Posted by Abdul Razzaque Hussain on Thursday, October 29, 2009 @ 06:40 AM
Developing a highly interactive course is a mammoth operation. If you’re looking to create highly interactive eLearning course using graphics and animation, then Flash is highly recommended. Most of the online product training, salestraining and software training require courses with high interactivity for effective learning experience.
Similar kind of output can be achieved using Articulate Engage. Unlike other authoring tools like Lectora and Captivate, Articulate Engage gives you an option to create interactivities, which will help in creating effective learning experience.
Subject Matter Experts (SME) or Instructional Designers (ID) can use these templates to create storyboards and complete the course in short time, making it cost effective.
Some of the popular instructional approaches that can be used are given below along with the Articulate screen shots.
Clickable Circular Diagram: Shows various elements of a process.
FAQs: Useful as a quick reference for sales training kit.
Glossary Template: Highly visual glossary page for explaining the concept or a term easily.
Guided Imagery: Useful for product training and explaining the parts of a product.
Labeled Graphics: Useful to explain software screens or labeling parts of a product. When the user clicks on the rollover icon (hotspot), the explanation for same is displayed.
Media Tour: Useful for animations and embedding videos.
Process: It explains the process/procedure in a step wise format. Recommended for production or manufacturing processes.
Pyramid: Shows various steps or hierarchy levels in a process.
Timelines: Shows history or process of any activity vis-à-vis time.
Click on Tabs: To provide additional information on a given set of topics.
Posted by Abdul Razzaque Hussain on Tuesday, October 27, 2009 @ 09:41 AM
Hello! Today we will learn about how we can use Lectora translation tool for rapid development of translations. In this blog, I will show you one page translation procedure demo using Lectora 2008.
Let’s translate one page of English course into Simplified Chinese.
First, we need to export all the content into the translation text file. This can be done easily using the inbuilt tool available in Lectora.
Click on the Tools menu item from the Menu bar, and then click on the Translation Tool menu item.
The Translation Tool dialog opens. In the dialog box, choose the ‘Export text to a translation file’ option. Next check ‘The current page only’ option; since this is a demo, we are translating only one (current page) only.
Click on the ‘Browse’ button for the location to save the exported text file. Enter the file name and click on ‘Open’ and then click the ‘OK’ button.
At the end of the procedure, you will be able to see the exported file. Let’s view the text file.
In the document, you will come across instructions like ‘Do not edit this line’ in red. The translators need to be informed about not to delete or translate these instructions. They need to translate only the text below the instruction line.
Let’s have a look at the document translated by the translator. Here is the translated file, Click to view the document. Except for the instructions line, the text is translated into Simplified Chinese language.
After we receive the translated document, we need to import it into the Lectora to replace the English content with Simplified Chinese. Let’s see how to do it.
Again click on the ‘Tools’ menu item from the ‘Menu’ options and then click on the ‘Translation Tool’ menu item.
Next, check the radio button next to ‘Import text from a translation file’. Check the ‘Increase text box size if needed’ option to adjust the text size of the translated content automatically by Lectora.
Click on the ‘The current page only’ optionto import as this is a demo.
Click on ‘Browse’ button to locate the translated file and then click on ‘OK’ ‘button. The translated content will replace the text content in the original language on the page.
Check for any formatting / alignment issues.Similarly you can do it for the entire course.
If you need to localize the course you can replace the images and other objects like Flash, manually. Once you are finished with editing the text and localizing the content, the course is ready to publish.
Posted by RK Prasad on Monday, October 26, 2009 @ 07:55 AM
As President Obama declares H1N1 a National Emergency, we felt that there is a tremendous need to understand the H1N1 virus – precautions, symptoms and cure. Awareness will help us reduce panic and eradicate swine flu soon.
Here are some useful information on precautions, symptoms and useful online resources to keep you aware about the flu on a regular basis.
Precautions
Wash your hands thoroughly and frequently.
Keep your throat clean by gargling twice a day with warm salt water or Listerine. Clean your nose frequently.
Build your immune system by eating vitamin C rich food and Vitamin C supplements.
Technology based training methods can play a major role in minimizing the training time and quickly spreading the information across to all.
