips on the management of your LMS or LCMS system! Nowhere will you find a more comprehensive set of tips that you can use to improve your LMS and LCMS management efforts.
834 Tips for Successful Online Instruction
This FREE Digital Book is a wonderful collection of tips from 336 of your professional colleagues. Nowhere will you find a more comprehensive set of tips that you can use to improve your knowledge and skills in online instruction. This eBook is sponsored by WebEx Communications, Inc.
In Search of Learning Agility
This publication deviates from the typical eLearning Guild eBook. We’re publishing it here because we believe that it contains a powerful and insightful view of the role educational technology plays in organizations. The central premise is that enduring competitive advantage must be built on organizational learning agility. This is a “must read” for managers and executives who are interested in aligning learning and training efforts and investments with larger business objectives.
e-Learning Practices - Editor: Prof. Dr. Ugur Demiray
e-Learning Survival Guide by e-Learning Queen (a.k.a Susan Smith Nash)
Everything you need to succeed in the wild world of mobile learning, e-learning, and hybrid college, K-12, and career courses.
Web Teaching by David Brooks, Diane Nolan, and Susan Gallaghe
May 24, 2013
E-Learning Authoring Tools Compared (Articulate, Captivate, Lectora)
Articulate 
Uses PowerPoint as the main development environment and overlays interactions, audio and Flash media over the top. Then, it exports it out into a handy, single .SWF file for distribution on the web. It has a nice wrapper that creates a nice, contained package for navigation and user controls.
Pro:
If lots of your training is already in PPT, then maybe Articulate is a good be: Import your PPT, add some audio and a couple questions and after export, you are good to go.
Con:
It uses PPT as the basic development platform and plugs in over the top. Your training looks like a glorified PPT.
Captivate
Uses itself as a development platform and does screen recordings and your desktop. It adds interactions and demonstration pop ups, while also allowing for a degree of branching, quizzes and the new version has great audio controls. Then, when you are done, it exports out to a handy, single .swf file for distribution. It also has a nice wrapper that has great navigation and user controls.
Pro:
Captivate is great for capturing mouse movements and screen shots. If you are developing training on a new computer system or software Captivate is really, really good.
Con:
Not suitable for more advance e-learning.
Lectora
Is its own development platform specifically designed for eLearning creation. It allows for the most flexibility, and the pro package has screen capture, audio capture and PPT import as well. It has lots of interaction templates, learning templates and other features that allow you to jump right in and start programming great eLearning.
Pro:
Lectora is great for everything. Everything Articulate and Captivate does, you can do it in Lectora. Plus, the flexibility of Lectora allows you to go beyond and really do some creative eLearning. If you want to build training distributed over the web, and you have a team of creative designers who want no limits, try Lectora.
Cons:
Not as intuitive. There is a learning curve.
Recommendation So which e-learning software is best? Depends on your skill level and type of material you are creating. My advice to you is don’t spend a lot of time looking for a "One Size Fits All" solution instead consider using a combination of software and integrating them to achieve the best results for your targeted audience.
Uses PowerPoint as the main development environment and overlays interactions, audio and Flash media over the top. Then, it exports it out into a handy, single .SWF file for distribution on the web. It has a nice wrapper that creates a nice, contained package for navigation and user controls.Pro:
If lots of your training is already in PPT, then maybe Articulate is a good be: Import your PPT, add some audio and a couple questions and after export, you are good to go.
Con:
It uses PPT as the basic development platform and plugs in over the top. Your training looks like a glorified PPT.
Captivate
Uses itself as a development platform and does screen recordings and your desktop. It adds interactions and demonstration pop ups, while also allowing for a degree of branching, quizzes and the new version has great audio controls. Then, when you are done, it exports out to a handy, single .swf file for distribution. It also has a nice wrapper that has great navigation and user controls.Pro:
Captivate is great for capturing mouse movements and screen shots. If you are developing training on a new computer system or software Captivate is really, really good.
Con:
Not suitable for more advance e-learning.
Lectora
Is its own development platform specifically designed for eLearning creation. It allows for the most flexibility, and the pro package has screen capture, audio capture and PPT import as well. It has lots of interaction templates, learning templates and other features that allow you to jump right in and start programming great eLearning.Pro:
Lectora is great for everything. Everything Articulate and Captivate does, you can do it in Lectora. Plus, the flexibility of Lectora allows you to go beyond and really do some creative eLearning. If you want to build training distributed over the web, and you have a team of creative designers who want no limits, try Lectora.
