Take an e-Learning Break

Internet Safety: Educational programs for parents and kids

2012-02-10T14:44:00.000-06:00

I recently read a Facebook entry by one of my “tween” relatives that disturbed me. She probably thought it was an innocent remark but to a predator it could have been interpreted differently. I wanted to find the right words to convey what I thought and provide some good education resources for her and her mom. In surfing the web, I found a website with some interesting statistics:

Did you know that..?

26% of children report having a public social networking profile.
Children of all ages are lacking digital skills –confidence is often not matched by skill!
12% of 9-16 year olds say they have been bothered or upset by something on the internet… however, 56% of parents whose child has received nasty or hurtful messages online are not aware of this.
One in eight parents don’t seem to mediate their children’s online activities…while 56% of parents take positive steps such as suggesting to their children how to behave towards others online.
44% of children think that parental mediation limits what they do online, 11 per cent say it limits their activities a lot.

Here are some safe Internet resources I found - please share them with your children, family and friends.We all have a role to play in ensuring that every child is safe online.

A Parents' Guide to Facebook a soup-to-nuts guide to Facebook privacy settings, profile settings, group settings. http://bit.ly/90P9P3

NetSmartz Workshop is an interactive, educational program of the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children^® (NCMEC) that provides age-appropriate resources to help teach children how to be safer on- and offline. The program is designed for children ages 5-17, parents and guardians, educators, and law enforcement.
http://www.netsmartz.org/Parents

PBS Kids offers the Webonauts Academy in which elementary school students can learn about safe online behaviors. http://pbskids.org/webonauts/

Through the Wild Web Woods games teach children about potential dangers online and how to avoid them. http://www.wildwebwoods.org/popup_langSelection.php

AT&T's Safety Land is a nice game through which kids learn and practice recognizing danger on the Internet. http://bit.ly/1aqjjz

Own Your Space free, 16 chapter ebook designed to educate tweens & teens about protecting themselves & stuff online. http://bit.ly/ohTkIq

Microsoft's Safety & Security Center - videos, PDFs, & PPTs for learning about & teaching computer & web safety. http://bit.ly/ffNhD1

The Army OneSource Virtual World

2012-02-08T17:06:00.000-06:00

Explore the new Army OneSource Virtual World and stay connected to Family and friends! This virtual environment allows you to collaborate, learn, socialize, host or attend training sessions, and participate in daily events. By using a customizable avatar, a virtual self-representation, participants can access a variety of Army services by simply exploring the virtual world. Army OneSource programs are also at your fingertips in this three-dimensional environment. The Army OneSource Virtual World was built specifically to serve Soldiers and their Families and features each Army Resiliency in their own virtual region.

As part of Army One Source Virtual World, the Virtual Resiliency Campus offers Community members engaging and enjoyable ways to build strength in the five areas of Resiliency: Spiritual, Family, Social, Emotional and Physical.The Army OneSource Virtual World regions are open to Army Soldiers, staff, volunteers, Veterans, Family and friends. All you need is an existing Army OneSource login!

https://www.myarmyonesource.com/CommunitiesandMarketplace/VirtualWorlds/ArmyOneSourceVW/default.aspx

Free Webinar: 2/10 - Litmos "Love your LMS": Experience the world's most user-friendly Learning Management System

2012-02-08T09:22:00.000-06:00

February10th, 1:00pm ET
Space isLimited
Reserve Your Webinar Seat Now At:
http://www.rapidintake.com/webinar

Litmos is the Learning Management System (LMS) that people love to use. Easy to assemble courses, assign them to learners and watch the resultscome in.

The best part is Litmos is a hosted training system, which means you'll neverneed help from the IT department to set up. You can literally get started inminutes.

Key features in Litmos:
· Hosted/SaaS LMS
· SCORM 1.2 Certified
· Accessible via Mac, PC, iPhone, iPad and Android
· Themes/Brand Customization
· API - for integration with other systems
· eCommerce and self sign-up
· Certificates
· Course Library
· Automatic compliance reminders
· No software to download
· No long term contracts

Real time reporting makes it easy to track learner results and get ROI for youronline campaign. At any time you can see if your students have completed theirtraining, how long they took and what scores they achieved. Plus, all of thisinformation can be instantly exported to Excel or PDF.

ASTD Houston Membership Mixer: Use the power of KINECT for Windows to transform training

2012-02-06T09:33:00.000-06:00

Register at: http://astdhouston.org/en/cev/647

Come and Join the Fun!Kinect has changed the way people play games and experience entertainment. Now, Kinect for Windows offers the potential to transform how people interact with computers and Windows-embedded devices in multiple industries, including education, healthcare, retail, transportation, and beyond. We’ll discuss how the Kinect technology will change the face of training. We’ll also provide a demo of Kinect working in the Windows environment.

Join or Renew your Houston ASTD Membership
Take $25 off your General Membership fee if you join or renew your membership at this event.Membership in the Houston ASTD chapter creates the professional opportunities you need to compete in today’s rapidly changing marketplace. Whether you are a professional in the field, a student just starting out, or you are transitioning into Training and Development, find networking opportunities, programs, events and conferences just for you.

Date and Time: Feb 22, 2012, 8:30 – 10:00am
Location: Microsoft Store Galleria Mall, 5015 Westheimer Road, Houston, TX 77056, Phone: (713) 860-5790
Cost: No charge!
Presenters: Debbie Richards - Creative Interactive Ideas. Yoshi Takekawa - Microsoft
Refreshments provided by: Obsidian Technical Communications

Door Prize Donated by the Microsoft Store: One year MS Training membership (one hour per week). Get the most out of your PC experience with a one-on-one training session with a Microsoft Answer Tech at the Microsoft Store.

ASTD Essentials Series: Essentials of Experiential Learning and Simulations

2012-01-26T14:28:00.000-06:00

Experience is the Best Teacher – Using Simulations to Build Experience Ken Spero, Executive Director, NexLearn - Immersive Learning University

Are you interested in developing simulations but don’t have the time to go to a workshop or conference? If so, this ASTD online workshop may be the answer.

Each Essentials Series online workshop is delivered by a live facilitator who is an experienced learning and development practitioner. You and your fellow classmates will collaborate in the virtual classroom via interactive group discussions, polls, chats, and whiteboards. Each session of an Essentials Series workshop is recorded in case you miss a session or would like to review the content again.

This interactive online workshop introduces you to a simple framework for simulations, which combine one’s work experience and expertise with the power of storytelling. Simulation isn’t a science; it’s just a way of organizing your thinking. This workshop will help participants to organize them to train others.

Check it out: http://www.astd.org/content/education/certificatePrograms/online-programs/essentialsSeries/essentialsofexperientiallearningandsimulations.htm

Free Webinar: Leveraging Voice Tools for Training

2012-01-24T11:03:00.000-06:00

January27th, 1:00pm ET
Space isLimited
Reserve Your Webinar Seat Now At:
http://www.rapidintake.com/webinar

You've tried every trick in the book to engage your learners. Everything fromsimple drag and drop to highly animated avatars but you may be missing out onone of the best and simplest forms of engagement, conversation. Learn how tointegrate interactive voice tools and audio based instructions to activelyengage the learner in a mobile application or a blended learning solution. Thepresenter will be Nancy Munro, CEO of KnowledgeShift and a seasoned developerof online and mobile learning applications.

During her presentation, Nancy will seek out a volunteer who will demonstratesome of these interactive voice tools in real time. Rapid Intake's developmentplatforms can easily integrate the voice/audio tools that she will bedemonstrating. Nancy has been a presenter for regional ASTD chapters, eLearningGuild's mLearning Conference and a repeat presenter for the Chicago eLearningShowcase.

Kinect for Windows - Feb 1, 2012

2012-01-11T08:01:00.000-06:00

Yesterday atCES, Microsoft announced the new Kinect forWindows hardware and accompanying software will be available on February 1^st,2012.

In a blog post, Craig Weiss wrote "Kinect technology and gesture free will equally make an appearancein 2012. I am projecting that the number of vendors who enter this space tostart slow, but gain steam – at least with some aspect, by the end of 2012...... Great opportunities in education (K-12 and higher ed) and even withcompanies, although I see it more with mid-size and large. Costs will vary,again lower price points are needed. What is great about Kinect technology isthat it will work with tablets, eventually smartphones and televisions. "

Check itout: http://blogs.msdn.com/b/kinectforwindows/archive/2012/01/09/kinect-for-windows-commercial-program-announced.aspx

Craig'sPost: http://elearninfo247.com/2011/12/20/5-e-learning-forecasts-for-2012/

Miss out on Learning 2011? Check out the Learning Wiki

2012-01-05T07:30:00.000-06:00

Did you miss Learning 2011 (Masie Conference)? If so, here's the scoop on available content - lots of great information, videos and a free eBook!

Learning Wiki: Content, video and participant perspectives on the seminars and keynotes at http://www.learningwiki.com

Watch interviews with Inventor Dean Kamen, learning leaders from Walmart and Starbucks, and much more. The interviews are rboken into segments focused on key questions; you can use them or pass them along. Go to http://www.learningtalks.com for the videos from Learning 2011.

eBook Released: Learning Perspectives 2011: This year’s Learning Perspectives 2011 e-Book was just released in open source for your download and reading. Articles from several dozen “30 Under 30” learning professionals, with their views on the changing nature of our field. In addition, Bob Baker, CLO of the MASIE Center, has a detailed perspective on the role of “Checklists” for the learning world. Download it at http://learning2011.com/ebook

Learning 2012 Dates: October 21 to 24, 2012 at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. Early Registration will open next week for those who want to use 2011 funds for next year’s event.

