corporate training

20 Free eLearning and Corporate Training Resources

By www.corporatetrainingelearningblog.com
Published On :: Thu, 27 Aug 2009 13:39:00 -0400

Article by Guest Blog Contributor Karen Schweitzer.

Are you an instructor or trainer looking for new ways to entertain and engage your students online? The Internet is loaded with free tools, blogs, and informational sites that are designed to aid and improve your courses. Here is a list of 20 free eLearning and training resources worth checking out:

Tools

  • CourseLab - CourseLab offers a free eLearning authoring tool that can be used to effectively create web-based training. Some of the features users will find with this system include layout, editing, rich-media support, rapid development, testing, and interactivity.
  • MyiCourse - Instructors can use this site to create free online courses or universities for educational material. MyiCourse gives users the ability to create public or private courses on just about anything.
  • Utilium - Utilium is a free beta site that provides instructors with the tools they need for organizing and sharing learning materials. This site makes it easy to inspire and engage students through videos, articles, podcasts, and other rich sources.
  • Prezi - Prezi is a unique presentation tool that uses zooming technology instead of slides. With Prezi your ideas flow freely on a stage that can be zoomed in on and out of for further explanation.
  • Yugma - This free online conferencing tool makes it easy to host web conferences and online meetings. With Yugma Free, users can share their desktop with up to 20 attendees.
  • Open Huddle - Open Huddle is a beta site for presenting or instructing people online. This site provides you with files, video, audio, chat, and drawing boards for interacting and collaborating with your students.
  • Campfire - Campfire can be used for online group chat and education. This site allows users to instantly create password-protected chat rooms for collaborating and working out important questions. Campfire comes at a cost, but users can try it free for 30 days.
  • Slideshare - Slideshare provides a way to upload and share presentations. Once the presentations are uploaded, they can be shared privately or publicly and work well for webinars.
  • SourceForge - This site provides a free authoring application that can be used to assist instructors in creating free eLearning seminars. SourceForge employs the eXeLearning tool which provides the ability to publish web content without knowing HTML or XML markup.
  • ClassMarker - ClassMarker features a free way for instructors or presenters to test students online. Simply sign up for a free account for access to an array a quiz creating materials. The quizzes can even be linked directly to websites or emails.

Blogs

  • eLearningLearning - eLearningLearning is an online community blog dedicated to organizing and collecting material about eLearning. Within this blog, users can find information about eLearning technology and media, events, and ideas.
  • eLearning Technology - eLearning Technology is a blog that provides information and resources on the latest in the business of learning. Just a few of the concepts discussed in this blog include trends, software, rapid eLearning tools, and open source eLearning.
  • eLearningSpace - The eLearningSpace blog offers information, knowledge, and networks that are specifically designed for eLearning instructors.
  • Corporate eLearning Strategies and Development - This blog provides information that explores technology for eLearning. Within this blog, instructors can find resources, ideas, technology, and more.
  • Thoughts from Training Time - This blog deals with the issues and ideas that can be found in corporate and government training.

Informational Sites

  • eLearningPost - The eLearningPost site provides blogs and articles that instructors and trainers can use for information. Within this site, users can explore views, news, and stories that surround eLearning, corporate training, instructional design, and much more.
  • eLearning Magazine - eLearning Magazine offers a free place for instructors and trainers to find a wealth of information through articles, reviews, case studies, and more. This public information center is also an excellent place to find forums and exchange ideas with others.
  • Web-Based Training Information Center - This free info center provides information and resources on web-based training trends, surveys, and more.
  • Learning Circuits - Learning Circuits is a free informational site from the ASTD. The goal of this site is to provide a large database of eLearning and training knowledge as well as efficient training technology.
  • BusinessBalls.com - BusinessBalls.com provides free materials, exercises, tools, ideas, and templates that instructors and other eLearning professionals may find helpful.

Guest Blog Contributor By-line:

This post is from education writer Karen Schweitzer. Karen is with the About.com Guide to Business School. She also writes for OnlineCollege.org, an accredited online college resource.


