Amazing what you can do with MS Paint and some talent

Wasting away some time I came across this incredible video. It's from earlier in the year, so my apologies if you have seen it. If you haven't watch the first little bit so you can see it is definately done in MS Paint and then if you want, fast forward to the end to see the final result. It's about 4 min long, but quite amazing.

I'm a PS3 Widow

My friends said I was foolish. They said I was nuts. I was crazy. They asked if I knew the consequences. I of course ignored them. I wanted to spoil. I wanted to be the best. I wanted give something wonderful.

And now......

Now I'm a PS3 Widow. I haven't seen my fiance since Christmas morning. I've been demoted to the portable dvd player. I'm watching old tv show dvd sets. I haven't been out the door.

Where was my mind??????

Looking for input on a new job title

I'm looking for any suggestions for a new job title. Perhaps there is something standard out "there" that would be appropriate and make sense to others outside of my organization. Currently my title is Education Assistant and I work in the Organization Development department. We generally look after corporate education, training and development needs. This includes everything from computer training, team building, management training/development, to assisting in the creation of corporate behaviour standards.

I refer to my position as lackey. I tend to do many of the background activies that makes the department look good during their training. I offer one-on-on computer training sessions for various programs. I offer some training on temperament theory and administer corporate wide core curriculum training. However, starting NOW I'm also adding to my plate the tasks of ruuning, administering, controlling (insert thunder, lightening, evil laughter here), monitoring, training, etc the LMS that just came to life (more evil laughter).

So now I'm stuck wanting to find a new job title. One that demands respect (ha, yes that's a bit of a dream). One that perhaps puts me into a new corporate income bracket (that's actually slightly more of a possibility). Any suggestions anyone can put forth regarding this and help me out with my corporate domination....I mean furthering my career, would be greatly appreciated.

2008 eLearning Guild Annual Gathering Announced

Okay, call me excited. I received a wonderful email last night in my inbox....

"Annual Gathering 2008 Registration Now Open! "

So immediately I start wondering..."hmmmm, is my boss actually going to approve me attending in April? Just how to I get her to understand this is a good idea (again)?" So I started this morning printing off everything I could, registration costs, flight, hotel, agendas, etc. I took all my papers into her office and said guess what I just got in the mail?

Well, much to my surprise she was almost more excited then me. So now I need to thank the Guild for putting this info out right near my birthday and Christmas time. I think this time of year puts bosses in the more giving and sharing mood.

So I'll see you there!!!!!
Love you Mickey Mouse!

School wasn't a complete waste....

Good news Mom. All that money spent on my education (that's still continuing to this day) hasn't gone to a complete waste. Changing jobs a billions times, being a jack-of-all-trades master of none, has allowed me to succed with my blog obtaining a readability level of Postgrad College. Yippee!!!

LMS Training Finally Here

Well Yeee Haaa!!! I'm finally getting my training as administrator for our new LMS. I've been collaborating, or to put it more accurately, giving my two cents in on the new intranet that is 80% ready to go. We've got our layout all set up with minor fixes to change. The content needs to be inputted or transferred from our old site. We are surprising still scheduled for a January launch.

And now.....the LMS. Now that we have an intranet look and feel, the LMS design has be created so that the two compliment one another. I finally get some training on how to use the system and design courses. If all goes according to plan, it too will be up and running January. I'm a little less optimistic about that, but if it's before March I'll be ecstatic.

I'm even going to be thrilled if it purely is a management system for a while with no elearning. I need some sort of concrete package to track all our training and in a hospital you can image that there are lots of different programs going on all the time.

I shall keep you posted as events unravel around this new adventure.

What is Proper Etiquette for Conversing with Another Blogger?

An interesting thought came up last night as I yet again was contacting Tony Karrer for advice and "how to's". What is the proper way to ask a question of another blogger? Many times you might see an element they have added to their page and wonder, "Just how did they do that?". Other times you may know they are an expert in a certain field and want some advice on how to proceed with your own project.