Cons:
Not as intuitive. There is a learning curve.
Recommendation So which e-learning software is best? Depends on your skill level and type of material you are creating. My advice to you is don’t spend a lot of time looking for a "One Size Fits All" solution instead consider using a combination of software and integrating them to achieve the best results for your targeted audience.
December 18, 2012
Basics of the Situational Leadership Model
Created by professor and author Dr. Paul Hersey and author Ken Blanchard, the Situational Leadership Model is a theory of business leadership that promotes the benefits of combining a range of managerial styles to cater to different people within the same organization. This is opposed to the more traditional view of the executive manager who may employ the same leadership tactics across an entire organization, more than likely passing directives down through subordinates and other intermediaries.
But by employing the strategies put forth in the Situational Leadership Model, a manager would potentially have the capabilities to deal with a wide range of people and thereby create a more employee-centric and innovative organization through the level of direct contact he or she has with members at all levels. Further, the leader would be free to place more or less emphasis on a particular task as well as more or less emphasis on relationships with employees – enabling them to focus on the component most needed to get the task accomplished successfully.
One Size Doesn’t Fit All
The core foundation of the Situational Leadership Model is the belief that there is no single “best” approach to leadership. Instead, effective leadership is viewed as task-relevant. Therefore, the most successful leaders are the ones who are able to adapt their leadership styles across a broad range of varying maturity levels readily present within the average organization. Also factoring into the choice for leadership style are the individual employees’ willingness and ability to take responsibility for the task as well as their applicable education and experience.
Given the wide level of variance in these factors, choices surrounding leadership are highly subjective in regard to the person or work group that is being influenced as well as the specific job or function that has been assigned – a situation some say lends itself perfectly to the Situational Leadership Model.
The Four Styles of Situational Leadership
Though it’s meant to provide extreme adaptability, there are four basic styles when it comes to the Situational Leadership Model, each custom tailored to elicit the highest productivity from each employee or group.
As you’ll see, there is a clear distinction between productivity and employee-development, with the first two styles (telling and selling) focused on accomplishing the task while styles three and four (participating and delegating) are more concerned with the personal development of team members.
Telling – Within this style, a leader will specifically instruct subordinates what to do and how to do it. This style is used at length within the law enforcement and military communities as well as on manufacturing assembly lines, providing a means of managing a diverse group of people that span a wide range of experience and maturity levels.
Selling – Information and direction will still be provided by the manger in this style of leadership but there’s also more two-way communication with subordinates. Within this role, leaders “sell” their message to get employees on board, persuading them to work toward the common goal. A perfect example of this type of leadership is often found in an internship situation, with the success of this approach dependent upon whether the student or apprentice learner is excited and self-motivated to be on the job.
Participating – With participation, leaders can focus more on relationships and less on direction. In doing so, the Situational Leadership manager works closely with the team and shares decision-making responsibilities. This style is often used by corporate leaders who are attempting to influence a board of directors toward developing a new policy for which there is no proven history or established practice.
Delegating – Although the leader will still monitor task- and organizational-progress, he or she will pass much of the responsibility for the execution and completion of the established goals onto the individual subordinates or dedicated work groups. By delegating, the leader is usually less involved with decisions and is therefore able to focus on the work and achievements of subordinates, as seen commonly in the freedom given to tenured professors who are allowed to teach in the manner they believe is most effective while being monitored by a dean or department head.
But by employing the strategies put forth in the Situational Leadership Model, a manager would potentially have the capabilities to deal with a wide range of people and thereby create a more employee-centric and innovative organization through the level of direct contact he or she has with members at all levels. Further, the leader would be free to place more or less emphasis on a particular task as well as more or less emphasis on relationships with employees – enabling them to focus on the component most needed to get the task accomplished successfully.
One Size Doesn’t Fit All
The core foundation of the Situational Leadership Model is the belief that there is no single “best” approach to leadership. Instead, effective leadership is viewed as task-relevant. Therefore, the most successful leaders are the ones who are able to adapt their leadership styles across a broad range of varying maturity levels readily present within the average organization. Also factoring into the choice for leadership style are the individual employees’ willingness and ability to take responsibility for the task as well as their applicable education and experience.
Given the wide level of variance in these factors, choices surrounding leadership are highly subjective in regard to the person or work group that is being influenced as well as the specific job or function that has been assigned – a situation some say lends itself perfectly to the Situational Leadership Model.
