A decade or so ago, organizations, schools, colleges and universities had many options for commercial E-Learning development software products. However, because of mergers and acquisitions, and Learning Management Software (LMS) industry consolidations, the options for developing and hosting E-learning courses have declined. As a result, more and more, knowledge providers are looking for viable alternatives. If you are looking for commercial LMS providers, then some names for you to consider are: Blackboard http://www.blackboard.com Desire to Learn http://www.desire2learn.com Sumtotal http://www.sumtotalsystems.com/ Saba http://www.saba.com/us/ and eCollege http://www.ecollege.com/index.learn However, if you have budgetary constraints (as most organizations face today!), then perhaps you should look at some popular free and open source LMS solutions, including: ATutor http://www.atutor.ca/ Claroline http://www.claroline.net/ Dokeos http://www.dokeos.com/ … [Read more...] about How To Select The Best LMS Provider
The ELearning Course Designer’s Blog
ELearning Instructional Design Considerations That Accelerate The Pace And Quality Of Learning
A firm understanding of the mindset of adult learners and andragogy, along with its related theories and assumptions, is essential to effectively teach adult learners. When you use instructional design time-tested principles, adult learners are more likely to effectively receive, understand and retain knowledge being imparted via eLearning, than they would when using other non-systematic design approaches. Good instructional systems design is the foundation for building learning modules that adult students can relate to. That is because andragogy (the most celebrated theory of adult learning) recognizes that adults Learn differently than younger learners do Are self-directed and self-motivated Are more practical in their learning goals and objectives, and Learn better when respected and treated with dignity. By strategically combining all the elements of this theory into relevant instructional design principles, instructional designers can build truly effective … [Read more...] about ELearning Instructional Design Considerations That Accelerate The Pace And Quality Of Learning
4 Ways To Keep Your ELearning Portfolio Organized
Keeping your portfolio organized will help you find the items you want to show your prospective employer easily. Also, a well-organized portfolio will show you put some thought into it. There are many ways to organize your eLearning portfolio. Below are just some of them. You can: Put your documents in chronological order starting from the year you began working in the field and ending with the most up-to-date samples of your work. Personally, I do not favor this method because if you have many years of experience your portfolio will overflow with samples and overwhelm the person viewing it. If, on the other hand, you have only spent a year or two in the field, your portfolio will clearly show that. Categorize your artifacts based on the ADDIE model. This way, your portfolio will have five sections. The first section will be dedicated to analysis. Your analysis documents will go here. The next section will be dedicated to design. You will most likely include your design … [Read more...] about 4 Ways To Keep Your ELearning Portfolio Organized
How To Create ELearning Portfolios That Help You Get Hired
In this post, we will talk about the format of your portfolio. There are two possibilities: you can either create an electronic or paper-based portfolio. First, let’s look at digital portfolios. Below are some of the most popular tools you can use to create your electronic portfolio. While they are not listed in any particular order, I personally prefer VisualCV, not only because it is easy to use but also because it can convert your digit resume/portfolio into a PDF file that you can easily print and bring to the interview. Silkapp Dropr Weebly Blogger DoYouBuzz Flavors.me VisualCV Webs Wordpress Wix When it comes to the paper-based portfolio, your options range from inserting your artifacts into a three ring binder to investing in a professional portfolio binder. Regardless of which option you choose, consider purchasing sheet protectors to keep your portfolio pieces safe and clean as well as make your portfolio look more polished and professional. It is … [Read more...] about How To Create ELearning Portfolios That Help You Get Hired
9 Documents That Employers Want To See In Your ELearning Portfolio
By now, we have talked about the sources you can use to build your portfolio. Now, let’s talk about different artifacts that should go into the portfolio. Below are some of the most common documents that most employers want to see in portfolios. If you have any other samples worth showcasing, feel free to include them too. Needs Analysis Document – This document will show your employer that you know how to conduct research and that you are familiar with various methods of gathering data. Design Document – Being able to create a design document is often a requirement in many organizations. This is the blueprint for both eLearning and face-to-face training. Most employers expect to see at least one design document to get an idea of how you design training exercises. Storyboards – Always include at least one storyboard, and whenever possible, consider including different types storyboards. For example, if one of your storyboards was created in Word and another one in … [Read more...] about 9 Documents That Employers Want To See In Your ELearning Portfolio
How To Get Content For Your ELearning Portfolio
So you now know the importance of having a portfolio. However, you are probably asking yourself where to get samples to build your portfolio if you do not have any instructional design experience. Here is my answer: you do need to have experience to build your portfolio and apply to jobs, but you can easily get both experience and a portfolio relatively quickly without any formal job experience. In this blog post, we will look at a number of ways to get content for your portfolio. Volunteer – You can find an online organization that does not require you to travel to the location. E-Learning for Kids is a global nonprofit foundation dedicated to free and fun online learning for kids of all ages. They now have courses for adult learners as well. E-Learning for kids is constantly looking for volunteers who can contribute their time and knowledge. The process for becoming a volunteer is simple, and they have all types of projects from basic storyboarding to … [Read more...] about How To Get Content For Your ELearning Portfolio