I have thought it best that if the blogger offers their email address within their profile, or better yet directly on their blog that is the "international symbol" for FEEL FREE TO EMAIL ME (with questions/comments of course). However, maybe it is better to use the comment fields that people set up at the end of their posts. I however, have not used this method when my question is of no relation to the post. I figured it would be cluttering up the bloggers post and more so taking away from the intent of the post.

A bit of the challenge though is that, my question may be of interest to many others. So how does anyone else answer it or read the answer to the question if it is only ever hidden behind the scenes in email.

Tony and I agree that neither of us mind getting emails, but also were not sure what others may think either about the whole subject. So, I've added a couple of polling questions to my blog. Hopefully you'll take a moment to answer. Perhaps we will agree as bloggers-united that if you see an email address as contact information that it is indeed the "international symbol" for "I WELCOME YOU TO CONTACT ME".

Opening you Mind, Eyes and Ears with Facebook and YouTube

One of the applications I do like through Facebook is the FunWall. My friend Peter seems to find and share some of the best videos on YouTube. Certainly ones that are guaranteed to make me laugh out loud or stop everything I'm doing to look and listen intently to what is showing on my screen.

What I love is that Facebook as a tool is a great way to share those interesting videos that just spark something in your imagination. YouTube is a great tool for posting, sharing and searching out more of those moments that make you go....Cooool!

Peter sent me this one other day of the a cappella group Straight No Chaser and I just loved it. Especially for the holidays. What it did though was trigger that "I need to find out more" itch. Once again in a matter of a few minutes I've found the group's website, more video clips, where to buy a cd, and more and more.

I hope the clip inspires you to dig and explore a little further to see, listen and observe things you wouldn't always stop and give your attention.

check these out too 1, 2, 3, and for a little fun 4 (the funniest)

Blearning - yes it's new, it's exciting, it's cheap, it's free

Well my blogging buddy Brent commented on a post of mine today regarding the DevLearn 2007 DemoFest winners. One type of topic I like blog on is webinars and web meetings or more specifically taking notes during them and posting the info onto my blog site.

I do this for 3 reasons, one is that I can share the info I learn and gather with others, secondly I can take notes and keep them for my own reference later on (and being in a blog they are searchable). Third, I have found that it has become a great way for me to really concentrate more fully on a webinar. Often, and I've seen this polled a bunch of times during webinars, that most participants are doing several tasks at once while listening to a webinar. From answering emails, to filling reports, to having meetings with others as people walk in the room. Blogging for me as I listen/participate in the webinar forces me to pay more careful attention so that I can better "report" what it is I hear, learn and see.

Brent commented that he has looked at a couple of just such postings of my and jokingly referred to it as perhaps a new modality for learning. "B"learning. Now, I'm going to give him full credit on the term, but if it somehow turns into the "B" standing for Brent-Learning then I may just have to re-term it T-Learning....and I like the hyphen...looks meaner (i.e. T-Rex).

DemoFest 2007 Winners from DevLearn 2007 (eLearning Guild)

DemoFest Winners 2007
Based on demonstrations run during the DevlLearn 2007 in San Jose, CA Nov. 2007.
Winners
Seal Works - Ariel
Can Do It, LLC, 3-D Instructions
Sun Microsystems
OnPoint Digital, Sales Quenchers - mLearning
KPMG - Expense Reimbursement Training
Oxygen Education - Emag machine

Nick Floro - Ariel - A Reader's Interactive Exploration of Literature

Team of 6 people, 6 months to create
Budget of $80,000.

Goal: gain resources to better understand literature content
Objectives: creating a cdrom, or webserver could deliver content along with book.
Audience: college students
Created from scratch not existing technology or solution.

Used 5D's of project management
Discovery
Define project
Design
Develop
Delivery

Created a flowchart for each author flowing through the content of the book.
Each would have some activity associated with them.

