Top 5 Tips on 3D E-Learning and Training June 8, 2010
Posted by elearningtyro in : Useful Resources , 2commentsThis guest post is contributed by David Gardner, CEO of VenueGen.
3D environments can be incredibly engaging, interactive and cost effective when supported by the right technology and functionality. For several years now, trainers, business professionals and educators have been experimenting with 3D technologies and techniques, and much has been learned. Following is a listing of important tips for any successful 3D e-learning, training or collaborative experience.
- Provide a Road Map
Just as in real life, it is important that your attendees are provided with specific details on the location of the event and how to get there. It’s important to provide attendees with basic steps on how to login to your meeting and how to move around in the world they are using. The first problem that new users in 3D environments tend to face is navigation. How do I get my avatar where I need to be or sit down at that table? Non-gamers have a hard time walking around using arrow keys and tend to collide with things. Having attendees appear already in their seats can minimize many issues. Likewise, flying, teleporting and using portals within a virtual world is also very cool but not the kind of things people want to figure out when late for a meeting or class. Try to look for 3D platforms where navigation and set up is simple, takes minutes. - Make it Real
Realism is an important part of fidelity that addresses how life-like the 3D experience appears. For example, do avatars move in a natural and convincing way? Do they make eye contact when they look at each other? Do their lips move appropriately while speaking? The key to an immersive movie viewing experience is the suspension of disbelief. We have all watched low budget movies with poor and unconvincing graphics and sets. No matter how great the dialogue or story line, you probably struggled to “get into” the movie. The attendee’s mind should have minimal obstacles in accepting the virtual venue and other attendees as reasonable likenesses of what is being simulated. If others appear as flat cartoons incapable of neck movement or the ability to walk without “ice skating”, then the business professional or student is constantly being reminded that the environment is not real. Realism is important because it helps the virtual world to “get out of the way” so that attendees can focus on the goals of the gathering. - Don’t Forget the Props
As any good teacher knows, the more visuals you have the better. The best 3D worlds are those that allow users to mouse click directly on the object, person or content with which they want to interact with and provide the ability to clearly read content from anywhere in a virtual environment. The best interface for viewing content involves two capabilities: first, users should be able to zoom their focus in on content without actually having to move their avatar closer to it. A second important capability for viewing very small content is an in-venue floating window. This technique forces the selected content to enlarge and float in reading position within the 3D environment. - Offer an Alternative for Sound
Many users do not have a headset or are behind firewalls that do not allow them to connect to the Voice Over IP channel required for most virtual worlds. The best dial-in solution is one that turns the attendee’s telephone receiver into a VoIP headset, for all practical purposes, and usually is offered as part of a virtual world training package. - Out-of-World Experience
Make sure your materials are working correctly not only within the virtual world, but outside of it as well. Browsing the Internet and viewing web-base applications is a requirement for most 3D virtual training and meeting platforms. Platforms that have taken the time to integrate the operating system’s native browser into their 3D engine will have much better compatibility and provide a more consistent viewing experience for virtual attendees.
Literary Mash-Ups, Fan Fiction, and E-Learning May 31, 2010
Posted by elearningtyro in : Useful Resources , add a commentThis guest post is contributed by Tim Handorf, who writes on the topics of top online colleges. He welcomes your comments at his email Id: tim.handorf.20@googlemail.com
While the fusing of two unrelated works of art is not particularly new, an emerging trend in the world of books is what’s been dubbed the “literary mash-up”. The whole idea seems somewhat absurd, but these books sell. And they sell well. Today’s most current trend in mash-up basically takes a work of literature from the established Western canon, and then injects it with a pop cultural artifact.
The first of these mash-ups was an appropriation of Jane Austen’s classic Pride and Prejudice. The novel was re-envisioned as “Pride and Prejudice and Zombies,” which, as the title suggests, is imbued with elements of zombie fiction. The latest installment in the Austen mash-up series is a prequel entitled “Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: Dawn of the Dreadfuls,” which was just released two months ago. Others in this milieu include the upcoming Android Karenina and the already released “Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters“.