As a part of their social responsibility, corporate groups should come forward and support government efforts to help get control over the deadly disease.
Posted by Abdul Razzaque Hussain on Thursday, October 22, 2009 @ 07:17 AM
Research in current learning theory highlights the importance of using the learning process to determine the architecture of courses – rather than the structure of the content driving the architecture. It also demonstrates that there are four main phases in the learning cycle.
The four main phases of the learning cycle are:
1. Review: Sets the context and helps the learner bridge prior knowledge through an understanding of a broader context for new knowledge. Krathwohl’s Affective Domain Taxonomy can be taken as the benchmark model.
The role of phase 1 in the learning process is to influence the attitudes, values and beliefs of the learner to create “anticipatory set” for learning key concepts and principles in phase 2. Phase 1 may include a pre-test of prior knowledge and also may include activities. This phase may be called: Background, Introduction, Context, Reflection or another named deemed appropriate to the course goals. This phase answers the question “Why?”
2. Learning: The second phase is the Information Transfer or Knowledge Acquisition phase. Blooms Cognitive Domain Taxonomy can be taken as the benchmark model.
Phase 2 provides core content of the course. Core content may be procedural/process based, or concept/principle based. Phase 2 will be the largest section of “tutorial” or information transfer based courses. It may contain activities, exercises and tests. This phase answers the questions “What?”
3. Application: The phase 3 will consist of case studies or best practices or applied exercises. During this phase, learners develop an understanding of how to apply the new knowledge and skills in a generalized way and may be given an opportunity to practice skills. Problem-solving and decision-tree learning are appropriate learning models for Application
Phase 3 provides demonstrations of the application of the knowledge. This may include best practices, scenario/case study presentations or activities and/or case study exercises. Phase 3 may be called Cases, Case Studies, Scenarios, Activities, Application or another name deemed appropriate for the course goals. It answers the question “How?”
4. Adaptation: The last and the most important phase for performance improvement, which completes the learning cycle. The Accommodation Process is critical to improve performance because it is during this phase that the learner develops an understanding of how to apply the new knowledge and skills to the actual work context of the learner and is provided with the means to support transfer.
Phase 4 provides direction and support to help the learner transfer the new knowledge to his or her own performance context needs. It may include Job Aids, Guides and Guidelines, Checklists, Criteria lists, team or follow-up activities or Toolkits that include templates or forms. This phase may be called Adaptation, Getting There, Toolkit, Job Aids, Tools, Extension or another name deemed appropriate for the course goals. It answers the question “Now what?”
Posted by Abdul Razzaque Hussain on Tuesday, October 20, 2009 @ 06:46 AM
Product training through eLearning offers a wonderful opportunity to enrich sales training programs with simulated product presentations and product walk-through in various selling situations. Actually eLearning also offers a comprehensive platform for Customer Service and Business Process Training.
Various industries such as Petroleum, Power Tools, Software, Financial Services, Metals & Minerals, Farms & Agriculture, etc, avail of eLearning courses for product training.
Beside Flash and HTML, authoring tools like Captivate, Articulate and Lectora are most commonly used to create product training eLearning courses.
Product Simulation
Based on product manuals, promotional literature and product images, highly interactive flash-based courses are created using product simulation. It makes learning highly effective and quick.
‘Watch-Try-Do’ approach is one of the most effective ways to demonstrating how a software product works. The learner gets the real time experience of how the software works and also gets the opportunity to work on the simulated environment.
Posted by Abdul Razzaque Hussain on Monday, October 19, 2009 @ 08:38 AM
“The effectiveness of training is multiplied when the content is translated into region-specific languages and localized harmoniously to fit into the culture of the target audience.”
There are various elements in an elearning course that need to be considered while translating the course into multiple languages. Here is the 5 step process for translating the course into multiple languages:
Client Inputs Phase: In this step, the content is extracted from the course and a detailed storyboard is developed. The effectiveness of the translation depends mainly on the quality of the storyboard. This storyboard contains all elements that need to be translated – content, images, objects etc.
Translation Phase: In this phase the translation is actually done based on the storyboard. The translation is done by native professionals and then proof read by another native professional. Before scaling up, a sample translation is send to the client for approval. The final output of translation process is the translated storyboards in various languages.