Free webcast (ASTD members) - Twitter 101: The Basics and Tips for Learning Use

2012-01-04T09:12:00.002-06:00

Thursday, January 12 • 2:00 p.m. ET
Presenter: David Kelly
Twitter is an excellent tool to leverage for both personal and professional learning and growth, and more and more organizations are harnessing its power as part of learning programs. And with that, many learning professionals are encountering the same challenges, such as: How can I use Twitter in my learning programs if I don't even know how to use Twitter myself? What is the platform's value? We will explain what Twitter is, walk through the steps to (properly) set up a twitter account, define much of the technical Twitter terminology, and share some examples of how learning professionals are using the platform.

REGISTER NOW
Open to all as part of the ASTD 2012 TechKnowledge webcast series

Free video presentation software

2012-01-03T07:00:00.000-06:00

With Knovio, take your existing PowerPoint slides and quickly and easily add your own video to synchronize with the slide content. You can then share this new presentation out to your intended audience by email or social media.

You don’t need any special software to use Knovio. From a standard web browser you simply upload your existing PowerPoint files. You will need a webcam and microphone to record your video and audio which is already installed on most laptop computers.

Check it out: http://www.knovio.com/

Webinar: The Secrets to Rapid eLearning Success, Jan. 17th

2012-01-02T13:59:00.002-06:00

eLearning Guild: Thought Leaders Webinars

January 17
Tom Kuhlmann |VP, Community, Articulate
Here’s a story that resonates with many: You were a good explainer, so you became a trainer. Then your company said, You’re now doing eLearning. So you bought a tool and got your courses online. Soon you started hearing that all your stuff looks and feels like PowerPoint. So you started building better-looking courses. But then you went to a conference and someone said, you need to make your course more interactive. So you made them more interactive. But then your company said, You need to develop these courses more quickly. How do you keep up with all of these demands and produce effective eLearning?

Register now: http://www.elearningguild.com/content.cfm?selection=doc.2130

ASTD National 2011 State of the Industry Report

2011-12-19T07:57:00.000-06:00

The findings of ASTD’s 2011 State of the Industry Report showthat organizations are just as committed as ever to learning and development(L&D).

This report, ASTD'sdefinitive review of workplace learning and development trends, includes datafrom ASTD BEST Awards Winners, ASTD Forum members, and other organizations from2002 to date.

The 2011 State of the Industry Report is freefor ASTD national members.

Check it out: http://store.astd.org/Default.aspx?tabid=167&ProductId=22697

Free Webinar: Hands-on Training: Creating an HTML5 course using Adobe Captivate 5.5 and HTML5 converter

2011-12-13T08:01:00.001-06:00

Topic: Creating an HTML5 course using Adobe Captivate 5.5 and HTML5 converter

Date and time: Thursday, Jan 12, 2012 8:00 AM – 10:00 AM US/Pacific

Description: Join Vish and Dr. Pooja Jaisingh to learn how to create a good looking eLearning course which can be published as HTML5 output. In this Hands-on session, we will also look at using HTML5 converter for Adobe Captivate 5.5. While doing this, we will discuss creating content slides and question slides as well for the course.

Registration Link: http://adobe.ly/unYi0Y

eLearning industry stock media site

2011-12-05T15:54:00.001-06:00

eLearningStock.com has royalty-free images and caters specifically to the eLearning industry.

With over10 million images, selling for as low as 90¢ per image, and many specialtyimages, templates, and animations, eLearningStock.comis the go-to resource for the eLearning industry.

Check it out: http://elearningstock.com/

Dec 8 Free webinar: Ten Technology Musts for 2012

2011-12-05T15:36:00.001-06:00

Ten Technology Musts for 2012

Social. Mobile. Cloud. Virtual.

75%of enterprises are leveraging virtual solutions to serve customers, trainstaff and engage suppliers. 35%are leveraging social media for recruitment, marketing and collaboration.

Which technologies should you embrace? What is the impact? Whereshould you start?

Check out ELCE Encore and discover the ten technologies your enterprise must haveto drive results in 2012. From Mobile, Social, Cloud Solutions and EngagementTools, you will see the best in class solutions.

Sessions Topics: Dec 8th, 7:00 AM - 3:00 PM PT:
•Best Engagement Tools: Mobile, Social, and Video
•Best Virtual Solutions: Web Conferencing, Virtual Classrooms and Environments
•Best Learning & Talent Systems: Development, Performance Management,Measurement
•Best E-learning Development Tools: Rapid, Engaging, Interactive Solutions

Register now: http://events.unisfair.com/registr_form.jsp?eid=630&seid=814&language-code=en&country-code=US&page=1&no-login=false

Free Houston Seminar: Technical Training: A Leveraged Application (Part 2)

2011-11-30T06:37:00.001-06:00

University of Houston, College of Technology, Human ResourceDevelopment Program, Brown Bag Series

Date – Dec 9^th, 2011

Time – 11:00 – 1:00 PM
Location – University of Houston, Cameron Bldg., Room 109
Directions: 4200 Wheeler, 77204 (we will provide parking tags)
Please RSVP with Consuelo at cwaight@uh.eduor 713-743.4086

The Challenge

Redesigningtechnical training is a mandate for many companies. Where does the redesignstart? How do we create alignment? Wheredoes accountability for change and learning occur? What are our lenses? How do we value ouradult learners regardless of background? How do we create learning experiencesthat lead to performance?

The Opportunity

A free, brown bag discussionwill engage the experience of industry and academic professionals regardingtransforming technical training to achieve strategic results. Please come prepared to share yourexperience, ask questions, and extend your learning.

The agenda:

Welcome
Panel discussion highlighting strategic models, templates, and research
Round table discussion:

Personal observations
Your organizations' activities towards transforming technical training

What help/support would be useful?

Speakers:

David Demski, Training andEmployee Development Manager, AtwoodOceanics, Technical Training: Achieving Competence

Jorge Luero, GlobalCompetency and Employee Development Manager, Halliburton, Technical Training: Achieving Competence

Consuelo Waight, UH, The Role of Front-End Analyses in CreatingResults-Oriented Technical Training

NB: The last 15 minutes will be used to introduce the New Executive Masters in HRD (alignmentwith technical training will be showcased).

Early Bird Discounts for Immersive Learning University (ILU) Conference

2011-11-17T15:40:00.001-06:00

NexLearn is hosting the inaugural Immersive Learning University (ILU) Conference at the Hotel Monteleone in New Orleans, LA January 18-20, 2012. I think it will be an interesting, hands-on experience and worth the cost. Plus you get the software as a bonus.

The Immersive Learning University (ILU) is chartered to educate the learning development industry with practical and advanced knowledge in the science of creating, producing, and deploying interactive learning courseware. The ILU is staffed with professionals possessing the highest level of experience and expertise in the industry of immersive adult learning. The ILU attracts students from corporations, educational institutions and government agencies that envision taking their current training and development initiatives to a state of the art next level.

January 18 - Pre-Conference all day training workshops

Attendees can choose to attend the Project Leadership Training workshop OR SimWriter Simplicity training workshop for $195.

January 19 & 20 - Main Conference

The two-day main conference is a destination to learn theories behind immersive learning, investigate simulation authoring, and look deeper into the practice of using immersive learning in the real world. We will discuss why, how, when and with what to simulate.

All Conference attendees will receive a FREE copy of SimWriter Simplicity – a value of $1495!

The regular conference fee is $695 – $100 discount to those that register by December 31st.

Check it out: http://www.immersivelearninguniversity.com/

Top Ten Things Every Designer Needs To Know About People – FREE Seminar

2011-11-09T11:27:00.003-06:00

We design to elicit responses from people. We want them to buy, read, register, and take action of some kind. Designing without understanding about people is like exploring a new city without a map: results will be haphazard, confusing, and inefficient. From her book, 100 Things Every Designer Needs To Know About People, Dr. Weinschenk has picked her top 10 “things” that you need to know in order to design intuitive and engaging websites, applications and products that match the way people think, work, and play.

Date and Time: Monday, November 14, 2011 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM CST

Note: I think the information in the book and the webinar is of value to learning and development professionals. Some things we should already know but there are hidden gems. One takeaway that I found interesting was the meaning of colors vary by culture. For example, in the U.S. white signifies purity and is used at weddings, but in other cultures white is the color used for death and funerals.

Check out the David McCandless Color Wheel that shows how different colors are viewed by different cultures. http://www.informationisbeautiful.net/visualizations/colours-in-cultures/

Need a good video transcoder?

2011-11-08T16:13:00.000-06:00

Handbrake is an open-source program (free) thatconverts video.It is available for PC, MAC and Linux platforms.

I discovered Handbrake when I was convertingPowerPoint presentations to video for iPAD distribution. The PowerPoint Saveand Send as Video function converts the PPT to a WMV file. I used Handbrake toconvert the WMV to MP4 format.

Start by selecting your source file (or files). Handbrakescans and sets up the GUI for the selected source file. Select your destinationand configure the output settings. Choose a preset from the Preset list. This willautomatically set up the all the required settings. Press the "EncodeVideo" button. If you have asource with multiple titles, you can queue these up using the "Add to Queue"button.