The original author of the Pride and Prejudice book, Seth-Grahame Smith, was inspired by fan boy characters, and the other books, I suspect, take several leaves out of the fan fiction oeuvre. In fact, the Quirk Classics book series is essentially well-written fan fiction published in book form and widely disseminated. Again, fan fiction is nothing new, but the phenomenon has now spawned an almost exclusively Internet following.
What does this all mean for e-learning, then? While e-learning researcher Rebecca W. Black suggests that there are several English Language Learning (ELL) possibilities within fan fiction itself, I firmly believe that fan fiction can be seen as an important extension of e-learning in general.
What is interesting about e-learning, aside from the online platform that grants wider accessibility, is the fact that it actively seeks new ways to teach old ideas. What an e-learning educator can take away from literary mash-ups is this: Teaching a concept can sometimes best be accomplished by appropriating something the student can understand—in this case, zombies or sea monsters—and melding it with the new concept. This inspires confidence in the learner, perhaps even interest. Interest breeds passion, and passion is a feeling that is sorely needed in education, both online and traditional. Why? Because with passion, a student does not simply learn one lesson. Rather, she learns the ultimate lesson, a lesson that continually educates—the love of learning.
Who Benefits from E-Learning? May 13, 2010
Posted by elearningtyro in : Useful Resources , add a commentThis guest post is contributed by Anna Miller, who writes on the topic of degrees online. She welcomes your comments at her e-mail id: anna.miller009@gmail.com
E-learning is a relatively new entrant to the field of education, but with the way technology is taking off and advancing today, it’s no surprise that e-learning is making rapid inroads into traditional academia. Today, the emphasis is on learning, not on the media or vehicle that allows, supports and promotes it. And with all the forms of technology that support e-learning – computers, laptops, mobile phones, and even MP3 players – it’s no wonder that e-learning is poised to create history in the world of academics.
Although e-learning is advantageous to anyone who wants to learn, there are some people who benefit more than others:
- Those who are pressed for time: Busy entrepreneurs who go back to school to earn their graduate degree benefit because they can learn on the go, whenever they have time rather than when they’re able to access their study resources. Moms who juggle homes and lessons can look over their lessons when they have a few minutes to spare rather than have to set aside hours to learn from boring and old-fashioned books.
- Those who are limited by location: It’s a typical case of the mountain coming to Mohammed if because Mohammed cannot go to the mountain – when you’re constrained by distance, the best way to learn is through technology. You don’t have to make extreme sacrifices and relocate to where education is being offered; rather, learning is delivered directly to your hands, thanks to mobile technology.
- Those who are tech-savvy: Although most people would consider the fact that e-learning requires you to understand and be able to use technology with some degree of comfort, I would say that for people who are tech savvy, it offers a convenient and sophisticated way to continue to learn. They’re not hampered by books and other traditional study material; rather, with content being pushed to their phones and other handheld devices, they’re more at home with learning using smart devices.
- Those who want to set their own pace: E-learning allows you to customize the way you learn. You don’t have to worry about the rest of your class or be afraid that you cannot keep up. Rather, you can dictate the pace of your lessons and learn according to your own timetable.
Today, applications and software platforms are being created for the dedicated purpose of fostering e-learning. And as time goes by, there will be more standardization and uniformity across the technology that runs e-learning, thus allowing more people to join this bandwagon and broaden their horizons.
Indian E-Learning Bloggers May 6, 2010
Posted by elearningtyro in : Useful Resources , add a commentHello all,
We are trying to consolidate the blogs of Indian learning professionals and companies from various sources. You can view the consolidated list on the following page:
http://elearningplanet.com/library/viewtopic.php?f=41&t=216
Please post a comment if we missed the blog(s) of an Indian learning professional or company. We are readily available to update this list as and when new bloggers enter into the blogosphere.
