Tech4learning

Rapid Training Simulations

Many of the rapid e-learning tools on the market today, with some careful planning, can be used to create training simulations of the type where you are trying to replicate a customer interaction, an appraisal meeting or a sales call, for example.

But if I was producing a lot of these, I'd be very interested in the KDSimStudio product from KnowledgeDynamics, not least because my first projects could use the free version of their software.  You can create your simulations by using a combination of wizards and drag and drop features.

As well as creating typical conversations with branching scenarios, you can also add in so-called "coaching tips".

The finished simulations are published in the popular Flash format.

This demo module was produced using the free version.  The free version allows you to have up to 2 characters in the simulation, but for £73 you can upgrade to their lite version, which permits up to 4 characters and an unlimited number of conversation objects.

More advanced Designer and Professional versions are on the way too.

Igniting PowerPoint

I've recently mentioned the fact that it's now possible to create podcasts based on narrated PowerPoint presentations.  Since first commenting on this, I've stumbled on another great tool in this market place. 

Scate Ignite 4 is a very versatile product that can convert all manner of resources into web-based and mobile learning objects.

It comes in three versions, from a straightforward, but nonetheless comprehensive home package, through to a SCORM compliant corporate version, complete with simulations and assessments.

Some very useful demos - created in the tool, of course - help to show off the various features.

When it comes to deploying the podcasts or e-learning modules, then it's easy to post these to their sister igniteCAST hosting service.

bITe Size Microsoft Training

Browsing through the list of exhibitors at this week's World of Learning Conference and Exhibition, I noticed this provider of Microsoft Office training, Bite Size.

What I particularly liked about their offer was their approach to IT skills training.  Just as we've moved away from 3 to 4 hour long soft skills e-learning modules, in favour of much shorter 30 minute chunks of learning, it's right that we have taken a similar approach to e-learning for PC applications.  Indeed, we can dice up this training to much smaller pieces, as quite often we're more after performance support - help me to get passed this "block" - rather than longer sessions of traditional "tell, show, try" type learning.

Bite Size provide 5 examples of their short  minute bursts of learning, to highlight how they treat each nugget.  First of all you can read a short passage about the background to the topic to be covered - useful to give context to the content and to highlight possible objectives for using that aspect of the software; then you are presented with step-by-step written instructions, followed by a short video demonstration.  The fourth stage is to receive a useful tip, before being able to download an example with which you can practice. 

The model presented here also got me thinking about how it could be applied to any custom IT software training that we might need to deliver.  Using tools such as Adobe Captivate, Camtasia or Kallidus Simulate, it's easy to replicate the "show" stage.  But often our IT skills training lacks the "why?", the "what's in it for me?" and an opportunity to practice (the complexity of our own applications is often beyond the "simulation" power of these tools).  But it's relatively easy to embed an attachment of a sample page or whatever from the application that can be used to try out the new skill and the background can easily be slotted in.

Using my favourite rapid e-learning authoring tool, Articulate, it would be very straightfoward to construct a custom module using this model, using one or more of the Engage templates, with some embedded Flash video.

YouTube Interactive

YouTube has just announced a new feature that's in its beta phase - Video Annotations.

Basically, you can add text to your video footage and even specify where it appears and when.  You can also link different video clips together and create options for choosing which video plays next.

As soon as I read about this last feature, I realised that this could be used to create rudimentary simulations, for example.  You could play a clip of a conversation underway, then place options on the screen as to what A should say next to B.  Based on the response, you could then play the next stage in the scenario.

Here's an example - not of a simulation as such - but one of the first clips with video annotations that show the possibilities. 

And if you want to know how to do all this, then there's demo video here.

All Good Things Come in Threes

Although my main focus on this blog is the world of corporate learning technologies, I'm always mindful that the academic sector has led the way in many areas for some time now.  But it's been a while since I've discovered a product offering that's originated from this sector and from within the UK too.

Webducate offers e-learning developers a trio of products that can create effective online modules that could all play a role in corporate learning programmes.  And what's more...they are inexpensive, so putting learning technologies into the hands of many more potential courseware developers.

Dragster is a tool for authoring drag-and-drop exercises.  These are most useful for subjects where processes or identification of components is the main driving force behind the training.  You can easily drop in your background image and complete the process of adding in the labels, the "zones" for the correct positions and feedback.  There is also a wiki-feature, whereby each participant can, for instance, rearrange a series of post-it notes (aka labels), but preserving the previous selections of others.

Pollster, as its name suggests, is a tool for creating polling questions, with the ability to display the results automatically and invite comments that could be used to support each person's voting preference.  It's possible to remove inappropriate comments should they arise and you can also set up an RSS feed, so you don't have to remember to keep checking for the latest poll results.