Check it out:http://handbrake.fr/index.php

Apture - free pop-up glossary

2011-11-07T11:12:00.001-06:00

Apture is a free browser extension that works with most major browsers.

When you highlight a topic, a "Learn More" bubble pops up but you don't leave the webpage you are viewing. Click the bubble to get a pop-up window with more information.

Check it out: http://www.apture.com/

Free Webinar 11/8 - E-learning Trends: Learning & Talent Systems & Services

2011-11-07T09:03:00.001-06:00

Tue, Nov 8, 2011 12:00 PM - 1:15 PM CST

This webinar will deal with the latest trends around Learning & Talent Systems and Services. They will share a portion of a clip from the ELCE show, where they asked the “founding fathers” of the LMS industry, “With the growing trend towards social and informal learning, what do you think the role of the LMS will be in the future.”

Who were these “founding fathers” and CEO’s? You know them all: Bobby Yazdani of Saba Systems; Alan Todd of KnowledgePlanet/Mzinga, now CEO of Corporate University Xchange; and Frank Russell, the former CEO of GeoLearning, and now the CEO of Prositions.

Register at https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/970415786

Screen Captures using Office 2010

2011-11-01T15:06:00.004-05:00

Did you know that there is a screen capture tool built into Office 2010?

Access the tool in any Office application (Word, Excel etc.) by clicking the Insert ribbon and then clicking Screenshot.

Available Windows will allow you to capture a screenshot of an entire window you already have open
Screen Clipping option will let you draw a box around an area so you can pick and choose your screenshot area

View and show PPTs on iPAD via free app

2011-10-25T06:57:00.001-05:00

SlideSharkis a free app that allows mobile professionals & educators to view and showPowerPoint® presentations on the iPad®.

If you're an iPad user, you may have noticed that there isn't a PowerPoint orMicrosoft® Office app for viewingPowerPoint files available in the App Store. In their absence, mobileprofessionals & educators have had to come up with "workarounds"that end up falling short. With SlideShark, you can easily and reliably convert PowerPoint into ahigh fidelity iPad-optimized format that keeps animations, fonts, colors, andgraphics intact. That way you can view and show PowerPoints on the iPad the waythey were meant to be seen.

Check it out: https://www.slideshark.com/default.aspx

16 Free Tools to Create Media for Learning

2011-10-19T08:25:00.000-05:00

October26th, 1:00pm ET
Space isLimited
Reserve Your Webinar Seat Now At:
http://www.rapidintake.com/free-tools/

As a trainingdeveloper, you're no stranger to budget cuts. Companies everywhere are turningto e-learning and mobile learning as a solution to improve performance whilecutting costs. But how do you create engaging, high-quality content for youronline training courses? How can you make simple adjustments to images andrecordings without having to spend thousands of dollars on a suite of products?

In thiscomplimentary webinar, learn about 16 different free tools that can help youwith your media creation and revision. Edit videos and vector graphics, mixaudio tracks, sharpen your images, and record tutorials; all without spending adime. Tools covered will include:

• JayCut
• Video Spin
• The Aviary Suite of Tools
• Audacity
• GIMP
• Jing
• Kuler
• Inkscape
• More

Thepresenter will show all 16 tools and give a brief description on how they canbe leveraged to create professional-quality assets for your online trainingcourses.

Monthly free e-book from The University of Chicago Press

2011-10-03T17:41:00.003-05:00

About once per month,The University of Chicago Press offers a free e-book. This month's book is "Revel with a Cause: Liberal Satire in Postwar America". "Before there was Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert, or Bill Maher, there were Mort Sahl, Stan Freberg, and Lenny Bruce—liberal satirists who, through their wry and scabrous comedic routines, waged war against the political ironies, contradictions, and hypocrisies of their times. Revel with a Cause is their story."

Enter your e-mail address and click "Get E-book." You will receive an e-mail confirmation with a link to download your free e-book, as well as a link to Adobe’s Digital Editions software, used to display the book. Once you get the e-mail, click the link in your device to load.

Please note: iPhone, iPod, and iPad readers: You will NOT need Flash. Pleasevisit the download link on your iOS device in Safari. You will be able to openthe ebook from there directly, into the Bluefire Reader app.

Check it out: http://www.press.uchicago.edu/books/freeEbook.html.

Learn languages online through your local library

2011-09-19T14:56:00.002-05:00

Your local library (Houston Public Library for me) may have access to the online Mango Language program. If so, you can probably access the training classes for free.

Today is International Talk Like a Pirate Day (Sept 19th). HPL will let you access the pirate lessons for free without a library card - http://www.mangolanguages.com/try-it.php?course_id=224

To access any of the other courses at the Houston Library website, you will need your library card. http://www.houstonlibrary.org/home

Go to Research, click Alphabetical Database Listing, and then M for Mango Languages. Mango immerses you in real, everyday conversations in multiple languages, including Spanish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Mandarin Chinese, Russian, Arabic or learn ESL for Spanish, Vietnamese, Arabic and more.

API Oil and Gas Interactive Examples

2011-09-13T13:24:00.000-05:00

The AmericanPetroleum Institute (API) has a number of cool interactive games.

Road Trip offers something new - an entertaining gamingexperience with helpful do's and don'ts for better fuel efficiency!
In Exploration Nation, you will have to balance yourtime, money, Mother Nature and unexpected factors while you search forresources.
Think you know your facts and figures on energy? Put themto the test with the Energy IQ.

Checkit out: http://energytomorrow.org/multimedia/#/channel/interactives

Using the Internet for Scavenger Hunts - Adapt for Corporate Training?

2011-09-12T13:46:00.000-05:00

There's a website designed for kids that you should explore for interactiveexercises for corporate training.

The mission of the USA-SOS Internet Challenge is to promote cybercitizenship among students by engaging them in a fun, age-appropriate,competitive online program where they learn how to safely and responsibly usethe internet.

One of the activities is a scavenger hunt. Use the Scavenger Hunt Documentto help you find important tips. Click an icon to open a new web page withinformation. Then take the Post-Quiz.

Note: You could create fake web pages with the information so you cancontrol the content.

Check it out: http://usa-sos.org/index.cfm?Page=3rd_Grade

Free Webinar: The Truth About Social Learning 9/14

2011-09-12T11:00:00.000-05:00

Speaker: Jane Bozarth, Ph.D., eLearning Director of the State of North Carolina

Session Description:
"Social learning" and "informal learning" are among the training industry's hottest phrases these days. But there's so much confusion over what they mean, and what they mean to those of us in the business. A few truths:

Social learning isn't new.

Social learning isn't necessarily ‘managed', ‘launched', ‘controlled', or ‘measured'.

People in the workplace are learning all the time - without us.

Those people likely don't think of what they're doing as "learning".

Check it out: http://www.trainingmagnetwork.com/welcome/janebozarth_sept14

Free Webinar: Creating eLearning Stories and Exercises with Articulate Storyline®

2011-09-04T15:14:00.000-05:00

Interested in the new product from Articulate? Attend this free webinar!

Speaker: Ray Jimenez, Ph.D., Chief Learning Architect of Vignettes for Training, Inc.
Date: Thursday, September 29, 2011
Time: 10:00AM Pacific / 1:00PM Eastern (60 Minute Session)
REGISTER: http://www.trainingmagnetwork.com/welcome/RayJiminez_sept6

Search Cube - An Alternate Search Method

2011-08-30T06:17:00.001-05:00

One of today's tips from the Smart Workers Guide to Social Media online programme: http://c4lpt.co.uk/the-smart-worker/.

search-cube is a visual search engine that presents web search results in a unique, three-dimensional cube interface. It shows previews of up to ninety-six websites, videos and images.

Check it out: http://www.search-cube.com/

Other Search Engines: http://c4lpt.co.uk/directory-of-learning-performance-tools/search-engines-discovery-tools/

Google Tips: Google Guide and Quiz

2011-08-29T09:27:00.001-05:00

Smart Workers Guide to Social Media online programme: http://c4lpt.co.uk/the-smart-worker/

Google Guide
Google Guide is an online interactive tutorial that helps make searching easier. If you don’t have time to work through the whole tutorial, try the Cheat Sheet, which is also available as a printable PDF.

A Google a Day
A Google a Day – agoogleaday.com- is a daily puzzle from Google; there is no right way to solve it, but there’s only one right answer

Further reading
How to use Google, WikiHow
Become a Google expert in minutes
How to use Google search like a professional user, Ismail Ghazi, (YouTube video)

Activity
Put your new Google skills to the test? Try the PlentySmart Google quiz

Share & Learn

2011-08-29T09:21:00.000-05:00

I'm enrolled in a program called "The Smart Worker’s Guide to using Social Media – in 30 days (Autumn programme)". I'll be sharing tips from the program - and how I've been improving my use of Social Media.

This program is a part of the Share&Learn platform - a collaboration platform (set up by Jane Hart of the Centre for Learning & Performance Technologies [C4LPT]) where members can share links, resources, ideas, experiences, tips, etc about the use of learning and performance trends, technologies and tools, and learn from one another – both informally and formally!