Regards,
E-Learning Planet Team
Announcing Planet Academy March 18, 2009
Posted by elearningtyro in : Announcements, Useful Resources , add a commentTwo weeks ago, we shared our plans to launch a free and effective online learning platform for e-learning professionals. We are glad to launch the beta version of this online learning platform.
Click here to know more information in this regard.
Instructional Design Certificate Courses and Programs February 26, 2009
Posted by elearningtyro in : Announcements, Useful Resources , 4commentsHello all,
I have been collecting a list of popular Instructional Design (ID) certificate courses and programs in the US, UK, and India. I have included a partial list of these courses and programs in the Planet’s Library.
Please click here to view the list.
I also invite you to share information on ID courses and programs that are not included in my list. Thank you.
Tools Used for Gathering Source Contents from SMEs February 15, 2009
Posted by elearningtyro in : Instructional Design, Useful Resources , add a commentThis post is the continuation of my earlier post, Tips for Gathering Source Contents from SMEs_Part 2.
In this post, I will share information on tools or softwares that an Instructional Designer (ID) could use when gathering source contents from the Subject Matter Expert (SME).
Here are the possible instances which an ID might come across when gathering source contents from the SME, and the tools that can be used in each of those instances:
Instance 1
The SME provides all the source contents in the form of Microsoft Word documents, PowerPoint presentations, PDF documents, blog posts, and Web site articles. Therefore, an ID does not require additional sessions to gather source contents from the SME.
The ID and the SME can use the following tools in this instance:
- If the ID and the SME belong to different organizations, they can use free FTP tools like File Zilla for uploading and downloading files from a common FTP site.
- If the ID and the SME are from the same organization, they can use the file server like Microsoft Office SharePoint Server or other file servers being used in their organization.
Instance 2
In addition to standard documents and presentations, an ID, especially for developing courses on software applications, requires source contents that include screen grabs with relevant audio being spoken by the SME. Therefore, the ID need to attend one-to-one sessions with the SME to gather required source contents.
The ID and the SME can use the following tools in this instance:
- If the ID and the SME are from the same organization, the SME can share his or her desktop screen with the ID by using tools such as Microsoft NetMeeting and Microsoft Office Communicator. The ID can place his or her laptop closer to the SME’s laptop or desktop, enable the in-built microphone in the laptop, and use tools such as TechSmith Camtasia and Adobe Captivate to record screen grabs and audio being spoken by the SME.
- If the ID and the SME belong to different organizations, they can arrange one-to-one sessions through effective Web conferencing tools like WebEx and use the screen sharing, conferencing, and recording features in those tools.
This brings to the end of the series of posts on effectively gathering source contents from the SME. Thanks for visiting these posts and watch out the ‘Blog’ section frequently for more interesting posts 
Tips for Gathering Source Contents from SMEs_Part 2 January 22, 2009
Posted by elearningtyro in : Instructional Design, Useful Resources , 1 comment so farThis post is the continuation of my earlier post, Tips for Gathering Source Contents from SMEs_Part 1.
Here are the different challenges, which an Instructional Designer (ID) might face when gathering source contents from the Subject Matter Expert (SME), and the best practices for effectively managing those challenges:
Challenge 1
The SME may be located in other countries or remote locations.
Here are the best practices for managing challenge 1:
- An ID must establish a good rapport with the SME before stepping into the input gathering phase.
- The ID and the SME, who are based in the same office location, can arrange for a face-to-face introductory session. If the SME is based in remote office location, the ID can arrange for a one-to-one introductory session with the SME through teleconference or video conference.
- The introductory session must be supported with a presentation that emphasizes on how the SME and his/her source contents play a vital role to the success of an e-learning course.
- The presentation must also include essential information such as the roles and responsibilities of the SME, and the modes of communication with the ID.
Challenge 2
The ID receives a number of documents, links, and presentations from the SME, especially for courses on software applications.