Tools used:
Html, flash

Created wire frames on how to interact with the content.
27 authors
Wanted interactivity (on web, or cdrom)
Each author had their own logo and a font based on their particular work.
Banner, Content in middle. Left side user choices to pick a particular piece of author work, picture, or audio related to author.

Glossary based on material, but could be pulled from and turn into a pop up within each author window content.

Project management tools used.

Basecamphq.com (recommended by Nick and participants within the online too.)

Program had a poem creating tool such like fridge magnets.

Nick@sealworks.com
http://tinyurl.com/3y8pyx


John D'Amours - 3D Instructions, An EPSS Prototype (Can Do It LLC)

Mission: Deliver low-cost 3d Assembly instructions and lead consumers to expect this quality level for all do-it-yourself tasks (eg. Ikea products, not just using paper instructions)

Tools:
Deep Exploration (5.1 beta)
Right Hemisphere (alpha and beta version)

Items are displayed on screen in 3D, user can shift screen perspective to see each angle of item being put together.


Sorry I don't have more notes than this....I had to leave the demonstration early to go to another webinar. Recordings of the presentation will be found on The eLearning Guild website.

9:15pm...later this evening....I just saw that Cammy Bean posted information on a few of the other presenters at this webinar. (thanks Cammy)

So Just What is a Blog?

Another great production from the Common Craft Show. Blogs in Plain English is well done and follows similar formats to other pieces done by the group. I especially liked about 3/4 of the way though when they explain why people use them, or what's more important is how you use them. I like how blog communities are explained because it is one of the greatest advantages I have found and experienced since starting my own.

Tools & Technologies for Mobile Learning - eLearning Guild Online Forum

Tools and Technologies for Mobile Learning by David Metcalf, University of Central Florida (notes from the eLearning Guild's online forum)

What is mlearning?

• laptop, micro pc
• cell phone
• tablet pc
• player
• PDA/handheld
• Ebook reader
• game device

Wiki - seeking lesson in small, manageable formats that can undertake when it suits them.

No consistent answer as it is still developing, growing, being explored.

Polls of participants
experience with m-learning projects - most haven't started
delivery are you using - most using podcasting
devices you are targeting -most were using ipods, blaceberries, smartphones/pda, cell phones,

Why consider it?
2 billion handsets by end of 2006
40M multimedia phones in US, 279 digital tv phones in US by 2010
More than 100 billion handsets with touch screens
3.25 billion mobile phones use

First Building Blocks
Learning

Second Building Block - performance support
- on the job
- task specific
- support at time of need
- coaching, mentoring
- paper based job aides

Need a consistent base of knowledge base
- repository of knowledge
- sharing of best practices & lessons learned
- connect with experts

A learner knows what they need to know - they just need to find the information.

Example - sports theme learning, sent through phone. Lesson is about a math course. Questions scored as a game. More points, they can win ring tones, prizes, sporting even tickets. (MySportsPulse). Using Moving Knowledge.

Example (Tyco)
Using vXML - book on tape style learning. For customer service management instructions.

One could also use a specialized device. ( Ie: PocketPC Symbol). Videos can be downloaded directly to the device. Best to use closeup shots. Can record messages.

Development Tools
Flash Lite
Zirada, lectora publisher
Camtasia Studio
iQuiz Maker
iWriter
quiz building for the ipbo
mobipocket ebook reader
interactive video technologies
emantras mobls
podquiz maker
kallisto
classinhand
quizzler pro
zirada mobile publisher
hot lava software
mobile and devises developer center
mobile chalkboard
talkshoe
tourcaster
pocket podcast
podtrip podcasting new
Captivate
Studymate
MobiGlam
mscape
tribal CTA
Profcast.com


Look for more on www.mlearnopedia.com (free site to look at).

