November 2nd, 2009 by Melissa

Online training has revolutionized the learning and training experience as we know it. Not too long ago we were still using windows dos, dial up, computers the size of an entire room, and big floppy disks. Now we live in an age where we have streamline laptops, portable computers that we can take with us. We have internet on our smart phones, and wireless internet connection. The internet has slowly but surely become an indispensible resource that most of us use continually throughout the day. It has been created into a streamline convenient instrument for us to gain minute by minute updates, and enable continuous communication with people all over the world.

So if we are able to take the internet with us, why can’t we take learning portable too? This advanced technology has enabled learning to take place in the home with various online training curriculums, whether it is for higher education, organizational or government training. The variety in courses is vast, making it easy to find credible courses that pertain to the need for any specific individual. Some specialty Colleges have based degrees on the online learning platform, and various content creating or eLearning companies are receiving government grants for organizational training as well as school training to educate them on health and safety via online training.

New advances within online training module’s are state of the art, bringing 3D graphics, interactive courses, quizzes, and videos with sound and picture into the mix, as well as 24/7 mentorship with highly trained instructors who are available at the learner’s disposal to ensure full comprehension is achieved. With so many style options that these courses provide, learners are exposed to different types of training that could enhance productivity, comprehension, and creativity.

Among the revolution of online training in the education systems, Organizational training is receiving revisions as well. Organizational training no longer means outdated, long, and uninteresting training videos that are played in an isolated room. Online modules and interactive curriculum enables employees to gain working experience as they learn new systems and make the mundane training something that is enjoyable and effective.

As efficient and convenient online training has proven to be, an additional bonus to this new method of learning is the varietal topics of courses made available on the web. For students looking for higher education, they have multiple options of language courses, science courses and math courses. For those in the IT industry they have various system training courses that stay current as new updates within systems and platforms are created. Certifications, such as A+, Network +, Security + in the IT industry, as well as driver, helicopter, first aid and safety certifications are just a few certifications that are offered.

Online training truly is changing the way we think about learning and the mundane training that normally is included when we enter into new positions in the workforce, new systems are implemented or those annually required safety or corporate training seminars. Just as computers and the internet has been streamlined and made portable, training and education is following suit.

February 24th, 2009 by Learning Systems

Say you’re playing a video for students as part of a learning system lesson. Sure, everyone may be enjoying the video, but it’s your duty to be strong! Remember: You have concrete goals for this lesson, and you won’t let something like pure, passive enjoyment foil them. 

Press the pause button. When integrating videos into a classroom learning system, the pause button is your best ally. The pause button is there to help you achieve success in video effectiveness.

Be lavish. Use the pause button as often as you like. Stop a scene and have students predict what will happen next. Stop a line of dialogue and let students predict the next line. Freeze-frame a scene and have students evaluate what they are watching. Press pause and ask rapid-fire questions to check for students’ critical viewing. When you take advantage of the power of Pause, you transform a passive viewing experience into an interactive learning system.

December 8th, 2008 by Learning Systems

Many game worlds are springing up that bind interaction in the virtual world to the purchase of a toy. Webkinz, Funkeys, TyGirls and BarbieGirls are just a few virtual worlds created and run by toy makers. But do children really think of virtual worlds in terms of a consumerist learning system? Aren’t they more interested in having fun, and do they really pay much attention to the advertising inserted into their fantasy worlds?

Many argue that advertising in virtual world learning systems isn’t as big a deal as we may believe. Mark Hanson, director of business development for Lego Universe, claimed that children are very good at identifying the underlying ethic of a virtual world.

For me, Lord Puttnam’s words ring true: “The challenge ahead is this–to ensure that virtual worlds are increasingly places that offer real meaning to their [children's] lives and in the real world to learn from the sense of community and collaboration that’s been experienced in virtual worlds.”

December 8th, 2008 by Learning Systems

A decade ago, there were just 182 million people using the internet globally. By the end of this month, there will be over 1.5 billion internet users worldwide. With more children using the internet as a learning system and social medium, and with increasingly easy access to social networks and entertainment like virtual worlds, there’s reason to look closely at the systems children are engaging in. Both positive and negative influences multiply along with the world’s increasing access to broadband.

Virtual worlds have the power to offer a skill-building and values-instilling learning system for children. But while virtual worlds have potential to effect positive developments in children, many people argue that right now it generally isn’t doing so.

At the 2007 Virtual Worlds Forum in London, Lord Puttnam expressed his concerns about the negative effects of virtual worlds on children. “Might we not prefer to build worlds that encourage those same values and skills we wish them to exercise in the real world?” Puttnam posed. Many virtual worlds end up providing only a shallow, consumerist learning system for young people. 

December 4th, 2008 by Learning Systems

Organizing a virtual team is a process made a great deal easier by a robust learning management system. Training for team members can be organized and performed internationally, linking a company learning management system to its various human resources departments and ERP systems, to perform multi-locational, cost-effective and efficient training. 

But what kind of virtual team is right for your company purposes? There are a few basic types of virtual teams: networked teams, parallel teams, project and product-development teams, work or production teams, service teams, management teams, and action teams. Each serve a distinct purpose and may require various degrees of direct management and learning management system aid. Understanding the different functions of these virtual teams is the first step to ensuring success in your company’s virtual team.

December 2nd, 2008 by Learning Systems

As it is now, virtual worlds are being used by businesses mostly to sell products, rather than to take the place of LMSs. For example in Second Life, your avatar can test-drive a Toyota Scion or shop in a virtual American Apparel store. And not only does IBM use virtual worlds for LMS purposes like connecting employees to each other and to customers, but it has built a Circuit City and a Sears appliance store in Second Life as demonstration projects. But just how effective is in-world advertising in selling real products? The answer is unclear.

Sandy Kearney, director of IBM’s virtual worlds program, says “Based on the history of the internet, we think this is a stabilizing period for the 3D web.” Kearney predicts that just as new kinds of businesses–such as LMS and online courseware companies–were born on the web, new businesses will be created around the 3D web. 

December 2nd, 2008 by Learning Systems

Given all the present obstacles in software like Second Life, is it possible that businesses will come to see virtual worlds as a communicative, organizational, and profitable economic platform? Will virtual worlds take over functions that a learning management system now serves? 

If virtual worlds are destined to become the new learning management system, it’s wise of companies to start investing now. Sandy Kearney, director of IBM’s virtual worlds program, insists that the transition is coming. And she predicts that “you many not have as much time as you had with the web” to adjust to its impact. The time it took to get used to a learning management system or other workplace tools may feel like centuries compared with the short time we’ll have to adjust to the sudden omnipresence of virtual worlds in the workplace. 

December 1st, 2008 by Learning Systems

Companies using a learning management system for their online training may consider integrating a virtual world. Virtual worlds allow students to carry out tasks that could be difficult or impossible in the real world, due to restrictions or circumstances including personal, financial, locational or schedule constraints. 

Just as training directors can use a learning management system to upload presentation videos and instructional demos, students can enter a virtual world to access the same material. But virtual worlds also offer optimal student engagement in the learning system. Learners create an avatar, or a virtual world presence, to interact with fellow trainees and training directors. 

When efficiently implemented and coordinated, a virtual world allows learners to get involved in the content to a degree that a traditional learning management system course doesn’t quite achieve.