Here is the best practice for managing chellenge 2:
- It is the best practice to convey details such as the word count for a particular topic or page in an e-learning course template to the SME. Thus, the probability of receiving extensive source contents for a particular topic from the SME is less. This approach will also reduce the additional efforts of an ID for analyzing and comprehending all the supporting documents and presentations.
Challenge 3
The SME, especially for engineering and complex subjects, seldom has documents and presentations related to the course. Therefore, an ID needs to have a separate teleconference session or other interactive sessions with the SME for gathering required source contents.
Here are the best practice for managing challenge 3:
- The ID can establish an interactive session with the SME to develop the training plan of an e-learning course. This traning plan should include the following essential details:
- Training objectives
- Target audience profile
- Prerequisite knowledge of the learner
- Titles of the topics to be included in the course
- Key points or key content areas to be included in each topic.
- The ID can then request the SME to provide source contents that map to the traning plan.
These are some of the essential best practices for effectively managing challenges that occur when gathering source contents from the SME. This brings to the end of this post. In my next post related to this topic, I will share information on tools that an ID can use to dynamically gather source contents from the SME. Watch out the ‘Blog’ section frequently!
Tips for Gathering Source Contents from SMEs_Part 1 January 14, 2009
Posted by elearningtyro in : Instructional Design, Useful Resources , add a commentGathering effective and precise source contents from Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) has always been a challenging task for Instructional Designers (IDs). Majority of SMEs provide good source content. Rarely, IDs face one or more of the following challenges when gathering the source contents from SMEs:
- SMEs, especially for engineering and complex subjects, seldom have documents and presentations related to the course. Therefore, IDs need to have a separate teleconference session or other interactive sessions with SMEs for gathering required source contents.
- IDs receive a number of documents, links, and presentations from SMEs, especially for courses on software applications.
- SMEs may be located in other countries or remote locations.
Thus, IDs put in additional efforts for attending unplanned sessions, analyzing, and comprehending all the supporting documents and presentations. As a result, there is a considerable impact on the budget and planned efforts for developing an e-learning course.
I am going to share the best practices for overcoming the aforementioned challenges. Keep visiting the ‘Blog’ section for a series of posts related to gathering the source contents from SMEs efficiently.
Moodle Demonstration Website December 29, 2008
Posted by elearningtyro in : CMS, Useful Resources , add a commentClick here to view the official demonstration Website of Moodle Content Management System (CMS).
This website allows you to try the most recent and stable version of Moodle, and to explore courses which demonstrate important Moodle features.
Useful Blog on Virtual Environments and Worlds December 22, 2008
Posted by elearningtyro in : Useful Resources , add a commentClick here to view a useful blog that includes videos and presentations on virtual environments and worlds.
15 Ways to Promote E-Learning Programs December 19, 2008
Posted by elearningtyro in : About e-Learning, Useful Resources , add a commentClick here to view an article that describes 15 ways to promote e-learning programs.
E-Learning ROI Calculator December 6, 2008
Posted by elearningtyro in : Useful Resources , 1 comment so farClick here to view an interesting tool for estimating the ROI from an e-learning project.
E-Learning Project Cost Estimation Tool December 2, 2008
Posted by elearningtyro in : Useful Resources , add a commentClick here to view an interesting tool for estimating the project cost of an e-learning project.
Best Practices for Using Webex July 9, 2008
Posted by elearningtyro in : Useful Resources , 1 comment so farClick here to view a useful post that lists the best practices for using Webex for online collaboration.
Basic Interactivity Strategies in E-Learning May 21, 2008
Posted by elearningtyro in : Graphic Design, Instructional Design, Useful Resources , add a commentLet me share with an informative blog post on interactvity in e-learning. I always recommend to view this post when someone asks me for basic information on interactivity strategies.
Click here to view the post.
Adding an Articulate Engage Interaction Within Another April 2, 2008
Posted by elearningtyro in : Articulate Engage, Graphic Design, Instructional Design, Template Design, Useful Resources , add a commentClick here to view a useful post on adding an Articulate Engage Interaction within another.