You can join the group for free.
Check it out: http://c4lpt.co.uk/shareandlearn/

Online Global Business Resource Tool and Training

2011-08-25T10:57:00.000-05:00

This web-based tool provides quick and easy access to extensive knowledge on how to conduct business effectively with people from countries around the world.
The program includes:

Rich, country-specific information related to the practice of key global business skills in 65 countries — available online, in printed report format, or on-the-go from your mobile device
A simple, validated, self-assessment questionnaire, available in 14 languages, that instantly creates an individual’s profile of work-style preferences
Video scenarios and interactive exercises that illustrate core cultural dimensions that play out in the work place
Audio recordings of key names and phrases, spoken in the local language of the country

Check it out: http://www.globesmart.com/

Get your Geek on for a Free Houston Event: August 25, 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM

2011-08-19T16:25:00.000-05:00

This free event will highlight the latest in IT Process Management, Adobe, Cisco and Microsoft Technologies. You'll be able to choose your own learning path by attending educational breakout sessions that are relevant to your specific needs. Also enjoy a complimentary lunch and be eligible to win terrific prizes!

Topics covered include:

Microsoft Office 2010
Windows Server 2008 R2
SharePoint 2010
Exchange 2010
And more

Agenda: http://www.spectechular.com/houston/agenda.html
Register: http://register.nhcomputerlearning.com/events/EventDetails.aspx?eventCode=8771429

OSHA Heat Safety Tool - Available for Android OS. Others coming soon

2011-08-17T13:46:00.001-05:00

Living in Houston, the heat index is always a concern - especially for those who work outdoors. The OSHA Heat Safety Tool allows workers and supervisors to calculate the heat index for their worksite, and, based on the heat index, displays a risk level to outdoor workers.

You can get reminders about the protective measures that should be taken at that risk level to protect workers from heat-related illness—reminders about drinking enough fluids, scheduling rest breaks, planning for and knowing what to do in an emergency, adjusting work operations, gradually building up the workload for new workers, training on heat illness signs and symptoms, and monitoring each other for signs and symptoms of heat-related illness.

Check it out: https://market.android.com/details?id=com.erg.heatindex&feature=search_result

OSHA's Heat Illness website - http://osha.gov/SLTC/heatillness/index.html

Free webinar 8/16: Mobile Learning & Augmented Reality

2011-08-10T13:22:00.000-05:00

Heard the term Augmented Reality and wondered how it could be used in learning? Attend this free webinar hosted by Rapid Intake and featuring Craig Weiss, author of the E-Learning 24/7 blog

Date: Tuesday, August 16th, 2011
ime: 1:00pm-2:00pm ET
Register at: http://www.rapidintake.com/augmented-reality-webinar/?utm_source=rapidintake&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=110816

Augmented Reality can take any situation, location, environment, and experience to a new level of edutainment. In this day and age, people want to be informed, engaged, and entertained in an immediate, pro-active and social way. In this webinar, you will learn how this emerging technology is changing the way people engage and learn. It will present you with possibilities and mobile devices best suited for this new technology.

How Augmented Reality Works: http://www.commoncraft.com/video/augmented-reality

Cool example: http://ge.ecomagination.com/smartgrid/

free, Open Source eBook: Learning Strategies!

2011-08-02T12:24:00.002-05:00

Here is a free, Open Source eBook from The MASIE Center:

Learning Strategies!

Including articles from CNN, CIA, Farmers Insurance andothers.

104 Pages - Edited by Nigel Paine.

Download: http://www.learning2011.com/strategies.

Webinar - Creating eLearning with Adobe Captivate for Android Devices

2011-07-26T15:24:00.000-05:00

Tuesday,Aug 2, 2011- Time: 11:00AM Pacific / 2:00PM Eastern (60 Minute Session)

Joe Ganciwill discuss the factors involved with creating or repurposing eLearning forhandheld devices and show how to use Adobe Captivate with Adobe Device Central(both included in the Adobe eLearning Suite) to create, test and deliverexcellent eLearning. Users will be able to access interactive, media-richlearning experiences wherever and whenever desired

http://www.trainingmagnetwork.com/welcome/joeganci_aug2

Top Trends in eLearning: 9/15-16

2011-07-19T08:49:00.000-05:00

I'm presenting - eLearning Guild Online Forum on 9/16. My topic is "Is HTML5 Ready for eLearning?" Hope you will join me!

In this Online Forum, you will review many of the top trends in eLearning. Is learning through play still on the rise? What about alternate reality, simulations, and visualization? Social learning? eBooks? Storytelling? What will HTML5 mean to eLearning? What business, economic, and cultural trends will impact how, when, and where we deliver learning? Attend this Online Forum to discover the trends that will impact what and how you develop and deliver eLearning in your organization in the future.

Check it out: http://www.elearningguild.com/online-forums/content/1853/2011-olf---sept-15--16/

Free Webinar 7/28/11: Mobile Learning Basics + (Free) Mobile Learning Guide

2011-07-07T09:42:00.000-05:00

Speaker: Judy Brown, Mobile Learning Strategic Analyst, Advanced Distributed Learning
Date: Thursday, July 28, 2011
Time: 10:00AM Pacific / 1:00PM Eastern (60 Minute Session)

The ADL Mobile Learning Team recently released a mobile version of their mLearning Guide on the web and in various mobile platform stores. Join the webinar for discussion on the single development for deployment on multiple devices and choices made in development. Lessons learned will be shared.

Check it out: http://www.trainingmagnetwork.com/welcome/judybrown_july28

Computer Security Games for Download (includes Flash source files)

2011-06-10T18:24:00.001-05:00

OnGuardOnline.govprovides practical tips from the federal government and the technology industryto help you be on guard against internet fraud, secure your computer, andprotect your personal information.

The websitehas lots of great games that can be downloaded and included in your training -the download includes both published and source files!

The Internet Education Foundation, through GetNetWise.org, has contributed videotutorials for OnGuardOnline.gov. These video tutorials show you step-by-stephow to change the preferences in your internet software to enhance privacy,safety, and security.

Check itout: http://www.onguardonline.gov

Thinking Web : Voices of the Community - Free eBook

2011-06-07T17:03:00.000-05:00

Check it out: http://blogs.sitepoint.com/thinking-web-voices-of-the-community/

Preface - Sarah Hawk (Community Manager)

Chapter 1 - Anatomy of a Website by Ralph Mason
Ralph's chapter looks at the building blocks of a website, from hosting through to favicons, with everything in between. If you are new to the world of web, then this is the article for you.

Chapter 2 - Designing in the Dark by Alex Dawson
Alex examines the ideas of web accessibility and talks you through the process of identifying your audience and ensuring that your sites meet their needs and expectations.

Chapter 3 - Everything Must Go by Alex Dawson
Alex is back, this time discussing the concepts of web accessibility in more detail. If you want some practical advice to ensure that your sites work for everyone, then this is a must read.

Chapter 4 - Going Freelance by John Borda
You might be the best web developer in the world, but if no one knows that then it's of very little use to you. John looks at some of the things that a freelancer can do in order to make a successful career in the cutthroat world of web development.

Chapter 5 - Successful PSD to HTML Freelancing by Paul O'Brien
In this chapter, CSS expert Paul talks about the intricacies of quoting on and carrying out a PSD to HTML conversion job. He points out some of the pitfalls and explains how to avoid them.

Chapter 6 - Write Email Markup That Doesn't Explode in the Inbox by Coyote Holmberg
If writing electronic newsletters is something that is on your radar then this article by Coyote will be invaluable. In it she discusses the dos and don'ts of writing HTML emails from the design stage right through to the sending.

Chapter 7 - Make Your Website Stand Out from the Crowd by Ursula Comeau
Social media has become so commonplace that it can't be ignored if you want your business to succeed and Ursula explains how important social media and blogging can be to your website and your online marketing strategy.

Chapter 8 - Information Organization and the Web by Sherry Curry
You might have the most valuable information on the planet on your website, but if it is hard to navigate then the chances of people giving up before they ever get to it are great. Sherry talks about good strategies for organising and labeling your information so that it is accessible and easy to find.

Chapter 9 - Using Vector Graphics to Build a Noughts & Crosses Game by Clive Wickham
In this tutorial, Clive outlines how you can easily build a simple game of Noughts & Crosses using interactive vector graphics and explores two ways of presenting it, via SVG and HTML5 Canvas.

Chapter 10 - Efficient Actionscript by Christian Snodgrass
Christian examines a selection of some of the more useful Actionscript tips, tricks and techniques for use in mid-to-large projects.

Chapter 11 - Databases : The Basic Concepts by Nuria Zuazo
Databases are a must for any dynamic site and some basic knowledge is necessary to make the most of your database. In this article, Nuria looks at some of the intricacies of the modern day database and how you can harness its power in your own sites.

Chapter 12 - The Iceberg of TCP/IP by Robert Wellock
Robert skims the surface of the massive subject that is TCP/IP and looks at a selection of protocols focusing on what is most relevant to
web design or general home computing.

Snakes and Frogs - Did You Know?

2011-06-06T07:58:00.002-05:00

You might notbe able to teach a snake to fetch your paper, but people do keep them as pets.People keep other reptiles, too, like turtles – as well as frogs and otheramphibians. But the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says reptilesand amphibians can carry Salmonella bacteria – and thousands of people a yearget infected from them.

Check it out: http://www.cdc.gov/Features/SalmonellaFrogTurtle/

Preparedness 101: Zombie Apocalypse

2011-05-22T16:33:00.000-05:00

There are all kinds of emergencies out there that we can prepare for. Take a zombie apocalypse for example. That’s right, I said z-o-m-b-i-e a-p-o-c-a-l-y-p-s-e. You may laugh now, but when it happens you’ll be happy you read this, and hey, maybe you’ll even learn a thing or two about how to prepare for a real emergency.

