May 26th, 2011 by Robin Green

If you’re a teacher considering creating an e-learning course, put together a list of helpful resources and guidelines for creating an effective online learning experience. People choose e-learning courses for many reasons, including accessibility and flexibility. The cost effectiveness of online learning is another huge plus for many students. Learning can happen any time, anywhere, whether it’s squeezed in between work and dinner, or even on the treadmill at the gym. Creating quality online courses that motivates students and interacts with them is key to success.

The Teacher’s Role

In the same way that a teacher conducts a traditional in-person classroom, the teacher must also be the leader in an elearning course. Even though you are not accessible face-to-face, many students would expect you to be in contact should any questions arise. Online teachers must find creative ways to encourage student participation, a sense of group unity, and interaction between students and also between the teacher and the students. The accessibility of the teacher can significantly affect the online learning experience and what students get out of an online class.

Student Interaction

Ultimately, teacher participation is only as effective as student participation. For the system to work, the online class must be arranged in such a way that it requires the active involvement of the student as well. Students in an elearning environment must be responsible for reading and completing the assignments, investigating more deeply into the information if required, participating in online forums and posting well-developed and thoughtful answers, and engaging with peers. Posting answers on forums should be an interactive experience, meaning that students should read, reflect on, and respond to the posts of other students. Only in this way do students contribute to the online discussion in a meaningful way, and recreate the peer learning experience that face-to-face classrooms offer.

Student Responsibilities

When putting together your list of helpful resources and guidelines for an elearning course, one aspect that you’ll need to put thought into is the kinds of assignments you will include, the frequency of assignments, and the features of each of them. Unlike what the common belief of people who have never had an online learning experience, elearning isn’t easy, and can be more engaging, challenging, and rewarding than face-to-face classrooms. Why? Unlike in a traditional classroom where oftentimes students can get away with minimal participation, and other students seem to consistently hold the microphone, online interaction is a requirement in e-learning. Therefore, more thought and preparation are necessary. Furthermore, online learning requires a kind of self-directed effort that traditional classrooms don’t; the willingness to complete learning assignments on one’s own time requires a self-discipline that ultimately helps the learner on a long-term basis.

Elearning Course Delivery

There are many options for creating an online course. One is through a learning management system (LMS) like Coggno, which provides course creators with simple tools and an online marketplace for create and delivering their courses. If you’re thinking of rolling out with an e-learning course, take a tour of Coggno’s LMS and marketplace. Or, sign up for a free account and have your e-learning content ready for distribution in a matter of minutes.

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Coggno.com provides high-quality online educational services.

May 20th, 2011 by Robin Green

Whether you’re starting a new business or managing an old one, the last thing you probably want to think about is failure.  However, failure is a part of life and a part of growth. Growth never takes place without pain, hardship, and mistakes. So if your organization has recently undergone a problem, big or small, consider it a growing pain, and an opportunity to learn from what just happened.

Of course, the first step is to identify the problem. In order to set potential growth and learning from misteakes in motion after a failure or problem within your business, you have to get to the root causes. Root cause analysis is one way to go about it.

Root cause analysis (RCA) is a management process that seeks to understand the causes for performance and other process-related problems in an organization or business. By determining and implementing corrective measures to negate the root causes, previously encountered problems are less likely to occur.

Get to the Root

Simply perceiving the outward symptoms of a problem usually isn’t  enough to get to the depth of its root causes. Root cause analysis training helps to uncover the most insidious and deep roots, as well as to implement smart and effective changes.

Root cause analysis is a tool of continuous improvement. Continous improvement is a Japanese philosophy known as Kaizen (”kai” meaning “change” and “zen” meaning “good”). One might say that kaizen is responsible for Japan’s competitive labor force and overall success in the business world.

RCA helps organizations to discover methods that allow problematic events to be predicted and eliminated before they occur.

Why RCA Online Training?

RCA online training is convenient and cost-effective. You will learn to identify and solve problems in equipment failure and system failure, as well as how to improve processes in order to prevent future failures.

RCA online training has proven effective in getting to the bottom of problems to solve them long-term, rather than simply producing a temporary solution to a problem bound to resurface at some point in the future.

RCA Types

Although Root Cause Analysis is a group of methods that cannot be narrowed down to one specific methodology, there are a few broadly defined methods which address different kinds of problems. These are safety-based, production-based, failure-based, and systems-based approaches.

Safety-based RCA includes accident analysis and occupational safety. Production-based RCA includes quality control for manufacturing systems. Process-based RCA is related to production-based RCA, but which also includes business processes. Failure-based RCA includes engineering and maintenance failure analysis. Finally, systems-based RCA covers all the other approaches, condensing them and also including systems analysis, change management, and risk management.

The Magic Ingredient

The effectiveness of RCA online training depends a great deal on the use of systems: RCA must be carried out in a systematic manner. It must involve an investigation which uncovers root causes and conslusions that are taken from documented evidence. Although there may be multiple root causes for an event or problem, the key is to develop a persistent and sustainable effort to resolve and eliminate the problem. Click here to visit Coggno, sign up for a free account, and have your learning material ready for distribution in 5 minutes—it’s that easy.

