LearnDash

OCTOBER 29, 2012

Education technology has certainly grown over the past century, to the point where the technology itself is becoming more than just a medium of knowledge exchange. While this infographic from Rasmussen College provides nice little tidbits of information, I couldn’t help but notice the glaring gap between the 1930s and 1996. Really? Nothing noteworthy in the Ed-tech realm during this 66yr span??

Learning Management System 180

Learning Management System LMS Images Education 180

LearnDash

MAY 17, 2012

Most of us in this field know that Instructional Design is here to stay, but occasionally there are people who pop-up claiming that “this training fluff” is just a fad – that it doesn’t do the company any good – that it is a waste of dollars, so on and so forth. This can sometimes be frustrating, especially when you come across that really snarky engineer who believes the lifeblood of the company is all about math and numbers.

Instructional Design 179

Instructional Design Instructional Instruction Design 179

LearnDash

MAY 8, 2012

Instructional design jobs are out there, but many ID professionals find themselves without work, doing pro-bono until they ultimately lose interest in the field. The sad thing is, many IDers have the ability to improve their chances at landing contract work, even full-time engagements, if they just altered their approach. Here is some food for thought.

Instructional Design 177

Instructional Design Job Instructional Instruction 177

LearnDash

APRIL 12, 2012

The Learning Management System for WordPress is well underway and will eventually need Beta testers. This is an extremely important role for this project as the beta testers will shape the program to what it will become. So if you are interested in potentially being a beta tester in the future for WordPress LMS, sign up using the form below. ( Note: Because the large interest in this project, I cannot guarantee that you will be selected as a tester).

LMS 176

LMS Learning Management System Project Roles 176

LearnDash

JULY 4, 2012

eLearning has been around for quite some time now, but now more than ever is it essential to the future of business, in more ways than one. It doesn’t matter what industry an organization is in, they all have the two same objectives: Increase revenue. Decrease cost. Any organization that can do these two things successfully is going to find itself in the black and well ahead of their competition.

Blended Learning 172

Blended Learning Organization Corporate eLearning eLearning Strategy 172

LearnDash

AUGUST 17, 2012

The benefits of instructional design are rapidly gaining visibility in the corporate world as it is becoming more essential for companies to track productivity against continually learning and adaptation. This is all good news, especially to those of us that make a living in this field. As many will attest, however, it can sometimes be a daily battle to make people care (or at least to have people take ID seriously).

Instructional Design 171

Instructional Design Instructional Instruction Design 171

LearnDash

NOVEMBER 16, 2012

Ever since the first video game was created for entertainment, educators have been cooking up ways to incorporate gaming methodology into learning environments. I can recall when I was younger being forced to play these educational games, some of which I quite enjoyed (anyone remember Number Munchers?). Fast forward to today and I find educational gaming to be, I dunno, rather lame.

Games 170

Games Education Evalution Learning Environment 170

LearnDash

APRIL 25, 2012

When creating and delivering any type of learning, there is one thing that will surely kill your productivity 100% of the time. Many people, even outside of our community, suffer from this all-but-too-common trap which sucks the life out of your training and out of you. The sad part: this can be avoided by taking a few simple steps. The #1 killer in learning development productivity?

Simulations 170

Simulations Develop Effectiveness Association LMS 170

LearnDash

AUGUST 1, 2012

Did you know that there are over 1 BILLION people currently in a training course? In fact, over 4.5 million students are currently taking one course online. This may seem surprising, but it makes perfect sense when you consider that 40% of every dollar spent on training is spent on travel costs. It's no surprise that our industry is growing by leaps and bounds as technology opens an entire world of possibilities.

Industry 169

Industry Statistics Mobile Learning Learning 169

LearnDash

MAY 4, 2012

Many people trying to get into the field of instructional design ultimately have the same question: what does an instructional designer do? The answer to this question isn't very simple as it depends on a variety of factors, but Joel Gardner gives his high level explanation as to what instructional design consists of, and what is the role of the instructional designer.