To learn more about what CDC does to prepare for and respond to emergencies of all kinds, visit:
http://emergency.cdc.gov/cdc/orgs_progs.asp

To learn more about how you can prepare for and stay safe during an emergency visit:
http://emergency.cdc.gov/

Partnering to Heal - Excellent Example of Scenario-Based Learning

2011-05-18T09:18:00.000-05:00

"The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health released Partnering to Heal: Teaming Up Against Healthcare-Associated Infections, an interactive computer-based video-simulation training program.

Healthcare-associated infections harm many patients, causing injury and raising costs. On average, 1 in 3 patients admitted to a hospital suffers a medical error or adverse event and at any given time about 1 in every 20 patients is affected by an infection related to hospital care. On average, 1 in 7 Medicare beneficiaries is harmed in the course of care, costing the government an estimated $4.4 billion every year.

To help address this public health challenge, the HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health developed Partnering to Heal. This training program permits viewers to "become" one of five characters who can make decisions that impact health risks, and then view the results of those decisions and learn from the outcomes. It is designed to be used by students in the health professions, early-career clinicians, and other healthcare personnel, as well as patients and families to help prevent infections acquired in hospitals and other healthcare settings. Available online at no cost, Partnering to Heal promotes a team-based approach to reducing preventable infections and deaths in the United States."

Check it out: http://www.hhs.gov/ash/initiatives/hai/training/

Download Hundreds of Free eBooks and Whitepapers Directly to Your Mobile Device

2011-05-17T10:16:00.002-05:00

Receive a constant stream of free business and technology related resources such as eBooks, white papers, downloads, magazines, and analyst reports. All are absolutely free!

Check it out: http://www.tradepub.com/?p=main&page=mobile

2011-05-13T12:13:00.000-05:00

What is Snap! by Lectora?
Snap! by Lectora is a rapid eLearning PowerPoint plug-in that enables you to use content you’ve created in PowerPoint to deliver a self-paced, interactive Flash presentation that can be easily posted online. Your Snap! by Lectora course or presentation publishes to a single SWF Flash file that you can post it on the web, to CD, or any other LMS. Supports AICC and SCORM.

Flash – Insert SWF files and publish your course or presentation to Flash .
Narration – You can record, import and edit narration. You can also synchronize your audio and animations
Video – Record yourself and allow that video to play during your presentation.
Web Windows – Include a Web window that the learner can interact with right there in the course or presentation.
YouTube Video – Include a YouTube video that plays in your presentation.
Quizzes and surveys – Create a quiz or survey with multiple question types. Test learner knowledge right in the sequence of your course.
Attachments – Add additional files and links to include more references and resources outside of the course or presentation.

Click here for 15% off the $99 price - http://Refer-A-Friend.Trivantis.com/a/clk/rYCcK .

Free ebook - WINDOWS ON THE WORLD

2011-05-02T10:36:00.000-05:00

Get a free ebook copy of the book written by Andrea White (former Houston mayor Bill White's wife).

WINDOWS ON THE WORLD is science fiction set in a post-apocalyptic world in which an orphan girl, Shama Katooee, is summoned to an elite military academy in order to travel back in time to New York City on September 11, 2001, to save the future.

http://www.namelos.com/blog.php

Free learning community for managers

2011-04-30T12:05:00.000-05:00

TalkingVillageManagement is a free community allowing managers to learn from each other. Youcan join for free and post any content related to management education. Have aproblem to solve? Just ask the community. Do you have a solution or an idea?Just post it for everyone to see!

Check it out: http://mgmt.talkingvillage.com or http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qu0NE8UsUqI

The Story of Bottled Water - In Honor of Earth Day

2011-04-21T09:46:00.000-05:00

The Story of Bottled Water, released March 22, 2010 on storyofbottledwater.org, employs the Story of Stuff style to tell the story of manufactured demand—how you get Americans to buy more than half a billion bottles of water every week when it already flows from the tap. Over seven minutes, the film explores the bottled water industry’s attacks on tap water and its use of seductive, environmental-themed advertising to cover up the mountains of plastic waste it produces. The film concludes with a call to ‘take back the tap,’ not only by making a personal commitment to avoid bottled water, but by supporting investments in clean, available tap water for all.

Check it out: http://storyofstuff.org/bottledwater/

Free PowerPoint to Flash Converter

2011-04-18T16:28:00.000-05:00

iSpring Free lets you easily create web-ready Flash presentations preserving every aspect of your original PowerPoint content.

Check it out: http://free.ispringsolutions.com/free_powerpoint_to_flash_converter.html

PPT courses to the iPAD - Which way to go?

2011-04-12T15:45:00.000-05:00

I recently experimented with various methods of getting aPPT course developed with Articulate Presenter to the iPAD.

HTML Articulate player from eLearning Enhanced: Works great. Just wish they had a quiz component (it's in the works). http://elearningenhanced.com/products/html-articulate-player

Flash on iPAD from iSwifter– works ok. It executes the Flash content in its own data center and then sends video down the pipe to the user’s iPAD, which has to be connected to a Wi-Fi connection. http://iswifter.youwebinc.com/

PPT2Video from Wondershare – strip out all the Articulate elements and insert audio on the page. Don’t try doing anything else while the program translates the file into video. http://www.wondershare.com/pro/ppt-to-video.html

mLearning Studio from Rapid Intake - Can't wait for this to come out! Like the idea of create once - and let the program decide how to display. http://www.rapidintake.com/products/mobile/mobile-learning-studio/

New Gmail Option - Gmail Motion

2011-04-01T09:05:00.000-05:00

I'm really excited about the new Gmail feature - Gmail motion. Now you can control Gmail with your body. Check it out at http://mail.google.com/mail/help/motion.html.

MS PowerPoint Slide Awards Festival - Funny Videos and Great Examples

2011-03-31T15:56:00.000-05:00

Visit the first PowerPoint awards festival, where you'll find everything you need to create blockbuster presentations. Take a look around, watch the videos and learn the tips and tricks. Then enter your best presentation for a chance to win a 2010 Microsoft Office Suite, a new Xbox 360 with Kinect, or a trip to the next TEDActive conference in Palm Springs, CA.

Check it out: http://www.microsoft.com/office/powerpoint-slidefest/do-and-dont.aspx

Lots of Upcoming and Free Webinars

2011-03-30T10:09:00.000-05:00

March 31, 2011- Automating Compliance-BasedTraining Through Just-in-Time Learning
Register

April 6,2011- InstructionalDesign for Live, Online Learning
Register

April 7, 2011- Outsourcing vs. OuttaskingContent Development: Which Is Right for You?
Register

April 14, 2011-How to Measure InformalLearning and Engage Managers to Optimize On-the-Job Impact
Register

April 20, 2011- Great Webinars: Crossing theChasm from Classroom Training to High Performance Virtual Delivery
Register

April 21, 2011- Preparing Your Workforcefor Tomorrow’s Challenges
Register

May 12, 2011- The 5 Secrets to DeployingEffective Training at Warp Speed
Register

What I'm Reading This Week

2011-03-24T09:23:00.000-05:00

ASTD - Best of T+D: BluePrints for Success: http://t.co/OqfGhwg
The Bestof T+D: Blueprints for Success offers some of the most searchedfor articles from the highly popular Fundamentals and Learning Blueprintcolumns. Includes an article on Scenario-BasedLearning. Somearticles are old – but if you missed them, this is a great way to read them ina consolidated format. Free to NationalASTD members.

Our Flag: http://www.gpoaccess.gov/serialset/cdocuments/sd109-18/sd109-18.pdf
Everything you wanted to know about the Star and Stripes.

Facebook and BeyondWhite Paper: http://pages.lithium.com/facebook-and-beyond.html
Effectivenessof a Facebook brand

100Resources for Interactive Training Designers: http://www.raptivity.com/100-elearning-resources.html

e-Business Now - Online information for technology-enabled applications

2011-03-23T11:56:00.000-05:00

SCORE, a nonprofitassociation dedicated to helping small business start, grow and succeed, todayannounced the launch of e-Business Now, a new website providing small businessleaders with "how to" knowledge to successfully usetechnology-enabled applications. The website provides free on-demand workshops"how-to" guides, connections to technology mentors and more—a full rangeof tools for learning how to leverage technology to fuel the future success ofsmall businesses.

Register to access the free training and information. Workshops are developed using Articulate Presenter.
Check it out: http://ebusinessnow.org/

Mobile Learning and Social Learning for Sales Readiness - Free Webinar 3/24/11

2011-03-21T12:47:00.000-05:00

Thursday, March 24, 2011
10:00 AM PST | 11:00 AM MST | 12:00 PM CST | 1:00 PM EST Both mobile devices and social media are having a profound effect on how sales training takes place. Traditional methods of sales training include classroom instruction and role playing, supervised calling of prospects, and practice selling with more experienced sales staff. With the rapid growth of social media, buyers are now much more able to communicate with each other and exchange opinions and stories about you as a salesperson, and about the good and bad aspects of your product. This exchange is not happening from a fixed place, but from any location where a consumer is texting or blogging and is inspired to offer an opinion of what or how you are selling. These comments can be amplified by others offering additional comments or passing the information on to others. At the same time, a mobile salesperson is better equipped to answer questions as they are asked, with instant information available anytime, anywhere. Learning to sell requires a new set of competencies that includes blogging, tweeting, and attracting lots of “friends” or “followers.” As well, new technology is being developed that allows live mentoring in the field and the ability to educate potential customers with mobile video presentations in the process of closing a sale. In this one-hour presentation by Dr. Gary Woodill, learn how mobile learning and social media are transforming the world of selling and sales training.