Integration Phase: Based on the translated storyboards, the course is build, using the source files. Effort must be taken to localize the content and image placement.
Quality Phase: In this phase linguistic and technical quality check is done for the course.
Final Submission: Deliver the translated course to the client. Final client edits and feedbacks are incorporated and project is signed off.
Have a look at our multi language course on electrical safety done in 8 languages.
Posted by RK Prasad on Wednesday, October 14, 2009 @ 05:37 AM
In today’s global economy, as organizations operate in hundreds of languages and locales, the need for global localization is very much on the rise. The need to train organization’s culturally and linguistically diverse workforce effectively is very important and using their own language as a medium is considered the best way.
Imagine elearning content development on Product Training or SalesTraining that needs to be delivered in 10 different languages… a mammoth task.
We at CommLab do this job very well. Last year, we translated and localized more than 30 courses in 14 languages. I am sharing some lessons we learnt from this experience. These experiences can come handy if you are considering translating and localizing elearning courses yourself or outsourcing it to third party companies like CommLab.
Text & Images: Avoid having text superimposed on images as this requires the translated text to be once again inserted in the image. You cannot do that without opening the image file. This translates to increase in work, manpower time and cost. So try to avoid text on images.
Special Storyboards: Always use custom-made storyboard formats or templates to send the original content to the translators. The template should have a provision for the translator to add the translated content, juxtaposed with the original content. Besides ensuring accuracy of the content, it’s easier for the translator and the production staff to see the content in both the languages side by side. Avoid sending screen shots containing the content as it is difficult to read the negligible writing on the screen shots. You can create your own storyboard formats or ask your vendor to create them for you.
Audio Script: Seek clarification from the subject matter experts (SMEs) on how to pronounce abbreviations (like HACCP, TOEPM) or technical words. Incorrect pronunciation of commonly occurring word can cause havoc with the quality, timelines and costs.
Dialects: Do you want French? English – Canadian or European? Spanish – Mexican or European? Chinese – Mandarin or Cantonese? Mainland or Hong Kong? Please clarify before you start.
Choice of Narrators: Always chose more than one. The one you chose may not be available.
I hope the list is useful. Feel free to add from your experience.
Posted by RK Prasad on Wednesday, October 14, 2009 @ 03:17 AM
CommLab India, a veteran in developing custom eLearning courses has recently tied up with eLearning for kids, the global non-profit foundation to develop eLearning courses on various subjects for kids across the world. It will also translate and localize existing courses into a host of other languages to reach more kids. All these services will, of course, be offered free of cost.
RK Prasad and Ayesha, the top team at CommLab India met Dr. Nick van Dam, Founder and Chairman of eLearning for kids in Hyderabad to discuss various ways how CommLab can support and contribute to the wonderful work that Dr. van Dam has started. It was a very fruitful meeting of like-minded professionals who want to contribute to one of the most disadvantaged sections of our society – kids.
Left to right: Ayesha (COO, CommLab India), Dr. Nick van Dam (Founder and Chairman, eLearning for kids) and RK Prasad (CEO, CommLab India).
Some areas for immediate collaboration were, of course, eLearning courseware development, translation & localization of courses in English and re-branding CommLab’s existing courses for eLearning for kids. CommLab also volunteered to promote the foundation among the schools and teachers, especially in Hyderabad.
Work has already started in right earnest in re-branding existing courses.
About e-Learning for kids
Established in 2004, e-Learning for kids is a global nonprofit foundation dedicated to fun and free learning on the Internet for children between the ages 5 – 12, with courses in math, science, reading, health and computers. A volunteer staff consists of education and e-learning experts and business professionals from around the world committed to making a difference.
CommLab India (www.commlabindia.com) is an end-to-end eLearning solutions company based in India. Since 2000, it has been providing state-of-the-art eLearning services to organizations across the world in the areas of Custom Courseware, Catalog Courses and Learning Technology. Some of its reputed clients are BC Hydro, George Washington University, Kawasaki and Deloitte. They are preferred vendors to more than 15 Fortune 500 companies such as Alcoa, Unilever and Pepco Holding Inc.
The CommLab India eLearning Blog is all about the latest, most useful and most talked about topics under Corporate Training, Performance and Learning Technology.
