Using Blogs in Training

Blogs (FREE!) can be used quite successfully in instruction: for reflective activities like journaling, support for writing courses, and knowledge management tools. Here's a link to a 52-page pdf file on blogging in corporate America.

Using Mobile Text Messaging

From David Gibson's Eureka! newsletter:
Pre-workshop - Send a text message welcoming learners to their workshop.
Post workshop - Send a thank you text message for their input to the workshop.
Post workshop - Send short tips (or shortcuts if it was a systems training) once a week for the next 6 weeks adding or helping embed what was uncovered during their time with you.
Post workshop - Send links or suggestions for additional resources via a text message.

More on Podcasts

From David Gibson's Eureka! training tips newsletter:
PodCasts are audio files that can be sent an iPod or MP3 player. The great thing here is that learners can listen to the audio file while travelling or whenever is convenient for them.
Why not consider creating and sending a PodCast to learners:

--Before the workshop, explaining what they can expect during their time with you during their workshop.
--Before the workshop outlining some of the content and asking learners to carry out specific tasks prior to their workshop eg for a customer service workshop ask learners to note good and bad service they receive over the next few days and bring these experiences with them.
--Post workshop with additional resources eg web sites, reading material, a bonus idea or technique they can use in the workplace etc.

For information on creating a PodCast go to:
http://www.squidoo.com/learntopodcast/

Wikis at Work

Wikis are a great free tool to encourage collaboration, facilitate communication, and level the field by giving all employees access to an online vehicle for sharing information. Here's an article for those wanting to learn more.

www.bozarthzone.com

Check out Taskstream

The remarkably low-cost product suite from Taskstream provides "a flexible, customizable, and comprehesive electronic portfolio, assessment managment and standards-based instruction solution". VERY reasonable prices. Tell Kevin Doyle I sent you!

Embrace Your Inner Geek

I am delighted to report that Amazon has added a link straight to products for "early adopters". Though they might not always be cheap, they are awfully pretty... Those of you struggling to keep on top of it all may find this a quick way to stay ahead of the curve.

Jane
www.bozarthzone.com

Hoppin' the Pond

For my friends on the other side of the Atlantic: I'll be the keynote speaker for the Irish Learning Technology Association's EdTech 2006 in Sligo on May 25. Hope to see you there!

Free hosted LMS for 18 months

Vignettestraining.com has a special deal right now: 18 months of hosting, 500 learners for 2 programs. Great test drive--Check it out!

Create podcasts on your PC!

This article from WindowsDevCenter outlines steps for creating podcasts "...using tools virtually everyone has or can easily acquire on a tiny budget. Ultimately, if you decide to podcast on a regular basis, some equipment upgrades...will drastically improve the sound quality. To learn the process, though, you don't need anything fancy."

Click here for the article.

Jane
www.bozarthzone.com

Free Stock Photos

From Robin Good

This just in...

From Marc Rosenberg's new Beyond E-Learning:

"A growing discontinuity exists between what business has become and what training has remained."

Free LMS info

Check out:
http://all-free-info.com/learning-management-system/ .


Jane
www.bozarthzone.com

Lots o' free stuff!

Here's a list of free STUFF: sites, templates, tutorials... from the NC Office of State Personnel's computer training unit.

E-mail is free

Email is one of the most woefully abused technologies! Here are some ideas for using email in e-learning (games, relays, etc.) from the folks at Australia's flexible learning site .

More reader recommendations

This just in from this morning's ASTD chapter event:
Swishzone.com for flash templates
edirectsoftware.com for SALE prices on software
Quask workflow learning tools
QuizMaker extension for Articulate

And now from our friends at Kellogg's...

Those of you who bought the great (best one I own) Toucan Sam microphone (2 box tops + $2.99) will be delighted to hear about the newest offer from Froot Loops: an uber-cool Pirates of the Caribbean SKULL MOUSE for a mere 2 box tops + $4.99. Very tasteful, complete with gold teeth. I'm ordering mine today!

"E-Learning on a Shoestring" October Pick of the Month!

Visit the e-learning centre uk's site for the October pick of the month, including E-Learning Solutions on a Shoestring. While you're there, take a look at all the great information provided by fearless leader Jane Knight.

Reader's Suggestions

Comments just in from my Author's Forum session on InSync today:

"Live Meeting has a low monthly rate"
Use the "Options" buttons in Outlook 2003 to take a poll/vote
Use email to send out a weekly 'question for thought'
Microsoft's Groove personal version (collaboration tool)

And LOTS of people are using Quia! And with good reason...

Smith-Corona Award for IT Department Most Determined to Block Anything Useful

I spent a long day trying to free up some trainers being held hostage by their own IT department. My favorite line from the IT director (government, by the way, as in Your Tax Dollars at Work), RE accessing a 5,000 member training and development-focused Yahoo site:
"Well, if it's free, it can't be any good, can it?"

Quia Quizzes IMPROVED!

Just in from Quia: New format for the fabulous quiz feature and great new tutorial for creating quizzes and using advanced features. For those of you who aren't quia-savvy, for $99/year ($49 for schools) Quia provides templates for creating flash games and online quizzes, gives quite sophisticated quiz feedback, lets you set up a class home page, etc. AND hosts it all. See www.quia.com .