Instructional Design 169

Instructional Design Instructional Instruction Design 169

LearnDash

APRIL 19, 2012

Spice up your e-Learning with these 150+ cartoon character graphics absolutely FREE from WordPress LMS! Below are a few samples of the characters, shown here in multiple situations which you can easily edit. Change character colors just as you would change the color of any shape in a PowerPoint presentation. . Download the graphics by clicking the button below. .

Free 167

Free Examples Sample Social Networks 167

LearnDash

APRIL 17, 2012

Some of these may be obvious to you, while others may surprise you. If you are starting out in the learning industry (instructional design, LMS administrator, etc.), or even if you are seasoned pro, you should absolutely know about these different learning sites. Of course, this doesn't mean that you need to visit them daily; pick the ones that speak to you and run with them. 1.

ISPI 167

ISPI Industry Website Rapid Intake 167

LearnDash

APRIL 13, 2012

Source: [link]. It seems like every day there is another e-Learning tool claiming to be the be-all, end-all for e-learning development. This is pretty nice since it means that the industry is really starting to take off, although I can't help but wonder if there are some companies out there who are trying to make a quick buck rather than really create something useful for instructional designers.

Adobe Captivate 167

Adobe Captivate Tools Oracle Simulations 167

LearnDash

APRIL 10, 2012

Click on Image for Larger View. This PowerPoint slide released by the U.S. Pentagon is a great example of how PowerPoint has actually become counter-productive in regards to learning. This is also the reason why any training developed with a PowerPoint based e-Learning tool should be careful not to fall into the same similar, predictable content delivery patterns.

Slides 166

Slides Images PowerPoint Articulate 166

LearnDash

DECEMBER 25, 2012

Merry Christmas! I hope that everyone is having a relaxing time with their friends and family this holiday. I am resting myself, but couldn’t keep my thoughts away from the LearnDash WordPress LMS plugin for very long – so here I am! (I need to type rather quietly though as I have a few people taking a nap around me). I have already made some predictions about what is to come for e-learning in 2013 , but here I am to make yet another.

LMS 162

LMS Calendar Moodle Learning Management System 162

LearnDash

MAY 27, 2012

For those of you that haven't heard, Articulate has came up with a new eLearning authoring tool called Storyline. So far all features look promising, but there is one thing that could ruin this program completely, at least in my opinion, before it even gets out of the gate. Rather than describe what Articulate Storyline does , let me just cut to the chase: if Articulate Storyline doesn't "play nice" with Adobe Captivate then it's a failure.

Articulate 162

Articulate Adobe Captivate Authoring Tools Captivate 162

LearnDash

MAY 9, 2012

Everyone these days wants their LMS to do something unique or something special. Wouldn't it be nice if these "LMS wishes" were put together in one place? Well, now they are. A recent study released by RedTray believes they have found the top 10 most wished LMS features. The results of their study can be found in an ebook that they put together.

LMS 161

LMS Virtual Classroom ROI Examples 161

LearnDash

MAY 10, 2012

Not all of us in instructional design can whip up a professionally altered photo in Photoshop. Try these 3 FREE alternatives instead! Personally I find Photoshop tool rather confusing (I know I'm not the only one), so I more often than not use one of these tools to get the job done 10x faster. If you don't have the time to read Photoshop tutorials and you just want to make your pictures look great (with effects, cleaning them up, or just altering their output file), then you'll find great use i

Photoshop 160

Photoshop Alternatives Free Adobe 160

LearnDash

APRIL 16, 2012

It has been 10 years, give or take, since the last major SCORM update was introduced to the learning community. SCORM 2004 was a great evolution from 2.1, but can the same be said about the upcoming Tin Can API ? Unfortunately, I think not. Let me first make something crystal clear: I want the new SCORM Tin Can API to flourish. I think the concept behind it is a very good direction for SCORM and the learning field overall.

