Demo of Meridian LMS January 29, 2010

I’m finding myself taking a few LMS tours lately. This recent demonstration of Meridian, though, was for an up-coming project. This is one of the large-scale LMSs that I have looked at, and am very impressed by the robust functionality and customizability of the product, which includes features both for the public and private sectors (e.g. e-commerce for charging for courses), but of course, everything can be scaled down to fit the streamlined needs of a small organization.

I’ll report on the ramp-up needs after working with the system hands-on. Stay tuned.

Learning How to Balance the Maryland Budget January 20, 2010

Oh Maryland, my Maryland. Actually no, I’m not a Marylander, and do not visit the state often enough. However, you can still get a little taste of what it’s like to serve the people of the Old Line State through a nifty little game created by the University of Baltimore. The Maryland Budget Game was created to teach children (and possibly adult voting residents?) a thing or two about the glamorous world of balancing the state budget.

Given a budget deficit and a map of government departments, you can decide which expenditures to keep, options for increasing revenue, and options to reduce the budget.  The game lets you know how different interest groups react to your decisions.

As a tool for young learners, it would be nice to have a broader summary for the exercise.  However, this game has obviously drawn political attention from a larger audience of adult voters who have posted comments about the game on a “Baltimore Sun” forum.

Whichever way your political compass points, take an independent look at this tool for game-based learning inspiration.

Repassing Udutu December 4, 2009

A while ago I posted a quick link to Udutu (wwww.udutu.com), a free web-based e-learning development tool. Well, over the past two months I have had the chance to take it out for a spin with a team of ISD graduate students. Here are just a few highlights of what we found:

• Easy loading of content using a simple CMS interface
• The only e-Learning system so far with a Facebook application to distribute content
• Hosting options through your own website or through Udutu (for a fee)
• Scorm 2004 and 1.2 compliance
• 508 compliant templates clearly marked
• Great support from the Udutu team (priceless!)
• An easy-to-read manual (short, for manualphobes)

We also found a few areas for improvement, especially in the assessments, which, even with the large number of assessment options, does not allow a link to a document on any of the assessment pages. Oh well, this product is still in development and is free. I am chalking that one up to a suggestion for improvement. The Facebook feature brings quick distribution and course management to a wide audience quickly, especially a younger audience. Overall we liked it.

What is your experience with Udutu?

“A Simple Numerical Philippic”, or “How I was Infographicked into Submission” October 6, 2009

Not long ago, as just a wee kid, I was a cynic about anything related to statistics. Now, how life has changed. New graphics software and programs make presenting numbers a teaching moment to behold, make information easy to digest, and tell a story that even a non-believer could understand.

Add clarity to your training by presenting the story, the trends, and the facts behind the numbers using graphics the right way. Randy Krum’s blog, Cool Infographics is a great starting point to learning how to translate the digits into something the learner can explore and understand.

(FYI: This entry title is a hat-tip to Simon and Garfunkel)

Discount Software for Learning Developers and Students August 15, 2009

If you are a student, faculty, or instructor at an accredited institution of learning, you may qualify to buy software at reduced prices, sometimes as much as 70% off. 

This is great news if, like me, you are headed back to school to enhance or change your career, or if your children require software for school.  Many e-Learning and graphic design tools are for sale online, including most, if not all major Adobe products.

My research did not find Articulate’s products for sale at any of the popular academic software sites.  Articulate’s website discussion board indicates that academic discounts may be offered through Articulate directly for purchases of multiple licenses, so consider contacting Articulate as a group if you are taking a class that would require their products.  Trivantis’s website indicates that they offer discounts for academic institutions and government organizations through a GSA schedule, but does not indicate discount pricing for individual students.

In general, supplies are usually limited to one unit of an application per person, and you must provide proof that you (or your child) is enrolled at an accredited institution.

Some of my favorite sites include:

• Academic Superstore (also see their GradWare site)
• JourneyEd

A quick online search will list more sites.  University bookstores also participate in academic software discounts, but I found better prices, and more choices, online than at the campus bookstore. 

As always, remember to do your homework before purchasing software from any online source to ensure quality service and timely delivery, especially if you need to receive a particular product before the start of class.

New e-Reader Technology – Plastic Logic July 20, 2009

Move over, Kindle, Plastic Logic offers a light-weight, large screen capable of displaying periodicals and newspapers as well as books. Will it be the salvation of newspapers the world over? Only time will tell.

In the meantime, this new technology could pose a great opportunity to make educational and reference content more readily available to learners in a way that is more portable and easier to read. Limited release of the product is scheduled for the second half of 2009, but dates and pricing are not yet set.  Wide release is scheduled for 2010.

For more information: http://www.plasticlogic.com/ereader/index.php

Free E-Learning Authoring Tool June 3, 2009

Udutu

Do you have a favorite freebie, cheapie, or goodie? Add a comment with the link.

Inspirational e-Games February 9, 2009

“e-Games” is my spur-of-the-moment expression.  Perhaps “video game” is what was really meant.  Anyway, I found a set of fun cognitive games at Lumosity, a site developed by San Francisco-based Lumos Labs, to sharpen your cognitive skills.

Flash-based games like Monster Garden flash images of childish monsters on the screen, after which you create a path for the little girl to follow to a garden plant.  Then there’s Word Bubbles, a game in which you must create as many real words as you can think of that begin with a given 3-letter combination, while a buzzer ticks down to zero. 

Each of the games at Lumosity exercise one or more cognitive abilities simultaneously.  The system keeps score during the game, and calculates a Brain Performance Index (BPI) score.  As you improve with each game, the games become gradually more challenging.  The system keeps track of your progress over multiple sessions using charts to help you see your own mental improvement over time. 

Lumosity’s program begins with the basic course, a set of games that exercise each cognitive skill in the system.  After completing the basics, you can sign up for any of the advanced courses, such as Speed Boost, Memory Boost, Basic Training: High School Version (with SAT/ACT prep exercises), and Advanced Attention Training (currently in development, targeting symptoms of ADD).

At first glance, Lumosity’s site is simple to navigate and friendly for any user.  Users sign up for monthly or annual membership, but there is a 7-day free trial. 

Overall, the games are fun, engaging, and inspirational for any e-learning developer.

DYI Multi-Point Interactive Whiteboards January 5, 2009

Johnny Lee should win the award for the cleverist idea of 2008.  For anyone in training or communications who did not get the multi-point interactive whiteboard they wanted in their Christmas stocking, Johnny Chung Lee has come up with a do-it-yourself alternative using the Wii technology for a fraction of the price. 

Click here to link to his page

Fast and Easy Animations with Gizmoz December 23, 2008

Add an engaging touch to your courses using Gizmoz. This free tool lets you create 3D talking head animations that lipsynch any message.  Pick an animation from their library or upload your own image, then upload a recording or type a text message, and let Gizmoz do the rest.

Use this tool to bring characters to life, make up your own animated spokesperson, or create a characature of yourself. Slipping an animation into an online quiz or as a transition message is sure to engage learners of any age.

http://www.gizmoz.com