The final tool is known as the Accessible Multimedia Player.  The name is derived from the fact that you can combine audio, with video, with PowerPoint slides and a written transcript.  For me, this is my favourite tool of the set, as I've written before about software that enables trainers to take their slides, add in their script and synchronise all the elements, to create an archive of a previous live event.  This is a great way to create an asynchronous e-learning module from a live synchronous session and benefits not only those that couldn't attend the original event, but also provide a valuable source of refresher training.  Of course, you could also use the tool to create narrated pre-workshop modules too, or an asynchronous component before a live webinar.

The Webducate website provides detailed step-by-step instructions for each tool and it's worthwhile taking the time to study these, especially when you could be handling many different types of media, in the case of the Accessible Multimedia Player.

[As for the title of this posting, in Germany they say "Alle guten Dinge sind drei" which roughly translates into "all good things come in threes"]

Hot and Spicy E-learning

OK...the title to this posting could mean a lot of different things and I've gotten into trouble in the past about likening e-learning to "things pleasurable", but this is actually referring to an online service that enables e-learning developers, including those using rapid e-learning tools (aka the lay person) to quickly creative interactive Flash-based elements for the e-learning courses.

Instructional Spice provides a subscription service to its Activity Spice product.  For the sum of $995 (great for those of us here in Europe) you have access to a library of already created interactions in three categories:

• Present Information
• Learning Games
• Knowledge Tests

Basically, you select the interaction you want and then customise it to suit your needs.  And the great thing about this tool, is that you don't need to download any software.  Everything takes place on their website. Any changes you make appear immediately, so you can see if you like them or not, before saving that version.  And with new interactions being added every month, you'll not be restricted to the same exercises, etc. each time. 

Inserting your interaction into your chosen e-learning tool is easy too, as you just need to follow your applications "Insert Flash Object" routine.

Now my favourite rapid e-learning tool continues to be Articulate Presenter.  That comes with its own bolt-on programme containing a handful of good interactions.  One of these allows you to insert a Flash Object, so you should be able combine the two products easily.

This demo explains the service in more detail.

Second Chance for Second Life?

In a previous posting I noted the apparent exodus of some of the early entrants into the virtual world, Second Life, including the winding down of the NETg on-line training centre.  I also commented that my own experience of this new environment left me struggling up the learning curve and my fears that the average participant would also find the technology a barrier to learning (and the IT department too).

It was with interest then that this morning, I received word that a virtual worlds conference had been cancelled with just a few weeks to go.  The slconference 2007 was due to have taken place in Berlin in September, but clearly hadn't attracted much interest. In their press statement, the organisers reported:

Generally, there was great interest from companies and participants that thought the idea of the conference an excellent one. We were able to acquire a lot of interesting and compelling speakers as well as topics that they would present in their conference sessions and workshops.

Unfortunately, the conference did not offer enough impelling opportunities to companies to support it financially, even though there was a desire to support the conference in other ways and to help to make it happen for which we are very thankful. Nevertheless, the financial risk is still existent. Hence, the slconference 2007 team regrets to announce that the slconference 2007 is cancelled.

I have to admit I'd never heard of the conference prior to today, so maybe their marketing let them down, but there again, maybe it's a further sign of some nervousness in this area.  Again speaking personally, I would be less likely myself to attend such an event now.

So why have I titled this posting, "Second Chance".  Well, having reflected on my last comments, I remembered that I'd recently come across a company who is making a living from creating private virtual environments, plus another company who has a sound offer in simulations that emulate a real workplace and it occurred to me that some of the problems of Second Life, could be avoided or at least minimised by keeping the virtual world within the firewall.

Protonmedia offers corporates the opportunity to create their own internal virtual world that combines the full range of Web 2.0 tools to create a dynamic on-line environment for collaborate working and learning, ProtoSphere.  They base a lot of their ideas around the now popular concept of informal learning and for the technical savvy organisation, I'm sure this would add a new dimension.  They talk about "always on" meeting spaces and I like this concept for knowledge sharing, especially in a global company where you could span timezones to find new contacts who could get you out of a sticky situation, with some timely advice.

The other company who I last met at trade show in 2006 is PIXELearning.  They specialise in a range of generic "serious games", all of which resemble a virtual world and they are working on developing a range of tools so that a non-programmer could easily compile their own game.  I've always found the thought of coming up with a concept and then the functionality of a serious game a quite daunting proposition, so it will be interesting to see how easy they have made it.  But what I saw last year, was most impressive and a lot of time and energy, not to say budget, has gone into their work.

Any Life in Second Life?