SCORM 157

SCORM LMS Adoption Adopt 157

LearnDash

OCTOBER 3, 2012

Whether e-learning professionals care to admit it or note, there is generally a negative perception associated with corporate-wide e-learning initiatives From our point of view, e-learning creation is fun, simulating, challenging, dynamic, and essential to a progressive organization … but in many cases, this is not how it is viewed from the learner perspective.

Sexual Harassment Training 155

Sexual Harassment Training Harassment Training Compliance Training Simulations 155

LearnDash

JULY 9, 2012

Adobe eLearning Suite 6 is starting to generate quite a lot of buzz. I for one am eager to see Adobe’s reaction to the highly supported Articulate Storyline. Let’s face it, Articulate has raised the bar a bit, so Adobe really needs to make a splash with this one. For the uninitiated, Adobe eLearning suite is actually a package of different programs all geared towards enhancing eLearning creation.

Suite 155

Suite Adobe Adobe Presenter Photoshop 155

LearnDash

MARCH 29, 2012

If you make a living creating e-Learning and Instructor-led courses, then you need to know about these four tricks and tools that will bolster any learning development initiative. Don’t get me wrong, I know that the real effectiveness of training comes from the “meat” – the planning, content, flow, and so forth… but there’s nothing wrong with a little “seasoning”, and these little gems are sure to do the trick, whether you are creating training for the web or for a workshop.

Resources 155

Resources Free Poll PowerPoint 155

LearnDash

SEPTEMBER 3, 2012

The chatter on Tin-Can API has started to pick up, including the number of early adopters. I suppose this is a good thing and a step in the right direct. In fact, it was our intention to also be part of the early adopter list with our initial release as there are certainly some great benefits in the learning realm in regards to Tin-Can. That said, I have to say that LearnDash’s adventure into Tin-Can has been rather, well, frustrating… to the point where we might need to table it for a future re

SCORM 154

SCORM Adoption Adopt Standards 154

LearnDash

APRIL 27, 2012

This is a sure fire way for ANY company, or individual, to enjoy free training on any subject they desire. I couldn't help but laugh at this one - let's hope that organizations don't catch on! If you found this funny, take a 5min break at work and take a look at some of the others. Enjoy the weekend everyone! -Justin. Tweet.

Free 154

Free Training Train Companies 154

LearnDash

SEPTEMBER 12, 2012

Massive Open Online Courses (or MOOCs) are becoming a legitimate powerhouse in the realm of further education, forcing large institutions to take notice. Today, it is not uncommon to see prominent universities like Stanford, University of Michigan, Duke, and Princeton (to name a few) jumping onto the MOOC bandwagon, spreading their brand, and educating thousands in the process.

MySpace 152

MySpace YouTube Social Networks Facebook 152

LearnDash

NOVEMBER 20, 2012

Instructional designers are constantly being challenged to create something that is not only engaging and entertaining, but ultimately something that is effective. Sadly, this can cause us to become lazy, relying too heavily upon flashy tools and gimmicks instead of (more importantly) the distribution of the message. The most successful designers in our field leverage the tools at their disposal to enhance their learning, but only after effectively implementing an ancient technique, one develope

Authoring Tools 151

Authoring Tools Instructional Design Upgrade Instructional 151

LearnDash

OCTOBER 7, 2012

One of the things we are most excited about for our WordPress LMS here at LearnDash is the fact that it is actually built by the eventual users. We put a lot of importance on the suggestions we receive from the community, particularly on our UserVoice site and the emails that we receive. Admittedly, we cannot be all things to everyone, so I’m sure that there will be some people who prefer different functionality (and hey, perhaps it will eventually make its way into the solution given e

Consulting 150

Consulting Hosting Site LMS 150

LearnDash

APRIL 26, 2012

Despite the various forms of eLearning development, there is a proven strategy that will go a long way in increasing the effectiveness of your eLearning. For many out there, this might be engrained in your phsyche; the basis for every training you develop – but for many professionals entering the field, you can use this as a general guide on how all your training should be developed.