Free tools:
Mob5
MobiSiteGalore
Winksite

Check what you have http://mr.dev.mobi/

Test/Quiz:
FlashcardExchange
GotestGo
iQuiz maker
Mobiode (surveys)
Studycell.com


Misc:
Apresto podcast
emantras' mobls
Giunti
Instancy
Liquid Talk

Communication:
CampusReact
clearTXT
Gabcast
Mobilesphere
Mogopop
MovingKnowledge
Podlines
Rave Wireless

Technical Areas to Consider:
types of devices
wireless connections
does your corp have standard devices
content providers
Wireless service providers

Platform options can make things difficult since there are many types. (blackberry, Palm, pocketpc, smartphones with WAP, JWME, tablets, handtops)

Overall this was a fairly good presentation. I was one of several in the session having trouble with audio and video files during the presentation. Another issue for myself it felt very business oriented. Not entirely, but that is a strong focus I find often of the mobile teaching. They speak of on the job tools, training as you need it, performance support. However, it generally seems related to sales. There is a huge world out there that needs more training then customer service. I'm in the health care industry and at a facility that has a great deal of RN students....how great for them to have a bedside "companion" with them to reference a wound for proper treatment, medication references for dosages (these greatly exist in the mobile world I realize). I'm not sure where we are going with this as an organization yet, but this session wasn't quite what I was thinking of, although there we a ton of useful sites, tools, and info for me to go explore. Great job again by the Guild.

Finding new Web tools by looking and digger a little deeper

I have a follow up presentation to do this Friday to see how the Training and Organization Development Network (Greater Toronto Area) is enjoying and utilizing the online community I set up for them. Long story short, in the spring the group met and was discussing that they were getting tired of keeping track of the billion emails flying around filled with questions, replies, and attachments. I suggested setting up an online community. Got it up and running in the summer and now that it is fall we are revisiting the idea to see if it has worked as we (I) had hoped.

What's this got to do with my post heading....well....my first presentation I included a couple of those great Common Craft in plain English videos. A better way then I could ever attempt at explaining some of the web tools out there to use. I wanted to come back at this presentation time and show another cool video that explains and showcases more of what is happening in the digital world. So I remembered Prof. Micheal Wesch 's video "The Machine is Us/ing Us". If you haven't seen it yet, take a look it's a wonderful piece. From an interview with the professor:

"As I tried to illustrate in the video, this means that a change in one area (such as the way we communicate) can have a profound effect on everything else, including family, love, and our sense of being itself. Second, everything is connected throughout all time, and so as anthropologists we take a very broad view of human history, looking thousands or even millions of years into the past and into the future as well. And finally, all people on the planet are connected. This has always been true environmentally because we share the same planet. Today it is even more true with increasing economic and media globalization."

Through looking at his site I came across Creative Commons (which I have seen before but never really looked into).

Creative Commons provides free tools that let authors, scientists, artists, and educators easily mark their creative work with the freedoms they want it to carry. You can use CC to change your copyright terms from "All Rights Reserved" to "Some Rights Reserved."

Watching Prof. Wesch's video I saw him using/referencing an interesting site that I could see had lots of little window panes with rss feeds in, blogs, news items extra. Really liking the look of it I wanted to know what it was being used. Pause the video, rewind the video, step-by-step the video....I was just about to do a screen capture and send the image to a friend to ask if they knew what it was and....I see on the web address line...netvibes. Type that into my browser and there you go....that's it. Another neat little tool to try out and see if I like using it as a reader.

I feel like Columbo (sorry for the 70's reference, but I still like him) discovering, exploring, finding clues, solving puzzles. There's something I always find really satisfying when I discover something new (at least new to me) on the web. I wonder how many more feel that way?

The Price to Buy 12 Days of Christmas

From article out of the Toronto Star, Dan Nephin (Associated Press).

