Creating a Custom Quiz Results Page in Adobe Captivate 8
In this video I explain how you can add a custom quiz results page in Adobe Captivate 8. A simple thing really, but the regular results page doesn't really cut it for me. Check it out.
A New Website
Today is the first day of my new website. I have had a 9-5 for a few years now, but I have decided to return the role of professional consultant. While a brick and mortar location isn't really my style, nor within my budget, this website will become my home on the web. I intend to showcase my work, advertise what I'm capable of assisting you with and discuss what's new in the business of online and classroom learning. Be sure to check back often, as I have no intention of simply having a static website. There will always be something new to see and do.
Inexpensive Not Cheap Photos
http://www.dollarphotoclub.com/
I Couldn't Live Without Photoshop
I found this Photoshop CS5 tutorial for beginners through the pop-up that shows up in Adobe Captivate and I thought I would share it. I haven't gone through it yet, but it looks pretty good. It contains over 13 hours of teaching material. Based on the topic list, which I scanned, it looks like I could learn a few things here and there.
Learning Android App
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.nitobi.nfb&hl=en
Culture is maintained by the people and isn't the responsibility of the government, however here in Canada, culture was certainly supported in the 1970s and 80s by organizations like the CBC and the National Film Board of Canada. I think the work that the NFB did is something that should be supported and not simply left to rot in the audio/visual departments of libraries across Canada.
This app allows today's viewers to watch films and vignettes that people like myself grew up watching on public television. I really recommend this app for Android users.
Wow, I Can’t Believe How Long It’s Been
Wow, I can’t believe how long its been since I blogged. I want to assure anyone who still might be looking at my blog that this is not because of a lack of interest, but rather an indication of how busy I have been.
For those that are not aware, I have been working for an international airport developing a catalogue of eLearning for them. At times I have been working on multiple projects at once and have found it stressful. I’m not sure if I have spoken about this topic before, but how do you manage multiple projects at once?
The answer to this question is project management. You need to plan your entire development cycle down to the smallest detail. This eliminates that point in your work where you sit there, wondering what to do next. If you break it down to enough small points, you know exactly what you need to accomplish each and every day. Here is an example of what I mean:
1. Meet with stakeholder and discuss the goals of training
2. Meet with subject matter experts and identify the steps or topics that need to be covered to achieve the goals of training
3. Write a learning plan (proposal for training) that shows what you intend to develop and why it will achieve the stakeholders goals
4. Schedule a meeting where the learning plan can be discussed
5. Revise learning plan based on feedback from meeting
6. Schedule a second meeting where you seek sign-off of learning plan
7. Begin your development of training, and so
Of course I assign dates and how much time each of these steps will take. This continues with the rest of ADDIE and I storyboard my courses, usually go through two or three rounds of reviews, followed by my development in the authoring tool with a few rounds of reviews as well.
The advantage of using this detailed approach is that you can be very accurate in estimating when you can deliver a project. It also keeps you on point. Have you ever arrived at work and wondered, what should I work on next? This answers that question. Go to your project plan and see what the next task is that you need to complete.
Where this gets tricky is when you are managing multiple projects at once.
Make the Windows Start Screen More Like the Start Menu
I’ve figured out a way to make the Windows 8 Start screen more like the traditional Windows Start menu. By adding shortcuts to the typical items you would find such as My Computer, or your User folder you can easily access them without too much difficulty.
In addition, I added shortcuts to the power options used for restart and shutdown, thanks to an article I found on How-to Geek. Just add shortcuts to the following commands:
Shutdown Computer
Shutdown.exe -s -t 00
Restart Computer
Shutdown.exe -r -t 00
You can use alternate icons by going to the properties window of these new shortcuts and selecting a new icon such as I have in the screenshot above.
Windows 8 Again
I've been using Windows 8 again. I know, I must be a glutton for punishment, but I really want to try and make a go of it.
I was amazed today when I had to Google how to log off of my user account. They really have “reimagined” Windows. Logging off was tied to shutting down and restarting, however now to log off you click on the tile that represents you as a user in the upper right corner of the Start screen. A drop down appears with the options for Change account picture, Lock and Sign out.
Is this all a cruel prank by Steven Sinofsky on the eve of his departure from Microsoft?
5 Things to Never Put in eLearning
Actual employees
When you use photographs or videos of actual company employees, you run several risks. When that employee is fired for stealing money out of the petty cash fund, your eLearning will suddenly look very inappropriate.
Content you don’t own the rights to
Whether you are a contractor or an employee, this could get you in hot water when the actual content owner decides to sue the company or you. Watch the video below to learn how you can embed a YouTube video into your course and avoid the risk of using someone else's intellectual property.
Pop Culture References
No matter how popular the pop culture reference is, there will always be one or two people who don’t understand it. This will alienate your audience.
Humour (in bad taste)
Similar to the pop culture reference, you run the risk of alienating anyone for who the humour goes over their head. Not to mention the problems you might face if your joke actually offends one or more from your audience.
Optional content
Online learning should be clear and concise. Any nice to have’s are simply wasting your audiences time. Stick to the learning objectives, and if you do put optional content in the course, clearly mark it as something that can be skipped.
Offer Office 2013 Training To Your Employees Right Now
For those of you who are not aware, Microsoft provides the Office suite of products available to employees of corporations who subscribe to Microsoft’s volume license agreements. The idea is that if you make the software available to employees for a really great price for their home PCs, they will learn how to use the software at home on their own time. This keeps the cost of training for an organization low, and keeps the workforce up to date on the latest software. This is a really good example of informal learning.
I was listening to one of my favourite tech podcasts, Windows Weekly, when I heard mention that the Home Use Program for Office 2013 was already available. I checked my company’s HUP website and sure enough, Office 2013 was available to purchase. I believe in the United States it sells through this program for $10; In Canada it sells for $11.
If you are responsible for Office training in your organization, check with your IT department if you have access to this great program. It’s a excellent way to get employees comfortable with the newest office software.