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3 Important Teaching Strategies for Corporate Training Newbies

By www.corporatetrainingelearningblog.com
Published On :: Sat, 22 Sep 2012 13:41:00 -0400

When someone studies to become a teacher, they learn a number of different teaching strategies that help them effectively impart knowledge to students. Corporate trainers with advanced degrees in adult education are also often exposed to similar strategies as a part of their academic preparation. In contrast, many internal employees who take on training duties at their companies aren't familiar with effective teaching strategies. Many of them are selected to train new and current employees because they are good at their jobs and not necessarily because they're skilled educators. Unfortunately, this can mean that their training efforts don't quite achieve the desired results.

If you've recently been assigned the task of training staff members at your company, and you don't have much prior training experience, here are three important teaching strategies you may want to consider:

1. Differentiation
This strategy essentially involves tailoring your instruction to the specific needs of your trainees. When differentiating, a teacher might present information to a class orally, then show them a video of the same presentation, and end the lesson with a hands-on activity. This would, in theory, give auditory, visual, and kinesthetic learners a chance to grasp the information, since the information was presented in ways that are compatible with the different learning styles of individual students. As a trainer, you should try to differentiate in the same way by orally explaining concepts, providing visuals to support your oral instruction, and facilitating hands-on exercises.

Another part of differentiation is changing up your instruction when some part of it isn't working. If you notice that a particular PowerPoint slide or video doesn't quite get the point across well enough to your trainees, it may benefit you to ditch it and find a different way to communicate the concept you're trying to teach.

2. Assessment of Understanding
One of the most critical things educators are taught to do is to check for understanding. Inexperienced teachers and trainers will often present information to students and trainees without asking them questions about that information. Think about all those quizzes and tests you took in school. You took those for a reason: so your teacher could assess whether or not he or she taught the material well enough. As a trainer, it's a good idea for you to assess how well your trainees understand what you're teaching too. So, ask them questions after you present new concepts and teach them new skills. This will help you figure out if you need to adjust how you're presenting the information.

3. Relationship Building
Learners are more likely to stay mentally engaged with what they're learning if they like and respect their teacher. This is something that's true of K-12 students, college students, and adult students in corporate environments. And it's something first-year teachers who are too distant and stern often learn the hard way. When you're training staff members at your company, it's helpful for you to establish a rapport with them. You can do this in simple ways, such as telling jokes, praising them when they participate, and peppering your lessons with personal anecdotes. Once you win them over, they'll be a lot more receptive to what you're trying to teach them.

Inexperienced trainers sometimes feel uncomfortable during the first few training sessions they lead. Don't be too hard on yourself if everything doesn't go as you plan in the beginning. If you're an expert at what you're teaching as a trainer and you use effective teaching strategies like the ones listed above, you'll become a skilled corporate educator in no time.

Guest Blog Contributor By-line:
Nancy Wood is a former educator, freelance writer, and blogging enthusiast who writes for onlinecollegeclasses.comand other e-learning related sites. Please feel free to leave comments for Nancy below. She loves hearing from her readers!


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Why Cloud Based Learning is the Next Big Hit in Corporate Training

By www.corporatetrainingelearningblog.com
Published On :: Mon, 12 Oct 2015 18:03:00 -0400

Smartphones can do an amazing amount of things, and educating employees is only one thing on that long list. Since nearly everyone has a smartphone, more employers are choosing to offer education to their employees through this medium. M-learning, the trend of education via mobile devices, has really taken off in recent years, and it’s no wonder why.  M-learning utilizes the cloud to distribute information to employees, and an increasing number of businesses are eager to jump on this innovation.

Excellent Savings

Cloud based learning is far more cost effective than traditional training. Instead of having to hire a trainer, print up tons of training materials, and work out schedules to get everyone together at the exact same time, cloud based learning eliminates many aspects of this process. All you have to do is establish one set of training material, upload it to the cloud, and have your employees access it. You’re not going to incur any additional costs along the way.

Enable Remote Learning

Training doesn’t have to be scheduled around business trips. With cloud based learning, your employees have equal access to the material, no matter where they are. They’ll be able to reference the material if they need clarification in a business situation, and that will streamline processes. Everyone is able to get on the same page at the same time with remote access.