The Four Styles of Situational Leadership
Though it’s meant to provide extreme adaptability, there are four basic styles when it comes to the Situational Leadership Model, each custom tailored to elicit the highest productivity from each employee or group.
As you’ll see, there is a clear distinction between productivity and employee-development, with the first two styles (telling and selling) focused on accomplishing the task while styles three and four (participating and delegating) are more concerned with the personal development of team members.
Telling – Within this style, a leader will specifically instruct subordinates what to do and how to do it. This style is used at length within the law enforcement and military communities as well as on manufacturing assembly lines, providing a means of managing a diverse group of people that span a wide range of experience and maturity levels.
Selling – Information and direction will still be provided by the manger in this style of leadership but there’s also more two-way communication with subordinates. Within this role, leaders “sell” their message to get employees on board, persuading them to work toward the common goal. A perfect example of this type of leadership is often found in an internship situation, with the success of this approach dependent upon whether the student or apprentice learner is excited and self-motivated to be on the job.
Participating – With participation, leaders can focus more on relationships and less on direction. In doing so, the Situational Leadership manager works closely with the team and shares decision-making responsibilities. This style is often used by corporate leaders who are attempting to influence a board of directors toward developing a new policy for which there is no proven history or established practice.
Delegating – Although the leader will still monitor task- and organizational-progress, he or she will pass much of the responsibility for the execution and completion of the established goals onto the individual subordinates or dedicated work groups. By delegating, the leader is usually less involved with decisions and is therefore able to focus on the work and achievements of subordinates, as seen commonly in the freedom given to tenured professors who are allowed to teach in the manner they believe is most effective while being monitored by a dean or department head.
December 10, 2012
Bringing Emotional Intelligence to the Workplace
Emotional Intelligence is the ability to use your emotions in a positive and constructive way in relationships with others. It's about engaging with others in a way that brings people towards you, not away from you. Emotional Intelligence is about recognizing your own emotional state and the emotional states of others and being “choiceful” about how you interact and engage with them. It is about choosing to engage people in a positive and constructive manner, and it can help tremendously in the workplace.
E.I. Personality
Emotional Intelligence is divided into 4 basic competencies. Each competency has several skills or personality traits.
1. Self Awareness
This is recognizing how emotions affect one's performance. It requires an accurate self assessment, a candid sense of one's personal strengths and limits and then being able to accurately identify one's own areas of improvement. Self-aware individuals are reflective and learn from experience. They are open to candid feedback, new perspectives and self-development.
2. Self Management
This is the ability to manage one's internal states, impulses, and resources. It means being choiceful in interactions with others and the ability to manage or control reactions to difficult situations. Personality traits include self control, trustworthiness, conscientiousness, adaptability, innovation and optimism.
3. Awareness of Others (Social Awareness)
This is the awareness of other people's feelings, needs, and concerns. It means having empathy, seeking to understand others and being able to read and tune in to the emotional state of others. Social awareness skills include understanding others, developing others, service orientation, leveraging diversity and having political awareness.
4. Relationship Management
This competency is about successfully engaging with others. It includes the ability to communicate, relate and listen well to others and to induce desirable responses in them. People with this ability understand that emotions are contagious. They can adapt their communication styles to people and situations.
EI in the Workplace
Emotional Intelligence is extremely useful at work. Most workplaces rely on different people working together to create a product or service. The workplace is not “all business.” It is a social network and, as such, it is a hotbed of emotions, egos, stress and conflict. Emotional Intelligence can help you develop robust relationships, solve problems using both logic and feelings, maintain an optimistic and positive outlook, cultivate flexibility in stressful situations, help others express their needs, respond to difficult people and situations calmly and thoughtfully and respond to change with grace and calm.
Many people assume that a high IQ is more important than high EI skills. While both are important, many studies show that EI is a much more accurate determinant for success and career growth than technical skills or a high IQ. Today's workplaces are fast moving and full of change. The ability to roll with the punches is huge. You'll get the best out of your employees if you create an emotionally intelligent workplace and you'll be a better employer or leader if you use your EI.
Emotional Intelligence really comes into play when it comes to managing and dealing with difficult people, including customers, employees, colleagues, and bosses. Your ability to understand and empathize goes a long way. EI is important for managing change, understanding the political landscape for a new project, dealing well with setbacks or workplace obstacles, motivating and influencing others and working with or for a team with different personalities.