Sign up for webinar

Creating an interactive YouTube video - video-based scenarios

2011-03-18T14:12:00.001-05:00

Have you checked out interactive YouTube videos and wondered how they were created? How it works: while the video plays, it offers options through links embedded in the video, which take you to a different place on the timeline or to a different video, which offers new options, and so on.

The combined effect is a seemingly infinite number of choices, but for interactive YouTube videos it is in fact very finite: a separate video has to be created for each choice. The interactivity is created by overlaying annotations on top of the video. Annotations were previously used solely as captions or speech balloons leading viewer to another site for more information related to the video. Now they are transforming YouTube from a static video player to a tool for engaging the audience.

The YouTube Annotations Editor is a creator tool that lets you layer text, hotspots and links over your video, thus enriching experience with information, interactivity and engagement.

Examples:
Hunter shoots a bear - http://www.youtube.com/user/tippexperience
Blend Your Own Adventure: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DcJFwy7KPBA
The Time Machine - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8rJ1WML60Y
How to make an interactive video - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMrMEydnFFA
Annotation Man: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TqzlqPK0VVY#t=19

"The Learning eXPLOSION"

2011-03-08T15:21:00.005-06:00

"The Learning eXPLOSION" by Matthew Murdoch and Treion Muller will help you with moving corporate training to the virtual classroom. It’s packed with lots of great tips, tips and links. If you are thinking about a blended learning approach or have been tasked with creating virtual classroom events, you will find this book a valuable resource. If you are already using virtual classrooms, I am sure you will still find good information including checklists to make your classrooms run smoother and make training interesting and interactive.

As I read "The Learning eXPLOSION", I found myself highlighting parts, using sticky notes to mark pages and mentally agreeing with the information in the book. My favorite chapters are "The Rule of Overcoming Bias" - how to address and overcome prejudice against virtual classrooms - with really life examples and what to say to leaders and "The Rule of Personal Practice" - especially the list of common technical watch-outs. The website (http://www.franklincovey.com/tc/solutions/books-and-audio/learning-explosion/) has all the action plans from the book for download. This book is worth adding to your library.

ASTD Houston will host a webinar on May 18th with Matt and Treion - http://www.astdhouston.org/en/cev/539. Register and attend for your chance to win a copy of "The Learning eXPLOSION".

MinyanLand - have fun, play games, learn about money

2011-03-07T10:14:00.001-06:00

Most virtual worlds have to do with fun and games. MinyanLand, brought to you by the Council for Economic Education,is a virtual community designed to engage students in games and other interactions that are both entertaining and educational. Choosing your own character, you can explore the world for yourself. In this world, students are safe and free to learn and be entertained by the concept of a market. They also learn the basics of economics and finance on a real world level, as the economics system mimics the real-life pricing of general goods and services. Everything you do can be practice for real life. Every action you take will effect the economy as MinyanLand as a whole.

Players must do tasks like staying healthy by eating on a regular basis. They will also get rewarded for behavior such as charitable giving. There is also a journal where you can see what is new in the town. Families can explore this world together, no matter the economic status or other social factors. It is a great way for them to learn about the operations of our economic system.

Check it out: http://www.minyanland.com/

Me and My Avatar: Exploring Users’ Comfort with Avatars for Workplace Communication.

2011-03-04T11:00:00.000-06:00

Do business users want to be represented by avatars when engaging in enterprise-style conferencing?

“The results from this survey demonstrate that people are open to the idea of using avatars for workplace communication; however, the choice of avatar can significantly impact people’s comfort. In general, the respondents in our survey were open to interacting with a wide variety of avatars, from cartoonish to realistic and casual to formal, as long as the representation wasn’t too eerie or creepy. In contrast, users’ preferences for avatars they are willing to use to represent themselves were much more stringent. People primarily wanted more formal, realistic avatars.”

Check it out: http://research.microsoft.com/pubs/143831/nt454-inkpen.pdf?tag=mantle_skin;content

A Strategic Approach for selecting an LMS for a SMB (Small and Medium Sized Business)

2011-03-02T14:53:00.000-06:00

This free webinar provides practical information and strategies to be considered by small and medium sized organizations to get the best Return on Investment (ROI) when choosing a LMS. Items included will be LMS selection, LMS administration, eLearning creation and eLearning deployment. This webinar will include valuable information on how to introduce eLearning to you organization and produce success. If you are looking at adding in eLearning and a LMS, or are considering changing to a new LMS you will definitely want to join this webinar. If there are others in your organization that are interested in eLearning and LMS's please forward this to them.

Wednesday, March 9, 2011 - 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM EST

Check it out: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/701940610

Visual CV - A review

2011-02-25T14:08:00.000-06:00

A friend showed me her resume today on Visual CV. Nice product - your should check it out. Link articles, presentations, video etc. that directly highly your skills and abilities. Here's Kathleen's resume - http://www.visualcv.com/kathleenkelley. Notice how items that relate specifically to her position show side-by-side. There's a reference to her work for the City of Houston directly next to her position information.

The CV can be downloaded as a nicely formatted PDF file. Oh and the service is free! You can get a premium account with your own URL for $60/yr.

Check it out: http://www.visualcv.com/www/indexc.html

Speaking at eLearning DEVCON 2011

2011-02-25T13:55:00.000-06:00

Come join me - the conference is a real bargain with lots of great sessions - http://elearningdevcon.com/

Jun 15 10:20 am - 12:25 pm (2-hr BYOL session): Creating Branching Scenarios
A scenario can put the course content into a context that is relevant to the learners because they can use the information in a real world setting. In this session, you will learn best practices for writing and creating branching or "soft-skills" scenarios. The presenter will demonstrate Rapid Development tools used to create scenarios, and attendees will use one of the tools to create your own branching scenario.

Jun 16 9:40 am - 11:50 am (2-hr BYOL session): Adding Interactivity to Adobe Acrobat
In this session, Debbie will show you interesting ways to use Adobe Acrobat PDF interactive documents – either as a stand-alone eLearning element or as part of a course. Attendees will create an interactive PDF and insert it into an e-learning course. The presenter will also lead a discussion on using PDFs for collaboration and commenting during the e-learning course development process.

Jun 17 9:45 am - 11:50 am (2-hr BYOL session): HTML5 - What You Need To Know and Why You Should Care
HTML5, the new web markup language is supposed to eliminate the need for the Adobe Flash plugin. What does this mean for e-learning developers? Even though HTML5 is not fully supported in major browsers, there are those that are pushing forward and experimenting with its new features. In this session, we will create HTML5 pages and CSS3 styles. We’ll explore key features along with reasons for learning/using HTML 5 instead of Flash. Don’t be scared away from this session if you don’t know basic HTML and CSS – I’ll show you enough to be dangerous!

The MadCap Roadshow is coming to Austin!

2011-02-23T11:41:00.000-06:00

This special one-day training event is non-product specific and ideal for all skill levels of technical communicators and managers, regardless of which product(s) you are currently using. The Roadshow is an excellent opportunity to advance your professional skills, learn about the latest trends in technical communication, and network with fellow peers in your city.

Event Details:

March 28, 8:00AM - 4:00PM
Hilton Austin Airport
9515 Hotel Drive
Austin, TX 78719

Normally $149, this year's price is now just $99, making the Roadshow more affordable than ever. Be sure to sign up early and reserve your seat!

To see the detailed agenda or to reserve your seat, visit:
http://www.madcapsoftware.com/events/roadshow.aspx

Webinar: Designing mLearning: Magic "To Go"

2011-02-21T12:38:00.000-06:00

Everywhere we go, we hear more and more about apps, smartphones, and mobile everything. Is this a fad, or are we seeing a significant change? Our employees are increasingly mobile and increasingly equipped with mobile technologies. This is a new resource that is largely untapped to improve organizational performance, yet promising large returns. How do we take advantage of it? To truly "get" mobile, we need to shift our thinking. In this session, we will explore the new technologies that underpin the excitement, cover the opportunities on the table, review a set of useful frameworks to help shift our thinking, and talk about the design process and organizational imperatives that accompany this new opportunity.

Check it out: http://www.elearningguild.com/content.cfm?selection=doc.1871

Free Webinar: The New World Kirkpatrick Four

2011-02-02T09:59:00.000-06:00

Think you "know Kirkpatrick"? Attend this session and be among the first to see the latest adaptation of the Kirkpatrick Four LevelsTM. Thursday, February 17, 2011

Speakers:

Donald Kirkpatrick, Ph.D., Author, Speaker, Thought Leader, Kirkpatrick Partners
James Kirkpatrick, Ph.D., Senior Consultant, Kirkpatrick Partners
Wendy Kirkpatrick, Director, Kirkpatrick Partners

This program includes:

The most modern ways to use the Kirkpatrick Model to plan, execute and measure training that creates true business value
A rendering of the updated model that focuses on the importance of the transfer of learning to behavior
Tips on how to align training with your most important organizational goals
An overview of required drivers and leading indicators, and their importance in creating organization value through training

Check it out: http://www.trainingmagnetwork.com/welcome/kirkpatrick_feb17

Free Webinar Friday: Publish Learning to Both HTML5 and Flash: Announcing the Rapid Intake mLearning Studio

2011-02-02T09:39:00.000-06:00

Creating Mobile Learning (mLearning) to supplement your eLearning program is a bit of a mystery. How do all of the parts fit together? How do you publish uniform content to both Flash and HTML5 formats? How will the mobile content be accessed? How can you make sure you're still able to track learner results on your Learning Management System (LMS)? It seems like these things should be easy, but does anyone offer a simple solution?