Instantaneous

As soon as you compile your training material, you can place it on the cloud. Cloud Learning Management systems are simpler than traditional systems. The cloud host manages everything you upload to it, and you won’t have to deal with any technical aspects. In the blink of an eye, everyone will have immediate access to their learning materials. Should any maintenance be required or any technical hang ups occur, the cloud staff will handle them immediately. No one’s learning experience will be interrupted due to any down time.

Full Integration

The materials can be accessed on any device. HR, upper management, and all other employees can access the same material across any device. Whether it’s their personal smartphone or tablet or their work computer, the lessons will exist on all platforms. No one will have to bounce back and forth between systems to get the most of their lesson.

Size Flexibility

Not every employee will need the same training, and cloud learning takes that into account. Whether you’re attempting a small and generalized training lesson, a series of moderate lessons, or specific lessons for certain types of employees, the cloud can accommodate it. Even if a single employee needs extra help in a certain area, cloud learning makes the process easier. Small or large, simple or complex, the cloud can handle anything you throw at it.

Simplicity of Learning

When corporate learning systems are on the cloud, the process is made infinitely easier. Having that wealth of information at your employees’ disposal will ensure that they’re adequately informed. Training is one of the most important things you can offer to your employees, and no employer can pass up the opportunity to educate their employees. If everyone is adequately trained, they’ll be able to do their jobs with maximum efficiency, which will lead to a boost in productivity.



With cloud learning, innovation is on your side. Taking advantage of technological advances to better your workplace is a no-brainer. Educated employees are more likely to succeed, and your business will go where your employees take it.



Guest Blog Contributor By-line:
Jasmine Cooper is a tech-savvy marketing specialist working at Get Qualified Australia, a company providing skill recognition & RPL services. In her free time, Jasmine enjoys self-improvement literature. 


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corporate training

6 Tips for Designing Effective M-Learning Apps for Your Corporate Training

By www.corporatetrainingelearningblog.com
Published On :: Tue, 15 Dec 2015 18:41:00 -0500

Mobile learning makes everything a little easier. Schedules are more navigable, and you don’t have to plan for an instructor to deliver real-life training. This new standard changes the playing field. With the advent of mobile training, employees are able to learn from anywhere, and have easy access to information if they need to look something up. As long as the app is designed properly, you’ll get more from mobile learning than you ever could from traditional training.

1. Know what you want to cover
It’s useless to have a corporate training app just for the sake of having one. If the information is too general, no one is gaining anything. If it’s too specific, employees may lose sight of the big picture. Break down the elements of your training into blocks. Each block should have a main point that shows its relationship with smaller points. Breaking things into thorough but bite sized pieces is the best way to go.

2. Figure out how you’re making it available
What platforms do you need to reach with your app? If everyone has a company phone, you’ll want to design your training app specifically for that platform. If your employees use their personal phones, you’ll have to adapt your app for a variety of platforms. The content should read the same on every app. While there may be some aesthetic differences, the key is to make everything cohesive across the board. Everyone should have access to the same info.

3. Add some social elements
The only downside to m-learning is that users typically work within the apps independently. You’re losing the element of discussion you could get at a face-to-face training table. Discussions promote knowledge and are necessary for exchanging ideas. People may have questions and no one to answer them. Work social elements into your app to build a sense of community among employees and instructors.

4. Create video content
There’s more to mobile learning apps than fun graphics and comical sound effects. Working video content into your training app can help people understand complex processes, such as how to work certain pieces of equipment or software that may be pertinent to their jobs. Whether you want to utilize videos of real people or cartoon animation, having a moving representation of what you’re trying to explain will help visual learners perfect their knowledge.

5. Let the learner become the instructor
Role playing exercises are common in corporate training, especially when it comes to customer service situations. We use these techniques because they work by giving everyone a chance to showcase and strengthen what they’re best at. Utilizing features such as user submitted quizzes and polls in your app is great for engagement, and it allows everyone to showcase just how much they know.

