Articulate Resources for "Making Cookies" Presentation from eACH Conference

Today I presented to the attendees at the 2nd Annual eACH Conference.  I'll spoke on 2 topics.  The first was a demonstration of some tips and tricks that can be used when creating courses using Articulate and the second is a 20 minute summary/highlights of the 2011 Horizon Report (published by New Media Consortium).

Since each of my presentation only have a limited amount of time, I'm going to list resources here that attendees will be welcome to use and explore further on their own.

"Cooking with Articulate/Making Cookies"
There are hundreds and hundreds of screenrs (1300+) demonstrating all sorts of wonderful tips and tricks that can be used within Articulate Presenter, Engage, Quizmaker and PowerPoint.  Thankfully someone bookmarks new ones daily for us.

I recommend following this social bookmark link for daily updates: http://groups.diigo.com/group/articulate-screenr or follow #Articulate through Twitter.

Screenr's that I used in making my course for the presentation included (each of the author's I highly recommend following for outstanding tips and tricks):

• How to embed an #Articulate Engage interaction within another interaction
• Modify the width of tabs in Engage Tab Interaction
• How to require learners to select a subset of choices, in the right order, in #Articulate Quizmaker
• Create a Quizmaker quiz that is transparent and shows the PowerPoint master background.
• Easy way to find usable assets inside free PowerPoint design templates
• Create an effect of a hand with pen, crossing off items on a list for #Articulate.
  
• Create a fun, topsy 3D-ish letter effect in #powerpoint for your #articulate #elearning courses and other projects.
• Don't under estimate the clipart you can create, you have the tools. #Articulate
• Interactive Layouts Using Video and Web Objects
• Use a player template that displays (In Project) in other presentations (Article on packaging)

Blogs to follow are: The Rapid E-Learning Blog by Tom Kuhlmann and May 24th's post was geared to those new to elearning.  Tom's blog is not focus on Articulate, PowerPoint or any other one tool, but is instead a fabulous all around elearning design and development site.

Word of Mouth - The Articulate Blog (Gabe Anderson) show cases the top tips from around the community each week. As well as the latest Articulate news and product updates.

The best overall elearning resource is to tap into and sign up for E-Learning Heroes.  This is a community of elearning designers and developers who are all willing to help and learn from one another.  It's a forum where you can find free resources, step-by-step solutions to building better courses, and get advice and opinions from industry experts.

I hope that those attending my session find it of value and inspiring as to what can be created with a little ingenuity and lots of help from the elearning community.

"Emerging Education Technologies for the Next 5 Years"

• 2011 Horizon Report
• The eLearning Guild - Mobile Learning: Landscape and Trends

Lessons Learned from 200 Rapid eLearning Gurus - Tom Kuhlmann #LS2011

Reflecting on "My Big Find" of the eLearning Guild Annual Gathering '09

It dawned on me today that I've been able to come away with one truly "Big Find" from my attendance at each of the last three Annual Gatherings. There are many, many finds to be had but, I think the "Big Find" is that one new person that amazes, inspires, and teaches you something you didn't know before. Meeting this person makes you want to learn all their tips and tricks, and keeps you driven to keep learning more about the elearning field in general. They are much like that latest television show you always watch or tape so you never miss a single episode.

For the first of my attendance that was Brent Schlenker. His presentations inspired me to begin blogging. My second year of attendance was B.J. Schone, his blog and his knowledge about mobile learning kept me reading each an every one of his posts. I'll admit I've also sent him many questions over the past two years about elearning and LMSs.

This year I think the "Big Find" was Tom Kuhlmann. I happen to come across a flyer in the lobby and after reading it walked into the expo to see if I could get my hands on a Captain Smiley from the Articulate booth. Not only did I add to my little collection for squeezey characters, but to my surprised I learned so many neat Articulate tricks from him in just 30 minutes.

I'm sorry to admit here, that it wasn't until I walked away that I realized why his name was so familiar. Tom is the author of The Rapid eLearning Blog. What I love about his postings is that they may come from the Articulate camp, but you need not have the tool to find his postings useful. Each week there are simple and practical tips, tricks, and demos that anyone can incorporate into any of their training. The past few weeks have included:
Mar. 24, 2009 3 Easy Ways to Create Silhouette Characters
Mar. 17, 2009 Here’s Why PowerPoint 2007 Helps You Build Better E-Learning
Mar. 10, 2009 50 Practical Tips & Tricks to Build Better E-Learning
Mar. 03, 2009 3 Proven Techniques to Add Creativity to Your E-Learning Courses

This gentleman was truly a great find of this year's Annual Gathering. Thanks Tom for the continued inspiration to make my learning more engaging for my audience.

Great Day One at AG09

Well the eLearning Guild Annual Gathering for 2009 has once again not disappointed. I've learned so many great new things here today. I find it amazing every year that I seem to learn more from just networking and speaking to people over the lunch hour and at demo booths than some of the actual sessions.

I found a flyer in the lobby about Captain Smiley (which I'll insert a picture of once I return home) and went off to visit the Articulate booth. Turned out to be one of the best half hours of the day. I listened to Tom Kuhlmann and learned some amazing tricks. Simple enough tricks that will take me a few times to get right, but really neat ways to bring even more into your courses.

I found out through the dinner discussion board that the Shuttle was going to launch. Then looking at information about the best place to view it over the lunch hour, I found Nasa's Twitter link. Later in the afternoon, sure enough a tweet from Nasa that the launch had be cancelled. I'm loving Twitter more and more.

My lunch discussions also gave me a few brainstorms about how to get more buy in for social tools from the CEO and upper management. One included getting our physicians more interested in using Twitter to collaborate and consult with one another on cases. Sounds like a great idea and if you can get physician buy-in then you're definitely part way there.

I did my breakfast byte session this morning, which wasn't exactly what I envisioned it to be and I'm unsure if I gave the participants any more than they already knew. However, I really enjoyed the experience and I think it has better prepared me for tomorrow's session.

I'm looking very forward to the rest of the Gathering and all it has to offer. Oh and a big shout out to my many new Twitter Friends. Tweeple? Twiends? you get the idea. Oh and follow http://twitter.com/jzurovchak he's got great tweets going out during each of the sessions he's sitting in on.