Check it out: http://www.rapidintake.com/mobile-webinar/

Rapid Intake mLearning Studio

2011-02-01T11:29:00.000-06:00

I'm excited about the new mLearning Studio from Rapid Intake. Anyone will be able to create and deploy mobile learning content with their easy-to-use mLearning Studio; choose templates, add text, images, audio, video and quizzes, then publish. The content is delivered in a fully HTML5 compatible mobile course player with cross-platform support for iPhone, iPad, and Android (2.2 and higher); support for Blackberry coming soon.

Rapid Intake's authoring tools allow you to do what is called a 'joint package' which means you have one course that allows the learner to access it in the format that makes the most sense for the device they are using. If they access it via desktop, it comes up in Flash. If from a mobile device, it comes up in HTML5. SCORM and bookmarking are in sync so that the learner is able to move seamlessly from one device to the other without missing a beat.

Sign up for a demo and to be notified on product release!

Check it out: http://www.rapidintake.com/products/mobile/mobile-learning-studio/

http://shoutout.rapidintake.com/

eFront - Interesting Blog site

2011-01-31T14:48:00.000-06:00

Came across a blog site that has lots of good resources including lists for free e-Learning books, photo sites, and storyboard templates. Today's post is the first of a series of posts concerning evaluation in e-Learning and includes links to white papers and information.

Check it out: http://blog.efrontlearning.net/2011/01/introduction-to-evaluation-in-e.html#more

eLearning Interactions - add Flash-based interactions to your courses

2011-01-17T13:23:00.000-06:00

Do you want a quick and easy way to add interactive elements to your training course? The eLearning Interactions product is one to add to your toolbox. You can easily create an interaction - pick the interaction template, insert your content (including text, audio and images) and apply a theme. You can save the interaction for future editing and/or download it as a SWF file for inclusion in your eLearning course. Try it for free. You subscribe to the service for either a monthly or annual fee. You can create as many interactions as you want and you'll have access to any new interactions that are created.

Check it out: http://elearninginteractions.com/how-it-works/

Introducing Acrobat X Actions - Wed, Jan 19, 2011

2011-01-04T09:55:00.000-06:00

In this eSeminar, you'll learn how to use the Action Wizard, one of the new productivity-enhancing features in Acrobat X. Action Wizard lets you easily automate routine, multi-step tasks and then apply the action to a single PDF or batches of files. Learn how to:

Create, manage and execute the new Actions capability in Acrobat X
Use the Action Wizard to automate routine tasks and increase productivity

Check it out: http://acrobatusers.com/events/50359/introducing-acrobat-x-actions

Developing the "Next" Generation of Leaders

2011-01-03T09:31:00.000-06:00

Houston ASTD Jan Event: In 2014 Generation Y will Grow from 25% of the current Workforce Worldwide to 47%. Will You and Your Organization Be Ready? As their numbers almost double in the next five years, what will Generation Y's effect on the WorkPlace be? Find out more in this fascinating 1/2 day Professional Development event!
Nicole Lipkin, PsyD, MBA President
Equilibria Coaching and Consulting Services
Wednesday, January 12,2011 8:00 AM to Wednesday, January 12,2011 11:30 AM

Audio and/or Text Rollover Tooltips for Articulate Presenter

2010-12-23T11:08:00.000-06:00

Love the rollover Flash widget for Articulate Presenter from eLearning Enhanced. Works like a charm and is a bargain at $25.

Create rollover "hotspots" on your Articulate Presenter slides with this Flash widget. When a learner's mouse hovers over a hotspot, this widget will play an audio file, display a text tooltip, or both! Design your slide as usual in Powerpoint/Articulate Presenter, insert "hotspotRollover.swf" onto each slide on which you want to have rollover audio/text tooltip hotspots, then publish. No Flash experience needed. Define as many hotspots on each slide as you want. Just edit the "hotspots.xml" file in any text editor after you publish your course to define your tooltip text, audio file, size, and position of each hotspot. Create multiple hotspots per slide and have multiple slides with hotspots in a single presentation.

Make sure you read the "Read Me' file and/or watch the demonstration movies before you use the widget.

Check it out: http://elearningenhanced.com/products/presenter

IT Manager's Guide to Social Networking - Free eBook

2010-12-23T09:16:00.002-06:00

Like it or not, your end users are probably using their computers and mobile devices to access social networking applications like Facebook and Twitter. While valuable tools for networking and keeping in touch, social networking sites can also expose your users to online malware. Download this Internet.com eBook for advice on keeping your users safe, help developing a social networking policy, and tips on how to make the most of social networking tools.

Check it out: http://www.internet.com/Internetcom/Door/41203/Internet.com-Sign-up-p1-v2?44434

Articulate Presenter Tip and SCREENR web-based recording

2010-12-20T11:11:00.000-06:00

I created my first "SCREENR" tutorial last week about adding an interactive PDF to an Articulate Presenter course via web objects.

The SCREENR program is a web-based recorder with no software to download. It's simple and works great. They make it easy to share too with mp4 download capabilities and youtube upload abilities.

Check it out: http://screenr.com/RYq

Free Webinar: The 7 Deadly Sins of Online Training (and How to Avoid Them)

2010-12-17T08:10:00.000-06:00

Date: Tuesday, January 11th, 2011, Time: 9 AM PST/ 12 PM EST

Moderator: James Hilliard, President, Hilly Productions

Speaker: Roger Courville, Principal, 1080 Group

Online training is a completely different ballgame than in-person training. Sure, you don't have to fret about what to wear or if you're trainees are going to smell the onions you ate at lunch, but you do have to worry about how to engage, interact, connect with and understand your audience - all while you can't even see them! Join Roger Courville, online presentation expert and author of The Virtual Presenter's Handbook, for a webinar on how to plan, design and present like an online training pro.

Attend this live webinar to discover how to:

Avoid the 7 most common online presentation mistakes
Design dynamic training presentations (no art degree required!)
Present - and train - like a pro

Free Mag - either as a PDF or for iPAD

2010-12-15T09:00:00.000-06:00

The best productivity bloggers send tips to Productive Magazine. You can download the magazine as a PDF or get each issue downloaded to your iPAD. Of course, you can also view the magazine online.

This month's issue features an article by Michael Hyatt - "How to shave 10 hours off your work week". A must read!

Check it out: http://www.productivefirm.com/magazine/

Encrypt a storage device such as USB flash drive

2010-12-13T12:24:00.000-06:00

Do you store company or personal data on USB flash drives? If so, consider using encryption software to keep your data safe. TrueCrypt is a software system for establishing and maintaining an on-the-fly-encrypted volume (data storage device). On-the-fly encryption means that data is automatically encrypted or decrypted right before it is loaded or saved, without any user intervention. No data stored on an encrypted volume can be read (decrypted) without using the correct password/keyfile(s) or correct encryption keys.

Check it out: http://www.truecrypt.org/

The 2010 ASTD State of the Industry Report is now available!

2010-12-13T09:11:00.002-06:00

ASTD estimates that U.S. organizations spent $125.88 billion on employee learning and development in 2009. This amount reflects direct learning expenditures such as the learning function's staff salaries, administrative learning costs, and non-salary delivery costs (including outsourced activities). Nearly two-thirds of the U.S. total ($78.6 billion) was spent on the internal learning function, such as staff salaries and internal development costs. The remainder ($47.3 billion) was allocated to external services such as workshops, vendors and external events.

These types of informative statistics appear in ASTD's annual State of the Industry Report.

Check it out: http://www.astd.org/content/research/stateOfIndustry.htm

Becoming a People-Driven Enterprise: How to Turn the Dials in Your Organization and Power Up Your People

2010-12-13T09:09:00.000-06:00

Free CLO Webinar: Thursday, Dec. 16, 2010 - 11 a.m. PT/2 p.m. ET

Organizations today must deal with a new business and economic climate that continues to change with unprecedented speed. Concurrently, effectively managing today’s organization is more demanding than ever due to a multigeneration workforce and increasing adoption of social media tools and mobile technologies. In this fast-moving presentation,Amar Dhaliwal, Saba, Senior Vice President, Product Operations Group will discuss the trends influencing the engagement and impact of your people, the key aspects of today’s business environment, and the central roles of creativity and innovation in meeting the challenges faced by institutions of all types and sizes.

Learn where menu and toolbar commands are in Office 2010 and related products

2010-12-03T07:37:00.000-06:00

Wondering where your favorite menu and toolbar commands are located in Office 2010?

Topics include:

Use an interactive guide to find commands
Get a printable list of Office 2010 commands and buttons: Office 2010 menu to ribbon reference workbooks
Install guides to multiple computers

Check it out: http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/outlook-help/learn-where-menu-and-toolbar-commands-are-in-office-2010-and-related-products-HA101794130.aspx

A roadmap to SharePoint Server 2007 training

2010-12-03T07:34:00.000-06:00

Need training materials for Microsoft Sharepoint 2007? The Microsoft Office website has a number of online courses as well as shorter PowerPoint versions of courses. Topics include:

Work with document libraries
Work with calendars
Work with slide libraries
Work with workflows
Work with Excel Services

Check it out: http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/training/sharepoint-server-2007-training-courses-HA010235858.aspx

Building Educational Business Games - Free Webinar Dec 15

2010-12-01T16:49:00.000-06:00

Wednesday, December 15th at 1:00pm EST - Forio's webinar on "How to Build an Educational Business Simulation or Game."