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Coggno.com provides high quality e-learning courses worldwide.

May 11th, 2011 by Robin Green

Learning systems like Coggno, which offers multi language versions of its simple user interface, provide learners and trainees with a rich learning experience. The feature of a multi-language interface makes possible the simple and fast distribution of learning content to learners who might be anywhere in the world and who speak Spanish, Russian, Portuguese or German.

Of course, this means that your training or other kind of education content can be delivered to speakers of various languages. Your content might be related to business, health, human resources, information technology, personal counseling, or real estate. Or, it might be a course on language learning itself.

Why do more organizations need language learning courses?

With an increasingly globalized economy, language ability is becoming a more valuable skill for employees. From the management of international teams of staff to the translation and quick in-house proofreading of publicity texts, having staff on board who are able to work in various languages is an invaluable asset to more and more companies. Language learning courses can train employees in writing, research, social media, copy-editing, and proofreading.

How can you create a rich language course?

Using a learning system like Coggno provides a simple way to create language learning content. As with any learning content, the more multimedia used, the more texture the course will have and the more interesting it will be for learners. Since language learning is an experience that requires sound and is most effective when complemented with both visuals and sound, the integration of media like podcasts and videos into your language learning content is tremendously beneficial.

Create podcasts in language learning

Since language acquisition depends largely on listening skills, podcasts are an effective tool, not to mention fun to create. If you’ve ever created a podcast, you were probably stunned by how easy it was, and perhaps the fact that you enjoyed doing it. And with learning systems like Coggno, podcast creation and distribution to your learners is fast and easy with the Apple podcast creation feature.

If you decide to make podcasts to include in your learning material, just be sure to intersperse music, sound bites, and other ear-catching audio to break up the speech and make for more pleasurable listening. Also, of course, it’s key to choose an interesting topic.

Include videos in language learning

Videos are another great asset for language learning content. You can either include a pre-made video or create your own, using Coggno’s simple video tool. Personally, I prefer the latter—like podcast creation, creating a video can be a lot of fun. Write up a short dialog in the language of your course, and get a couple of people to act it out. Then, repeat the same scenario, but this time with subtitles in the course language.

Finally, have the actors address the viewers, asking questions about what they have just seen. Then plug those questions into Coggno’s simple quiz creator so that the students can also read the questions and answer them through the course’s interface. Click here to visit Coggno, sign up for a free account, and have your learning material ready for distribution in 5 minutes—it’s that easy.

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Coggno.com offers world class LMS set of features and benefits.

May 10th, 2011 by Robin Green

(May 9, 2011, San Jose, CA) Coggno Learning Management System, the premier online distributor of electronic educational and training curriculum, has released multi language versions of its user interface. Coggno will now be available for use in Spanish, Russian, Portuguese, and German, enhancing learner experiences over a broad geographic area and helping the company serve clients throughout South America, and Europe, making it the only entity capable of providing this level of functionality to users in languages other than English.

The integration of these languages will allow for seamless, integrated learner experiences in countries other than the United States, allowing students and trainees to log into one convenient location and complete curriculum in their mother tongue. This enhances the reach of Coggno’s software, enabling it to become an integral part of organizations, and educational institutions that are spearheading the drive towards online learning. All of Coggno’s tools and functionality is now available in the multi-lingual format, and can easily be toggled to through a button in the user interface. Students and trainees will enjoy optimum ease of use through the state-of-the-art technology Coggno affords and all users can take advantage of the system in their home language.

Tod Browndorf, Vice President of Content Management at Coggno, commented, “This greatly expands the reach of hat Coggno is trying to accomplish, it provides a robust resource to training and educational professionals in Al Spanish speaking countries, Brazil, Portugal, Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, German. The capacity to effect peoples learning experiences is enormous, and we are excited to be facilitating this for our learners around the world”. ” Additionally, corporations in other countries can no enjoy significant savings on travel and training expenses by empowering employees to learn in their own language

The Coggno Learning Management System enables all types of organizations to use technology to provide educational services through high-quality online curriculum that is universally accessible. Coggno’s executive team and advisors deliver content and relevant training through state-of-the art technology that allows participants to interact with the educational vehicle. For more information, please visit Coggno’s Web site.

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Coggno.com offers high-quality e-learning education.

May 5th, 2011 by Robin Green

Conflict. We see it on the news, from Bin Laden’s death to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. We see it in our daily lives, personal and professional. At work, we might see it on refrigerator doors or in the tense dynamic between coworkers.

Conflict is the very fabric of existence. Without it there would be no war, no fights, but there would also be no revolution or democracy—there would just be world-wide sameness and complacency. There would also be no great novels or any great works of art to speak of.

Given the all-encompassing nature of conflict, we could say it’s a neutral force, neither positive nor negative. It’s putty; it simply asks to be transformed into something else.