Some people are born with natural EI sills. In certain fields, EI goes hand in hand with success, like sales. Some people are natural born salesmen. Many companies actually use EI competency testing as criteria for selection into highly engaging positions like sales. A recent survey showed that companies that selected their sales people by using EI competency criteria decreased their first year turnover rate by a whopping 63 percent.
But EI can also be taught and many companies hire consultants like me to host workshops to train employees on emotional intelligence. If companies are truly committed to creating a positive workplace, this can be a great way to start.
EI works on the self-employed as well. First of all, very few people actually work “alone.” Even if you are a sole task producer you still have to create something for a customer and client, so your ability to manage your relationships, even if it is just one or two, is pretty important. And you still have to manage yourself. Your state of mind will absolutely affect your work product. Being able to manage your own emotional landscape will definitely help improve your work product and process.
How Employers Can Use EI
Employers and managers should think about what kind of climate will get the best out of their employees. It always makes me cringe when I see leaders use oppressive tactics to drive performance. It really isn't a successful long-term strategy, especially if you hit hard economic times. A person's relationship with their employer is and has always been a leading factor in an employee's decision to stay or go, and contributes greatly to their productivity.
So if you want to improve your image as a leader, get feedback and be willing to make improvements in yourself and your management style. And remember, being emotionally intelligent is not about “being soft” or forgoing the bottom line. It's about creating and maintaining constructive and generative relationships and environments, and that helps your bottom line.
EI is critical for top leaders. In fact, the higher your position in a company, the more important emotional intelligence becomes. According to the Center for Creative Leadership, the biggest reason that managers fail is because of poor interpersonal skills. Another survey showed that 85 percent of the difference between a good leader and an excellent leader is emotional intelligence.
You can easily see this when you ask people what qualities they think make a great leader or boss. Eighty-five percent of the qualities they name are usually EI qualities while only a handful turns out to be technical skills. EI is critical for a good leader.
More info:
Employers are always looking for people who are not only book smart, but are also charismatic, optimistic and resilient. They want people who are not afraid to use emotional intelligence to get ahead. Find out where you stand so you can use your EI to get ahead. Whether you are an employee, a boss, a manager or are self-employed, EI is a critical component of your success.
To find out more about EI and how to measure it, take a look at http://www.eiconsortium.org/reports/technical_report.html
December 7, 2012
5 Basic Principles for a Collaborative Workplace
There are tons of books written about creating a collaborative environment in the workplace but they all can be summarized with these 5 principles:
Focus on the situation, issue, or behavior, not the person.
Maintain the self-confidence and self-esteem of others.
Maintain constructive relationships.
Take initiative to make things better.
Lead by example.
Try these principles and see if that makes a difference in your work environment.
Focus on the situation, issue, or behavior, not the person.
Maintain the self-confidence and self-esteem of others.
Maintain constructive relationships.
Take initiative to make things better.
Lead by example.
Try these principles and see if that makes a difference in your work environment.
September 22, 2012
Training Day Checklist
Training Day Checklist
Here’s a handy last-minute checklist to make sure everything is ready for your training session:
Dress appropriately. Use your audience analysis to figure out what to wear. In general, match your manner of dress to that of your trainees—or go slightly more professional.Arrive early. Give yourself time to check last-minute arrangements and get yourself mentally geared up for the session.Check seating arrangements. Make sure the set-up is ideal for the training style you want to use and have some extra chairs for any last-minute trainees.Check room temperature. Adjust it appropriately for the number of people who will be in the room and the size of the space you will all be occupying.Check audiovisual hardware. Conduct one last run-through to make sure everything is still running smoothly.Check electrical outlets. Make sure all your connections are safe. Don’t trail cords across walkways or overload surge protector strips.
Check light switches. Know which switches work which lights so you can achieve the ideal lighting for audiovisual materials and note-taking.
Check window-darkening equipment. Make sure blinds or shades are working properly.
Check arrangements. Make sure you have everything you need—including the training space for the entire time you need it.
Lay out classroom supplies. If you will be demonstrating tools or equipment, make sure you have everything you need.
Lay out course materials. Decide whether to put handouts on a table for trainees to pick up on the way in or to lay them at every seat.
These are all effective techniques for running a successful session, but what kind of person does it take to do the training? The best trainers have several qualities that make them good at what they do. Check the list below to see which qualities you already possess—and to determine which areas you could improve.