Maximum Sizes for Images and Videos in Articulate Engage March 12, 2008
Posted by elearningtyro in : Articulate Engage, Graphic Design, Instructional Design, Template Design, Useful Resources , 3commentsEach interaction type in Articulate Engage has its own specifications in terms of the sizes for images and videos. Here is a useful information on the maximum sizes for images and videos. Thanks to Gabe Anderson for sharing these details in his blog.
|
Interaction Type |
Maximum Size |
Example |
| Process (no text in steps) | 620 px width x 310 px height | Click here for an example |
| Labeled Graphic | 690 px width x 470 px height | Click here for an example |
| Tabs (at a minimum size of 10%) | 553 px width x 380 px height | Click here for an example |
| Tabs (at the regular size of 30%) | 425 px width x 380 px height | Click here for an example |
| Circle Diagram | 250 px width x 310 px height | Click here for an example |
| Timeline | 620 px width x 310 px height | Click here for an example |
| Media Tour (without captions or video player) | 688 px width x 468 px height | Click here for an example |
| FAQ | 617 px width x 310 px height | Click here for an example |
| Pyramid Diagram | 250 px width x 305 px height | Click here for an example |
| Guided Image (if the image takes 75% of the space) | 434 px width x 295 px height | Click here for an example |
| Guided Image (if the image takes 85% of the space) | 490 px width x 335 px height | |
| Glossary (with glossary items set to a minimum width) | 493 px width x 330 px height | Click here for an example |
Tips for Creating Engaging Assessments by Using Articulate Engage February 20, 2008
Posted by elearningtyro in : Articulate Engage, Assessments, Graphic Design, Instructional Design, Template Design, Useful Resources , add a commentHi all,
I just viewed a useful post on creating engaging assessments by using Articulate Engage. Its really worth sharing, and thus you have this post right now.
Tips for Encouraging Learners to Take e-Learning Courses February 8, 2008
Posted by elearningtyro in : About e-Learning, Instructional Design, Useful Resources , add a commentHi all,
Recently, I read an useful article on how to encourage learners to take e-Learning courses. I am sure this article will be more meaningful for organizations that have planned to implement e-Learning for their training purpose.
Click here to view the article.
Useful Article on e-Learning 2.0 November 12, 2007
Posted by elearningtyro in : About e-Learning, Instructional Design, Useful Resources , 2commentsI just read Tony Karrer’s interesting article on e-Learning 2.0. He describes the basics concepts of e-Learning 2.0, and compares it with e-Learning 1.0 and 1.3
I found it very useful. Hope you will also admire his article!
Click here to view the article.
Phases of Instructional Design September 25, 2007
Posted by elearningtyro in : Instructional Design, Useful Resources , 2commentsLet me share with a Web site that contains a plenty of useful information on the different phases of instructional design.
Guidelines for Developing Effective Product Demos September 6, 2007
Posted by elearningtyro in : Instructional Design, Useful Resources , 1 comment so farLet me share with an informative post from Rupa’s blog. She used the Microsoft product demo to provide several guidelines for developing effective product demos. Hope you will also find it useful.
Click here to view Rupa’s post!
List of International Instructional Designers August 21, 2007
Posted by elearningtyro in : Instructional Design, Useful Resources , add a commentLet me share with an informative URL that contains a list of international Instructional Designers with their qualification and other contact details.
Revised Bloom’s Taxonomy July 24, 2007
Posted by elearningtyro in : Bloom's Taxonomy, Instructional Design, Useful Resources , 1 comment so farA number of debates are conducted all across the Globe regarding the revised Bloom’s Taxonomy. Meanwhile, let me share with a Wiki page that includes the details of Bloom’s Taxonomy and its revisions. This Wiki page also includes a Web link to download the Microsoft Office PowerPoint Quiz that enables you to test your Bloom’s Taxonomy knowledge. Hope you will find this post useful!