Reserve your Webinar seat now at: http://cts.vresp.com/c/?Forio/ca3b8e5139/627b6e615c/09a0211e42

Expert simulation developer Billy Schoenberg will host a 50 minute webinar using Simulate, a web-based development environment to create simulations using the drag-and-drop design tools.

Topics covered will include how to:

Provide faculty summaries of class results for easy review or grading.
Add faculty control over class scenarios so that the simulation can be used many times
Create both student and faculty login pages with different views of the simulation
Create multi-choice, short answer, and long answer surveys or quizzes within the simulation
Include facilitator guides, student guides, and videos into the simulation
Question and Answer session

Captivate Drag and Drop Lite Question Widget

2010-11-29T15:02:00.000-06:00

If you need an easy-to-use "true" drag and drop question application for training courses, check out this Captivate widget. "This amazing widget allows you to create engaging drag and drop questions using any image, caption, highlight box, button, or animation that you add to your Captivate stage."

You must have Captivate 4 or higher to create the interaction BUT you can incorporate the files that it creates in other training applications besides Captivate like Articulate Presenter ( as a web object).

Check it out: http://www.infosemantics.com.au/catalog/widgets/question/wdgt_dragAndDropLite_AS3

Digital storytelling tool including augmented reality

2010-11-18T17:05:00.000-06:00

ZooBurst is a digital storytelling tool that lets anyone easily create his or her own 3D pop-up books. Readers who have a webcam installed on their computer can also experience any ZooBurst book in Augmented Reality. Sign up for a free account and test it out.

Check it out: http://www.zooburst.com/index.php

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpmqs7Yn8VU

Adobe Online Learning Resource Center

2010-11-18T16:43:00.000-06:00

The Adobe Online Learning Resource Center is a great resource for online learning documentation. The site features a number of white papers including step-by-step instructions for Adobe Cativate tasks such as "Using Master Slides in Captivate" and "Adding Adobe Presentations to PDF documents".

Check it out: http://www.adobe.us/education/resources/hed/instructional/connect/collaborative_teaching/

Largest Houston-Area Training Companies

2010-11-15T13:11:00.000-06:00

Creative Interactive Ideas made the Largest Houston-Area Training Companies list (Houston Business Journal). We've made the list every year since 2007.

Free Webinar: How to Use Video in Effective Social Learning

2010-11-04T10:55:00.000-05:00

Date: Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Time: 10:00 AM Pacific / 1:00 PM Eastern

Join Training magazine on Tuesday, November 16 for this complimentary Webinar, sponsored by Saba, and learn to incorporate rich video content into enterprise social learning platforms.

In our personal lives, we increasingly use YouTube, Flickr, and Facebook to share video instantly with friends and family. Yet, most training content in enterprise and academic training is still predominantly "textual" or old-school.

In the one-hour Webinar, join Milind Pansare, expert speaker in the fields of Enterprise 2.0 and Enterprise Web 2.0 technologies, and discover two emerging trends in learning: using video as the medium of choice for learning and the emergent use of enterprise business networking technologies to power social learning.

Register Now

Free Webinar: What Content Consumers are doing Online today and Why it matters in Technical Communication

2010-10-19T14:41:00.000-05:00

When: Wednesday, October 27, 2010 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM US/Pacific

Description: In this interactive eSeminar, RJ Jacquez, Senior Product Evangelist from the Technical Communication Group in Adobe Systems, will present key trends in online content consumption (both technical communication and non-technical communication), as well as explore practical ideas for leveraging these trends and for delivering engaging experiences that consumers expect from everything they do in today’s world, including the way they consume technical documentation.

Click HERE for Event Details and Registration

Going global? Check out pre-recorded webinar and articles

2010-10-19T08:43:00.000-05:00

I found some great research on developing e-Learning in a global environment and wanted to share it with you.

The Impact of Cultural Differences on Learning and Teaching - What it Means for eLearning - 1-hour recorded webinar, done for Walden University by Dr. Edmundson, explaining how educational and corporate organizations need to accommodate the cultural differences of learners in other countries to be successful.
http://www.waldenu.edu/Media/31878.htm?height=700&width=870

Developing e-Learning Modules Across Languages and Cultures: Lessons Learned
http://www.learningsolutionsmag.com/articles/105/developing-e-learning-modules-across-languages-and-cultures-lessons-learned

Learning Beyond Borders by Deanna Hartley - Chief Learning Officer magazine presents an article on going global. International learning leaders are required to grapple with thorny issues, such as the role of local context in content development, solutions to language barriers and finding the right balance between centralized and decentralized learning.

http://www.clomedia.com/features/2009/April/2596/index.php

DO NOT MISS - Meet Dave Anderson (Articulate) for a Houston ASTD-sponsored "jam" session

2010-10-11T13:13:00.000-05:00

Thursday, October 28, 2010: FREE Event: 9am – 12pm
Stewart & Stevenson Training Center
581 Garden Oaks Blvd., Houston, TX 77018
Register: http://astdhouston.org/en/cev/471
Jam Sessions are an informal user group meeting designed to bring together local Articulate users for some practical tips & tricks training on all things Articulate. Dave will available to answer your questions and show you some quick tips & tricks. If you want to bring your projects, we can look at them together.

This casual and informal event is open to anyone who wants to learn to create more engaging e-learning with Articulate. It is a free event but space is limited to the first 25 people who register. You do not have to be a member of ASTD to attend.

About the Presenter: Dave Anderson is an E-Learning designer with more than 13 years of experience in online training. His portfolio includes designing custom E-Learning for NASCAR, Mercedes, Tufts University, Delta and America West Airlines.

As Community Manager at Articulate, he works with Articulate's e-Learning community, helping users get the most from their tools while finding creative ways to build more engaging courses. He also shares e-Learning tips and tricks through his screencasts.

Free webinar: How to Use Video to Increase Learning

2010-10-06T13:02:00.000-05:00

Date: Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Time: 10:00 AM Pacific / 1:00 PM Eastern
Sponsored by Training Network Magazine
Video is an effective way for training organizations to capture knowledge from wherever it is in the organization. The training organization is in a unique position to harness this collective knowledge and make it compelling, accessible and reusable by the organization.

In this one-hour Webinar, you will learn:

• How easy it can be to capture an organization's knowledge with video
• How video can be used for formal and informal learning
• Examples of how video is used by best in class organizations
• How video content can be the basis for enterprise collaboration
• What video in the enterprise really looks like

Check it out: https://sas.elluminate.com/site/external/event/description?instance_id=27685

Elearning! Summit Virtual Event - Free! November 4, 2010

2010-10-06T12:45:00.000-05:00

Join 1,600+ government, corporate and learning executives to hear the experts share their case studies, technology implementations and best practices at this live virtual event.

The summit is free of charge to industry professionals. No travel. No cost.

Check it out: http://events.unisfair.com/index.jsp?eid=630&seid=31

Wikimedia Commons

2010-10-05T12:00:00.000-05:00

Wikimedia Commons is a media file repository (images, sounds and videos) making available public domain and freely-licensed education media content as long as the source and authors are credited.

Check it out: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Main_Page

HP Training Manager: How to Turn Training Seen as “Cost” into Training Seen as “Investment”

2010-10-04T08:59:00.000-05:00

Interesting interview with VS Girish Kumar - Center Training Manager in Hewlett-Packard’s (HP) Training and Knowledge Management department.

Check it out: http://tiny.cc/z0rha

A Play Date with the iPad: Real People Experience Apple's New Tablet

2010-09-21T08:26:00.000-05:00

According to a research report from Ball State University titled “A Play Date with the iPad,” the iPad is best for leisure activities. It found that content creation is too difficult on the device but ideal for content consumption.

The free white paper is available for download through BSU.
Check it out: https://www.bsu.edu/webapps2/cmdreports/product_select.asp?product_id=30

Be Safe on the Internet: i-SAFE education

2010-09-17T06:40:00.001-05:00

Surviving in this day and age is as much about activities in Cyberspace as it is one’s physical health and safety. Even if you are not a regular online user, the Internet may provide information about you or your family to others in areas such as association Web sites newsletters, extended family Web sites, and public directory services. The bottom line is that everyone needs to be aware of the potentials for Internet safety and security problems, and to determine how to limit personal risk. i-SAFE has created a series of instruction especially for adults who use the Internet.

i-SAFE Inc. is a leading publisher of media literacy and digital citizenship education materials and programming with worldwide distribution channels. Founded in 1998 and supported by the U.S. Congress and various executive agencies of the U.S. government,

I found the program, iFifty, to be of particular interest, when teaching my mom about the Internet. She's almost 80 and is just learning to use the computer.

Access to the program is free. There are five options with five different users in mind. Those registered as educators with i-SAFE have the greatest access to view the modules because you work closely with students and parents. Those registered as parents and fifty+ have access to either of those modules since many users fit both categories. However, students are limited to the i-MENTOR Training Network. And the Operation i-SHIELD module is reserved for those in law enforcement.

Check it out: http://ilearn.isafe.org/