So once we accept that conflict is not only inevitable, but a necessary catalyst for change, then we can ask the question: why isn’t conflict resolution a topic taught extensively in schools? Lots of companies offer conflict management and team-building courses, but by the time adults are part of these professional environments, too often, bad conflict resolution habits have already been developed.

But it’s never too late to learn how to manage, resolve, and benefit from conflicts. Even though some things might have been more easily absorbed when we were children, the things we missed in grammar school we eventually pick up along the way.

Unresolved conflicts in the workplace

Unresolved conflicts are like untreated infections. The longer they are left alone, the more difficult they become to eliminate, and the nastier manifestations they produce. Everything from passive aggressive notes left on refrigerator doors to icy interactions between employees which create divisions and make everyone feel uncomfortable create an unhealthy work environment.

Unpleasant work environments are the number one source of poor employee morale. And as everyone knows, employee morale is a tremendous factor in the success of any organization.

We like to poke fun at complaintive, often snarky notes posted on refrigerator doors at work. They’re often written in anger, with gratuitous exclamation points, and later can be read for a laugh. But basically they point to a kind of pathetic communication failure. And if we’re totally honest, how many of us are guilty of leaving notes when we could have spoken in person to someone instead?

The different faces of conflict

There are many different kinds of conflict, and many different ways to resolve them. LMS conflict management training can cover all the bases of conflict—which are sure to arise—so that employees have the tools required to resolve them before they fester.

Conflict management training: Assertive, not aggressive

Conflict management training can teach employees the communicative tools required to resolve conflict when it arises. One important distinction employees will learn is the difference between being assertive and being aggressive. When people are assertive, they are able to voice their perspective without the negative consequences that come with aggression. They learn to be firm and stand their ground to reach a solution without losing their tempers.

Online tools for conflict management

One common cause of conflict is the unclear delegation of responsibilities. One way in which team projects can be made clear as to who does what is with the use of discussion forums, video conferencing, and other web 2.0 tools. The goal, remember, is to enhance communication, since conflicts are best resolved quickly and openly. Organizing information regarding employee achievements and team objectives is another way to squash conflict in a timely manner.

When left untreated, conflicts are an expensive wastes of time. An untreated infection after a while weakens the entire immune system, leading to other problems. The health of an organization’s body depends on its staff and staff relations. Conflicts are always going to arise. But what comes out of them—positive or negative—will be the defining element in the long life of an organization.

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Coggno.com offers world class LMS.

May 3rd, 2011 by Robin Green

Everyone knows that “education is a lifelong process”. Whether it’s the school of life or the University of Somewhere or Other, we’re always learning something. A traditional college education might be a cost-prohibitive endeavour in these tough economic times, but it is no longer the only educational option. A learning management system can be beneficial to everyone, no matter what your stage of life or current situation. There are many reasons to go back to school, and these days, “school” does not necessarily mean a classroom.

It takes a lot of courage for a mature student to go back to school, even in the best of circumstances. In fact, it may be the primary reason for students long removed from an academic environment to exhibit reticence. Today’s alternative classrooms consist of materials you absorb at your own pace, and not with a teacher or professor standing over your shoulder. Of course, there is a lot of self-motivation involved in embracing an LMS platform, but you’ll surprise yourself with how willing you are to embark on one once you get comfortable with the medium.

If you can use Google or another search engine to find things that are important to you, like the best deal on that designer purse you’ve been coveting, or a great price on carpet cleaning for your home, why not invest some time in educating yourself? Researching a learning management system is quick and easy; as easy as ordering up a pizza or making that impulse purchase on your favourite e-commerce site. Even with employment prospects improving slightly, it has never been more important to sharpen your skills in your current field, or gain new ones to help raise your profile in an extremely competitive job market. Gone are the days when the 9 to 5 crowd dragged themselves to night school. Now, you can have your own school, wherever it is most convenient and comfortable for you.

The average college credit is now somewhere in the neighbourhood of $700.00. With each course usually coming in at 3 credits, an education can become a huge expense. What would it be like to be able to consider taking a course that tops out at $225.00? You can get the practical experience needed to succeed without having to sacrifice employment or drag yourself to a college campus after a long day at the office. Maybe you’d like to embark on a career that is completely different than your current occupation. The timing has never been better, and the tools you need to accomplish that task have never been easier to get your hands on. All it takes is an Internet connection and a willingness to embrace new modes of learning. Everything from Real Estate, to careers in the healthcare industry are there for the taking if you are willing to self-motivate and take the plunge. Learning doesn’t get harder as you get older; technology makes it easier. Plus, you can learn literally anywhere.

The time you spend searching for the inane can be used for something that can be an investment in yourself and your future. It’s easy, it’s inexpensive, and it works. You don’t need another purse from the auction site; you need to find a learning management system that can help you gain an edge and increase your knowledge base.

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Coggno.com provides high-quality online education worldwide.