Instructional Design 150

Instructional Design Simulations Instructional Instruction 150

LearnDash

AUGUST 17, 2012

The benefits of instructional design are rapidly gaining visibility in the corporate world as it is becoming more essential for companies to track productivity against continually learning. This is all good news, especially to those of us that make a living in this field. As many will attest, however, it can sometimes be a daily battle to make people care (or at least to have people take ID seriously).

Instructional Design 148

Instructional Design Instructional Instruction Design 148

LearnDash

JUNE 12, 2012

Not too long ago I wrote a post about my initial reaction to Articulate Storyline and its relation to Adobe Captivate. The post itself attracted a lot of attention, many of the comments passionately defending Storyline. It seems one thing is abundantly clear since Storyline has come onto the scene: the comparisons between the two programs is at an all time high.

Adobe Captivate 146

Adobe Captivate Articulate Adobe Captivate 146

LearnDash

APRIL 29, 2012

Here is your chance to suggest a feature you want included in WordPress LMS! We want to make this solution as useful to the most number of people as possible, and that's why we need your help! By submitting your suggestion(s) we will know what is important to our community in a WordPress LMS. . Want us to host the LMS? Let us know! Prefer a plugin download?

LMS 146

LMS Metrics Hosting Ideas 146

LearnDash

NOVEMBER 11, 2012

After months of collecting your suggestions for functionality you would like to see in a WordPress LMS, we have finalized the core features that will be present in the initial release of the LearnDash. First, thank you to all who wrote us and provided their input – our WordPress LMS plugin is truly a product of your suggestions. This entire process, while rewarding, did prove to be challenging at times.

LMS 143

LMS Site Learning Management System Lesson 143

LearnDash

JULY 13, 2012

A few days ago we administered a quick poll to those interested in the WordPress LMS project. The one question poll asked users to indicate how they would prefer to WPLMS to be offered: as a one-time download vs. a hosted solution. The reason behind this poll was to get a better idea of what people want. Below are the results: 325 responses. 76% prefer to download the LMS. 24% prefer WPLMS to host/customize the LMS.

Poll 142

Poll LMS Hosting Trends 142

LearnDash

NOVEMBER 5, 2012

WordPress is awesome – at least we certainly think so! As a blogging platform, CMS, and soon LMS via LearnDash , WordPress offers flexibility beyond any open-source software available today. In the educational space, WordPress is really starting to make a name for itself. For example, the ultra-popular website EDU Blogs hosts teacher and faculty blogs at some of the most prestigious institutions all over the world, helping to foster engagement between teacher and student beyond just the cl

Performance 141

Performance LMS Video Open Source 141

LearnDash

JUNE 27, 2012

As many learning professionals know, mLearnCon has recently taken place showcasing many of the today’s leading practices and technologies for mobile learning. This conference, put on by the eLearning Guild , is the only conference dedicated to mobile learning today. The conference gives a glimpse into where e-Learning and mLearning is headed in the near future, and one of the topics many looked forward hearing about was the announcement of Tin-Can API.

Benefits 141

Benefits eLearning Guild SCORM AICC 141

LearnDash

JUNE 17, 2012

As most learning professionals know, an effective training initiative needs meaningful measurables, and one of the easiest ways to capture these metrics is by one of the many survey sites available today. One of the leading players in this field is SurveyMonkey, a easy to use SaaS that enables you to create and track surveys to your heart's content.

Alternatives 141

Alternatives Free Metrics Survey 141

LearnDash

MAY 11, 2012

This idea isn't revolutionary by any means, but I keep thinking about how useful it could be for learning professionals, companies, and any other organization. The idea first came to me after reading some feedback on someone who suggested a feature for WPLMS. In some respects this may already be in place (if so, please share!) but even if it is, I think it should/could become a norm.

Ideas 141

Ideas Course Software LMS 141