Here’s a handy last-minute checklist to make sure everything is ready for your training session:
Dress appropriately. Use your audience analysis to figure out what to wear. In general, match your manner of dress to that of your trainees—or go slightly more professional.Arrive early. Give yourself time to check last-minute arrangements and get yourself mentally geared up for the session.Check seating arrangements. Make sure the set-up is ideal for the training style you want to use and have some extra chairs for any last-minute trainees.Check room temperature. Adjust it appropriately for the number of people who will be in the room and the size of the space you will all be occupying.Check audiovisual hardware. Conduct one last run-through to make sure everything is still running smoothly.Check electrical outlets. Make sure all your connections are safe. Don’t trail cords across walkways or overload surge protector strips.
Check light switches. Know which switches work which lights so you can achieve the ideal lighting for audiovisual materials and note-taking.
Check window-darkening equipment. Make sure blinds or shades are working properly.
Check arrangements. Make sure you have everything you need—including the training space for the entire time you need it.
Lay out classroom supplies. If you will be demonstrating tools or equipment, make sure you have everything you need.
Lay out course materials. Decide whether to put handouts on a table for trainees to pick up on the way in or to lay them at every seat.
These are all effective techniques for running a successful session, but what kind of person does it take to do the training? The best trainers have several qualities that make them good at what they do. Check the list below to see which qualities you already possess—and to determine which areas you could improve.
Make Training Memorable
Here are some softer training methods that are not necessarily essential to conveying information, but that can make receiving data or instructions a much more enjoyable experience, which will keep trainees involved and help them retain more information.
Make learning fun. Why? Trainees will not be enthusiastic if training sessions are dry and dull. Few employees respond to or remember complicated concepts or theories; they want to learn practical information about what they can do to get better results today. If they don’t find the message entertaining, they won’t retain it. Since variety is the spice of life, use several different training methods to engage trainees in a variety of ways. Also work to alternate the pace of each session to keep trainees’ interest level high.
Use humor. Humor helps keep enthusiasm at peak levels. Trainers can make a point more effectively by using humor than by drowning trainees in statistics or theories. Avoid telling jokes, however, because humor is so subjective that someone in your audience may be offended and lose track of training for the rest of the session. Personal, self-deprecating humor is the safest way to go.
Use attractive packaging. Use materials that are well-packaged and that communicate value. Professional packaging is a powerful tool for setting a good first impression.
Encourage participation. Make the session lively by engaging participants in the learning process. In fact, try to spend close to 80 percent of training time on group participation. Encourage everyone in the training session to speak freely and candidly, because learning occurs most readily when feelings are involved.
Build self-esteem. Employees understandably want to know what’s in it for them. They know that most training programs are designed to make money for the company, but rarely does training lift employees’ spirits or help them to become better in their own lives. Create a win-win environment by using the training program to build the participants’ self-worth and self-esteem.
Make learning fun. Why? Trainees will not be enthusiastic if training sessions are dry and dull. Few employees respond to or remember complicated concepts or theories; they want to learn practical information about what they can do to get better results today. If they don’t find the message entertaining, they won’t retain it. Since variety is the spice of life, use several different training methods to engage trainees in a variety of ways. Also work to alternate the pace of each session to keep trainees’ interest level high.
Use humor. Humor helps keep enthusiasm at peak levels. Trainers can make a point more effectively by using humor than by drowning trainees in statistics or theories. Avoid telling jokes, however, because humor is so subjective that someone in your audience may be offended and lose track of training for the rest of the session. Personal, self-deprecating humor is the safest way to go.
Use attractive packaging. Use materials that are well-packaged and that communicate value. Professional packaging is a powerful tool for setting a good first impression.
Encourage participation. Make the session lively by engaging participants in the learning process. In fact, try to spend close to 80 percent of training time on group participation. Encourage everyone in the training session to speak freely and candidly, because learning occurs most readily when feelings are involved.
Build self-esteem. Employees understandably want to know what’s in it for them. They know that most training programs are designed to make money for the company, but rarely does training lift employees’ spirits or help them to become better in their own lives. Create a win-win environment by using the training program to build the participants’ self-worth and self-esteem.
How to Conduct an Effective Training Session
How to Conduct an Effective Training Session
Here are 12 proven techniques to conduct a successful training session:
Tell trainees what you're going to cover. Introduce your session with a brief overview of the training subject’s main points.
Tell them the information. In the main portion of the session, explain key points, go over policies, demonstrate procedures, and relate any other information trainees need to know.
Tell them what you told them. Conclude with a summary of your opening overview. Use repetition to help trainees grasp and retain information.