6. Encourage feedback
If your app isn’t working for someone, they may not speak up – and that’s especially true if they believe everyone else understands it just fine. Always seek feedback from your employees about how your mobile learning programs are working for them. If you find people are having difficulty, it may be time to redesign the interface or simplify the information. People are willing to tell you how they want to learn, as long as you’re willing to listen.

It can seem overwhelming and confusing at first to throw away a traditional method in favor of an innovation, but the results are worth it. Once you implement mobile learning in your workplace, you’ll never want to go back to training the old way. 


Guest Blog Contributor By-line:
Monique Craig is interested in digital marketing and branding. She’s part of the team at Oneflare [https://www.oneflare.com.au/], Australia’s online marketplace for local service providers.


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corporate training

Corporate Training Through Drama

By www.corporatetrainingelearningblog.com
Published On :: Sun, 18 Dec 2016 15:51:00 -0500

You may not think it, but a key form of training could be missing from your repertoire. If you are not using drama in your corporate training routine, then you should think about adding it immediately. Here’s how this form of training can be such a powerful tool – and what it will help your employees to learn.

Improved Leadership Skills

The first area in which your team can improve their skills is in leadership. When using a drama workshop, trainees are often encourage to form groups and create their own short plays or role plays. This means that someone has to take charge. If you are concerned that some of your employees already have enough leadership authority, then you can select other employees to take charge. When they have to organise something very different to the workplace environment, they can learn a great deal. They may also be surprised to learn that in fact, organising a short piece can be very similar to organising a project. They will learn delegation, how to assign tasks based on skills, and how to manage conflicts between team members. They will also take responsibility for the efforts of the whole team and the results that they come up with.

Increased Creativity

Creativity can be essential in the workplace. It can aid with problem solving, as well as helping more effective strategies to be developed within projects. It’s also a fantastic attribute to help manage the work-life balance. You need to help your employees to develop this creative side, and how better to do that than by helping them to act? With a short drama workshop, they can be encouraged to write and perform their own plays. This will allow them to work on finding inspiration and developing ideas. It’s also very fulfilling for them to be able to see the results of their work come to fruition. Many creative pursuits are longer term, but this format allows them to put in the work and get feedback within a short space of time.

Enhanced Teamwork

Especially if the members of your groups work together in the office, you can really strengthen their ability to work as a team. This is key to getting the finished piece organised and performed to the best possible standard. They will learn how to offer constructive criticism, and how to take it. They will learn to adapt, and how to take the best parts of everyone’s ideas to make an overall project that works. Working as a team to complete their drama workshop is essential for making a more cohesive and collaborative workshop.

Better Personal Development

It is also important to encourage personal development in your employees, as well as self-belief. Some of them may be shy at the idea of role play or drama, thinking that they would never be able to put together a good performance. This is a common belief for most who have never tried it before. Once they get into the swing of things, they can however prove themselves wrong. The ability to perform and do well in the exercises will astound them, giving them more belief in themselves. It may even spark a newfound interest or hobby! What is important is that your employees not only learn new things, but also have a good time. This will help the lessons to stick, which is great for ongoing development.

If you are interested in putting together a training experience beyond the norm, this is definitely an option to explore. Rather than the normal boring options, it creates an experience to remember.

Guest Blog Contributor By-line:


Jessica Gust is a Marketing Assistant at Localpeek.co.uk- a new postcode finder. She is passionate about new marketing strategies, she is always eager to share her ideas through blogging.


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Gen-AI in Corporate Training: A Personalized Approach to Skill Development

By www.ibtimes.co.in
Published On :: Fri, 08 Nov 2024 12:28:05 +0530

Priyesh Rajasekaran's insights reveal how Gen-AI is transforming corporate training. By delivering personalized, adaptive learning experiences


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Basic & applied concepts of blood banking and transfusion practices / Paula R. Howard, MS, MPH, MT(ASCP)SBB (Professional Education and Corporate Training, Training Program Design and eLearning Course Development, Hobe Sound, Florida)

By prospero.murdoch.edu.au
Published On ::

Howard, Paula R., author


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