A newsletter addressing the latest e-Learning news from ASK International |
|
Greetings!Welcome to the July issue of the ASK International e-Learning newsletter. This issue contains an original article by Dr. Eric Parks, CEO and founder of ASK International. We hope that you find the articles useful and if there is a topic that you would like addressed in a future publication, please let us know.In this Issue:
Why PPT will be your next WBT tool Eric R. Parks,Ph.D., President/CEO, ASK International and COO, TeraLearn Last year I conducted an enterprise wide e-Learning readiness study that took me across the USA into the factories and classrooms of one of the nation’s largest Biotech manufacturers. Teaming with an internal consultant, I audited basic training workshops scheduled for new hires. The project goal was to provide recommendations for instructional design enhancements including the integration of Web-based training (WBT) where appropriate. The depth and breadth of the workshop content was extraordinary; typically twelve to fifteen days of lecture, lab and hands-on training. Halfway through my second course on approximately day twenty- two an amazing thing happened. A presenter lecturing on the process of filtration clicked to the next slide of his PowerPoint presentation and before my eyes was a captivating animation comparing different filtration technologies. He ran the animation three or four times to make sure we all understood the concepts. I was reminded just how effective PowerPoint can be to enhance learning. Over the last two years I have experimented with, worked with and documented the transition of PowerPoint from being a lock-step presentation tool to becoming a robust animation, simulation, game and WBT design tool. Many people still harbor myths concerning PowerPoint. Let’s take a look at the most common myths... Learn more Simulations - They might just work for you! Tom Greene, Senior Project Manager, ASK International Tired of seeing the usual e-Learning instructional strategy over and over again: A “fun and motivating” course guide introduces you to the course parameters and then you begin your “exciting” journey to learn the thing the course is about. First you learn the purpose and goals for the new thing then predictably the course guide says, “Now let’s learn the features and benefits.” Next, you proceed to cycle through screen after screen of “interactive” activities in which you learn all the features and benefits of the thing. After that, you complete the obligatory section of the course in which you are presented with tips or guidelines for selling or referring the thing to the customers. The course looks great and has solid instructional strategy with frequent interactions. The learner, however, has little or no opportunity to practice applying what they have learned. In short, the course is lacking learning-by- doing. Maybe it is time to seriously start thinking about the use of simulations to design and deliver your e-Learning programs. e-Learning simulations are a hot topic in the training industry right now and with good reason. They are an effective strategy to change actions and behaviors by simulating the actual environment where a learner must perform their tasks. The instructional strategy for simulations is simple: learn by doing in an environment that imitates real life work conditions... Learn more Featured Webinar of the Month: "From Storyboard to Deployment Using PPT" People are talking about ASK International’s weekly webinar series. Aletha Irwin of BankOne says, “I'm amazed at what PPT is capable of doing. Now I am excited to get in there and experiment!” Dr. Eric Parks, CEO and founder of ASK International, demonstrates “amazing animation and interactive effects in PPT” exclaims Ginny Key, an Instructional Designer with the Economic Development Institute at Georgia Tech. Learn the benefits and limitations of PPT for WBT and the deployment options available. See examples of learning activities, Splash Screens, and a finished product integrated with an LCMS for rapid publishing and robust tracking capabilities. Above all, determine if PPT for WBT is right for your organization’s training needs... Learn more Register to attend by clicking here. |