Always explain what trainees are going to see before you show a multimedia portion. This practice creates a better learning environment by guiding trainees to know what to look for and what to remember. Explaining the purpose of the multimedia ensures an effective reception for its information.
Use as much hands-on training as possible. The most effective training uses all the senses to affect learning. Demonstrate and apply teaching points to create greater understanding and knowledge of the subject.
Test frequently. Tests are most effective when students know they will be quizzed, because they’ll pay close attention to the material. Testing is an objective way to determine whether training achieved its goals.
Involve trainees. For example, ask participants to share their experiences with the training topic. Many trainees are experienced personnel who have valuable information to contribute. All trainees will get more out of sessions by hearing about their co-workers’ experiences with the subject—and not just the trainer’s lecture points. Hearing different voices also keeps sessions varied and interesting. Structure interaction time into all your sessions.Repeat questions before answering them. This practice ensures that all participants know what the question is so they can make sense of the answer.
Analyze the session as you go. Always be on the lookout for what works best. When you discover a new technique or method that clicks with the group, note it on your training materials so it can be incorporated into the training outline to be used in future sessions.
Keep your session on track. Start on time and finish on time. Don't hold up class waiting for late arrivers. Run the class according to the schedule and don't get too far off course. Opening up discussion among participants may lead to some pertinent tangents, but don’t let side issues take over. Ask if there’s enough interest to pursue a separate session on that topic, but get this class back to the lesson plan.
Put yourself in their shoes—or seats. Give frequent breaks, especially for half-day or all-day sessions.
Solicit feedback on the training session. Critiques work best when they are written and anonymous, unless a trainee volunteers to discuss his or her thoughts in person. Trainee input is vital for making the next session—and the overall training program—more
effective.These 12 steps are the basic foundation for a solid training session that runs efficiently and that conveys the necessary information for meeting the session’s goals. They also incorporate ways to begin improving training on the fly. In other words, you can’t go wrong by following these steps in every training session you run.
Here are 12 proven techniques to conduct a successful training session:
Tell trainees what you're going to cover. Introduce your session with a brief overview of the training subject’s main points.
Tell them the information. In the main portion of the session, explain key points, go over policies, demonstrate procedures, and relate any other information trainees need to know.
Tell them what you told them. Conclude with a summary of your opening overview. Use repetition to help trainees grasp and retain information.
Always explain what trainees are going to see before you show a multimedia portion. This practice creates a better learning environment by guiding trainees to know what to look for and what to remember. Explaining the purpose of the multimedia ensures an effective reception for its information.
Use as much hands-on training as possible. The most effective training uses all the senses to affect learning. Demonstrate and apply teaching points to create greater understanding and knowledge of the subject.
Test frequently. Tests are most effective when students know they will be quizzed, because they’ll pay close attention to the material. Testing is an objective way to determine whether training achieved its goals.
Involve trainees. For example, ask participants to share their experiences with the training topic. Many trainees are experienced personnel who have valuable information to contribute. All trainees will get more out of sessions by hearing about their co-workers’ experiences with the subject—and not just the trainer’s lecture points. Hearing different voices also keeps sessions varied and interesting. Structure interaction time into all your sessions.Repeat questions before answering them. This practice ensures that all participants know what the question is so they can make sense of the answer.
Analyze the session as you go. Always be on the lookout for what works best. When you discover a new technique or method that clicks with the group, note it on your training materials so it can be incorporated into the training outline to be used in future sessions.
Keep your session on track. Start on time and finish on time. Don't hold up class waiting for late arrivers. Run the class according to the schedule and don't get too far off course. Opening up discussion among participants may lead to some pertinent tangents, but don’t let side issues take over. Ask if there’s enough interest to pursue a separate session on that topic, but get this class back to the lesson plan.
Put yourself in their shoes—or seats. Give frequent breaks, especially for half-day or all-day sessions.
Solicit feedback on the training session. Critiques work best when they are written and anonymous, unless a trainee volunteers to discuss his or her thoughts in person. Trainee input is vital for making the next session—and the overall training program—more
effective.These 12 steps are the basic foundation for a solid training session that runs efficiently and that conveys the necessary information for meeting the session’s goals. They also incorporate ways to begin improving training on the fly. In other words, you can’t go wrong by following these steps in every training session you run.
Ravinder Tulsiani Author
Powerful and inspirational business developer, trainer, and leader with a commanding presence and more than 13 years of outstanding success in diverse industries. Envisions and champions cutting-edge
...more
- Dr. Ravinder Tulsiani's profile
- 3 followers
