Learnlets » eLearning 2.0

I believe training anybody on any particular tool (even the seemingly ubiquitous Microsoft Office suite), is the wrong way to go. Talk to them about the skill (writing, creating presentations, etc), and then give some assignments across a couple of different tools. This gives you transferrable skills, which will equip you to communicate and collaborate regardless of the latest wave of tools. And that’s what’s important, in this day of increasing change.

Learnlets » eLearning 2.0.

I was just discussing this with a colleague this morning and I love Clark’s take on this.

Developing Online Training and Presentation Materials | Sun Learning eXchange

Developing Online Training and Presentation Materials | Sun Learning eXchange.

Sun has lots of “2.0-ish” information including this video site. This particular video is a nice one about PowerPoint to video using Camtasia. The rest of the site has good info and examples of wikis, blogs, etc in a corporate setting.

Facilitating Online Communities: Leigh’s Facilitation Skills

Facilitating Online Communities: Leigh’s Facilitation Skills.

I’m participating in Leigh Blackall’s Online Facilitation course and this is a post from a fellow participant that points to 10 good facilitation skills. It’s a great list to reference if you facilitate any online activities. Thanks for the link Sylvia!

We need more of us

http://lingos.wordpress.com/2008/05/20/a-60-minute-masters-in-instructional-design/

Link 1:  Clive Shepherd’s Presentation on “Why We Need More Instructional Designers”
http://www.fastrak-consulting.co.uk/30mins/player.html

Link 2:  The “60 Minute Masters” Course (audio enabled; registration required)
http://www.kineolearning.com/60minutemasters/

Link3:  The “60 Minute Masters” Course (no audio; no registration required)
http://www.articulate.com/products/demos/blog/60-Minute-Masters-no-audio/player.html

Good Design Principles

This article is for designing forms but I think it translates fairly well to documents as well. This site is also a great source for design ideas and tutorials.

Some of the problems with forms and I’d say documents as well, include:

1. a lack of emphasis on anything. (Note: if you emphasize everything that means that NOTHING is emphasized)
2. wasted space (Note: White space in documents is GOOD. This one may not translate as well from forms to docs.)
3. not easily scannable
4. not organized logically

Here is a before & after look at the example form. Some simple changes make it more readable/useful.

Ideabook.com Tutorials | How to design a smart, functional form

Cool Training Idea

This is a great idea for the right situation. 29 topics in 90 minutes. Dareen Barefoot used it to cover web 2.0 sites but it could be adapted for lots of other things. Great Idea!

Training Content Search

Looks like a good option for finding training content.

http://www.trainingmanager.info/

When to use video

Per Karl Kapp via Jane Bozarth:

“If the only thing moving is somebody’s lips, then you don’t need video.”

YouTube: Rapid Instructional Design with Thiagi

If you’re not familiar with Thiagi you should take a quick look at this video. He explains some of the ways he approaches things like leadership and harassment training. Very interesting, unique and I’d say effective ideas. Great stuff! Go ahead and watch – you won’t be sorry.

YouTube – UMBC Training Forum: Rapid Instructional Design with Thiagi

Learning Design Summer Camp Concept : Education Technology Services

I really like this idea of “summer camp”. Although I never went I have visions of learning all sorts of fun things just because they seem cool. Not like school when we learn most stuff because we “have to”. I’d love to be able to find enough people near me to do something like this…for the people, by the people. Check it out!

Although not quite the same as summer camp, the program I just finished at SDSU has a few good Saturday Seminars this summer.

Learning Design Summer Camp Concept : Education Technology Services