Audio Interview with Tom Kuhlmann of Articulate

If you've been around eLearning for at least a few weeks, you've heard of Articulate and Tom Kuhlmann. Tom writes the Rapid eLearning Blog, sending out weekly doses of practical tips and info.

I was fortunate to interview Tom last week. We could have gone on for hours...

We talked about:

• The controversy surrounding rapid eLearning -- rapid or crapid?
• Empowering subject matter experts and the democratization of eLearning
• Getting better at visual design
• Committing to the craft of eLearning

Listen to the interview with Tom Kuhlmann and then let me know your reactions.

Anything you would have liked to have heard more of from Tom?

Book Review: Love is the Killer App

I like love and I bet you do too. 

In fact, I love love.  It makes the world go ‘round and makes me feel good.  Both the giving and the receiving parts. 

So Tim Sanders’ 2002 treasure, “Love is the Killer App: How to Win Business and Influence Friends”, resonates with me in a big way.

The basic premise:  Share your knowledge, share your network, share your compassion.

Share your knowledge

Read.  Lots of books in your area of expertise.  Become an expert and then share those ideas with those you come across.  Write book reviews (hey, like this one!).  Be so bold as to buy the book as a gift for your clients. 

Share your network

Be open with your contact list.  Connect people who should be connected.  Don’t be stingy with your friends. 

Share your compassion

Be a nice person.  Do the right thing.

When you give of yourself freely, the rewards come back tenfold. 

So go out and love someone today.  Share that sparky idea that you just read about in the book on your nightstand.  Connect people who you think should be talking to each other.  Be nice to each other, even your competitors.

What are you going to do to share your love today? 

Photo credit:  ___puzzled hearts___water refractions from Linh_rOm

Kineo Insights Webinar: Aligning eLearning with Business Goals

Join us next week, April 28th, for another free Kineo Insights webinar: Aligning eLearning with business goals.

From the press release:

Is your organization contemplating any of the following questions: Is our learning aligned with corporate priorities? Is it having the impact it should? How can we improve its impact?

Many organizations face challenges in getting learning and business goals aligned, and Kineo, the leader in learning solutions, is inviting training professionals to join a free webinar with industry experts to discuss what’s worked for them.

Our free Kineo Insights Web Panel is on April 28^th at 4pm UK time / 10am CST.

The panel will include:

• Will Thalheimer, Learning-and-Performance Consultant and Researcher
• Vince Serritella, Former CLO WW Grainger and Director Motorola University
• Mike Booth, Learning & Technologies Manager, Cable & Wireless

Participants will have the opportunity to discuss their learning challenges with the group and put questions to the panel in what will be a lively discussion on how to maximize the impact of learning.

This is the latest in a series of webinars that form part of the new ‘MyKineo’ service. My Kineo is a portal designed to support the e-learning professional working inside an organization. It includes:

• A full range of guides and templates covering the whole e-learning process
• A series of free webinars on design and development topics, led by Kineo experts and including client and industry expert panels
• Access to discussion forums and peer review of work
• Video advice and top tips from e-learning experts

Access to the webinar, and to My Kineo is free.

E-learning professionals can sign up to the webinar at https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/464206841

Can I, um, have your attention, please? (eLearning Tips)

A short screen cast I made a few weeks ago about some simple ways you can get someone's attention in an eLearning program:

Creating Social Presence in Online Classroom (ID Live on EdTechTalk)

Today’s session of Instructional Design Live on EdTech Talk is led by Jennifer Maddrell. This is the first in a three part series of the Community of Inquiry Framework.

What is social presence?

Rourke, L., Anderson, T., Garrison, D. R., & Archer, W. (1999).
Assessing Social Presence in Asynchronous Text-Based Computer
Conferencing. Journal of Distance Education, 14(2), 50-71.

" ... the ability of learners to project themselves socially and emotionally in a community of inquiry . The function of this element is to support the cognitive and affective objectives of learning. Social presence supports cognitive objectives through its ability to instigate, sustain, and support critical thinking in a community of learners" (p. 52)

Essentially – it’s giving people the chance to be known as a real person in an online virtual classroom.

Some initial reviews suggest a positive correlation between social presence and learner satisfaction.

From an ID perspective -- what can you do to create social presence in an online classroom?

Joni describes how she uses Twitter in classroom – how can you compel students to check in to the course even when they don’t have anything they have to DO? Wanted conversation to be more free flowing than an online forum – more natural and playful communication – not always about content of the course, but about students as people (how is your day going?) Reaching beyond the classroom walls.

Robert on what he does to extend social presence – depends a bit on the students. Social presence for many is constructed through discussion boards. Encourage faculty to have intro activities where individuals can identify a little about themselves, their interest and expectations about course. Can be dry, but there are fun ways to do this. Can provide ways for students to connect with each other. Tools like Elluminate can provide connection through voice and immediacy.

Should students be able to opt out of some of these exercises? Or should it be required?

Example: Blogging as place to review articles and post your own reflections. Many students weren’t comfortable putting their personal thoughts out there. (This was 3 years ago and early in blogging). Jennifer wondering if today people are more concerned with putting their content online and showing what they don’t know (employers can see, etc.)

The next step: research that looks to whether creating social presence creates improved learning outcomes. (Jennifer Maddrell’s PhD dissertation is focused on this).

There are three elements to community of inquiry framework:

• Social Presence
• Cognitive Presence (next week’s ID Live!)
• Teaching Presence (the following week on ID Live)

The recording of this session will be available at Instruction Design Commons. and here: View the Elluminate Live! recording

About Instructional Design Live:

A weekly online talk show, Instructional Design Live is based around Instructional Design related topics and is opportunity for Instructional Designers and professionals engaged in similar work to discuss effective online teaching and learning practices.