I once got quite excited about the possibilities that the virtual world, Second Life, could offer corporate training and spent some time trawling the web for references to early experiments.  Most, it has to be said, were from educational institutions - and mostly departments in new media - who clearly had an interest in letting their students loose in a one of around 70 virtual campuses that were in existence at that time.

I was amazed (if not further excited) by the number and calibre of the blue chip organisations rushing to enter Second Life with bold statements on how they were going to carve out new markets in Linden Dollars.

Then I signed up and created my first avatar and realised that I was probably wasting my time.  I can't even remember my avatar's name and would hate to have to log in again and try to find my way around.  Now I'm an above-average computer user, but the learning curve was almost vertical at times.  I struggled with navigation and on the day I signed up, there was a server crash somewhere and I ended up freezing up my PC whilst "flying" around the mini-world they set up for newbies.  And judging by the blogs I read on the subject, crashes are not uncommon.

My first vision for using Second Life for corporate learning was to use the environment to run simulations for management development and the like.  But I soon realised that I wasn't going to have much success bringing a group of mostly new Second Lifers into the virtual world, then expect them to quickly tackle a simulation.  It's troublesome at times getting a webinar off to a smooth start, so I was tempting fate.  And I'm sure your average IT manager won't allow the software to be downloaded, nor invest in the required minimum PC spec.

So then my ideas turned to how existing (and hopefully experienced) Second Lifers could be tempted to sit down and learn some management skills in a virtual leadership academy.  After all, NETg was reporting an income of over $10,000 real US dollars per month from their Second Life IT skills training centre.  But that's as far as I got...thinking about it...as other "real life" projects surfaced.

So it was with interest that I saw that the bubble may have burst in some respects, as a number of companies are pulling out from their Second Life initiatives.  I can remember quoting Starwood Hotels in my original discussion paper on the subject, but they are now closing up shop (or rather hotel), as are Wells Fargo Bank and Coca Cola, to name a few.  Even NETg is selling up, it would appear, having now been acquired by SkillSoft, who don't seem that interested in maintaining a virtual presence.

But as my blog is primarily about sharing the things I find during the day, I did stumble across a company that has already developed some Second Life training applications.  I discovered AHG Inc, whilst browsing through the ASTD Learning Circuits website about e-learning.  If you're less sceptical then I am now and you're looking to "go virtual" then this company can lease you some land, build you a training room - and equip it - and offer you some training tools and simulations.  The two they feature on their website are in the team building area.  So if you're lucky enough to have a team of savvy Second Lifers, then you could be off to a good start.  I'll just keep an occasional eye on things from the "real life" sidelines.

Supplying Procurement E-learning

I could have titled this post, "Procuring Supply Chain Management E-learning", as both plays on words describe the situation I was in a few weeks ago, when looking for a range of blended learning resources to provide a large corporate purchasing department with some foundation training.

As soon as I heard the words "procurement and purchasing", I immediately thought "supply chain management", as surely the two are related (?) and refreshed my memory of the courses on offer from the two major e-learning suppliers who have content in this area, CrossKnowledge and SkillSoft.

But being very aware of the sensitivities about job and function titles I probed further and realised that a procurement professional wouldn't necessarily appreciate this general labelling and that I needed to dig deeper.  My search took me to Canada and then back to Ireland, to two companies - Automated Learning and their partner, The Leading Edge Group - who together offer a good niche solution.

In addition to a four-module programme on the "Principles of Purchasing", they also have a corresponding suite, "Principles of Supply Chain" and, for a slightly more advanced audience, a programme entitled, "Strategic Sourcing", plus another set on "Inventory Management".  If you were looking for content for a corporate university's SCM/purchasing school, then you'd have a ready-made solution here.

What I particularly like about this solution is it's organisation.  Each of the suites is built around the same structure, the same look and feel and therefore, for someone who is building a curriculum, it looks good to the learner.  The content was sound too.  Although not directly based on any specific standards, I undertook a rudimentary mapping to some of the international purchasing and supply chain bodies of knowledge and found a lot of similarity.  Like all good e-learning, these titles would provide a solid foundation of knowledge on which to build with other forms of learning intervention. Whilst some of the modules have the usual pre- and post-testing to measure knowledge gain, others have so-called mentored exercises built in, which is where The Leading Edge Group can provide tutorial support.

As a final note, I also wondered what was out there in the way of on-line simulations.  My searches kept coming back to the same solution from Enspire Learning, which has been adopted by a number of different organisations as their SCM simulation of choice, including Harvard Business School Publishing - Global Supply Chain Management Simulation TM.  I'll write some more about simulations another time, as it's an area I will be coming back to, but for now, I did like this one, as sometimes I find they can be frustratingly complex to get into, but I got the hang of this one quite quickly!

As always, if you know of any other solutions in these subject areas, then don't hesitate to post a comment!