Shopping list
Prices of items in the Christmas carol "The Twelve Days of Christmas," according to PNC Wealth Management:

1 Partridge, $15 (last year: same)
1 Pear Tree, $150 (last year: $130)
2 Turtle Doves, $40 (last year: same)
3 French Hens, $45 (last year: same)
4 Calling Birds (canaries), $600 (last year: $480)
5 Gold Rings, $395 (last year: $325)
6 Geese a-Laying, $360 (last year: $300)
7 Swans a-Swimming, $4,200 (last year: same)
8 Maids a-Milking, $47 (last year: $41)
9 Ladies Dancing (per performance), $4,759 (last year: same)
10 Lords a-Leaping (per performance), $4,285 (last year: $4,160)
11 Pipers Piping (per performance), $2,213 (last year: $2,124)
12 Drummers Drumming (per performance), $2,398 (last year: $2,301)

My sister was quite surprised that 10 Lords a-Leaping was cheaper then 9 Ladies Dancing....oh no...I hope I'm not getting 10 Lords a-Leaping for Christmas....where would I put them?

Yes Virgina, There Are Other Search Engines

A co-worker of mine (the one that went to India, who I'm still trying to convince to blog) is working on a course that discovers various ways to do literature searches for research among other things. Every so often she comes across a great "new" little tool that she gets really excited about and shares with me. Now I'm excited too.

Have you visited KartOO?

It's a visual search engine in that once you put in your search topic you get up a picture representation of the most relevant pages.

Here's an image of when I searched my own blog.

Th largest icon on the visual map is a small capture of my homepage, and the large bluish blob that lies in the background has labels on it letting you know the basic site topic/category (ie: blog, guide, photos, deals, tours, etc).

The upper left has a list as well of the major key words found on the pages that are showing. If you roll over a website page icon then you will see a brief description of the site as well.

It's actually a fun way to search and to "see" what might comes up.

Mobile Survey - Online Demo

This is not a commerical...I'm just sharing. I thought I would sit in on the Zoomerang Webinar: Capture "in the moment" feedback with mobile surveys. I've enjoyed using Zoomerang in the past for deploying surveys, and thought it's at least worth a look to see what they are offering in mobile ideas. If nothing else, online webinars are a great way to see what is out there and new to use.

If you are intersted here is the link they have sent me to register for this free seminar:

Reserve your spot today.

Who knew that Costco and Zombies go together?!?

Okay, I'm a little late on this one....

Common Craft posted this one at the end of October that I just had to look at and killed my self laughing. Great way to leave the office on a Friday.

Zombies in Plain English

Online Conference Starts Next Week (Corporate Learning: Trends and Innovations)

I'm quite excited to be participating as a learner at the upcoming Corporate Learning: Trends and Innovations Online conference which begins next Thursday. There is a terrific line up of speakers presenting a wide range of topics over the course of 4 days.

What's great is like a face-to-face conference you can pick and choose which sessions you wish to attend that are of interest to you. Best yet, you can stay home in your pajamas and learn. (hee hee). Seriously, there are 15 or so presenters to learn from. There are over 800 people registered to participate globally. It's all free. Did I say that loud enough FREE!!! How can you not stop in and listen.

I was sent an email today from the organizer George Siemens that linked participants and speakers to a wonderful site that was new for me; Attendr. What a neat representation of attendees, where they are from, who they know and connecting them to who the would like to meet.

Elearning Blueprints Needs Beta Testers

Cathy Moore is looking for some beta testers to try out a new elearing design tool she has been working on.

Elearning Blueprints are online tools that walk you through the process of designing and writing lively elearning content. Beta testers will get access to:

• Design and write clear, engaging elearning materials on any subject
• Immediately apply the ideas to your current project
• Use research-based best practices that will make your elearning more
  powerful
• Find and share creative ideas
• Streamline your elearning development

The premise seems like a great idea and I hope Cathy gets all the feedback necessary to get the project up and running.

eLearning Guild Gives More to Members

The eLearning Guild is upgrading it's membership perks. Associate members can now access 237+ archived issues of Learning Solutions eMagazine and Guild Research 360° Reports will now be available to all Guild Member, Member Plus, and Premium Members.

Thanks to Brent Schlenker's update on this today. You can see much more info from his blog or directly from the eLearning Guild site.

Just in time for my LMS launch.