June 30th, 2011 by Robin Green

Regardless of whether you have experience in distance learning, if you’re a professional copy-editor and proofreader, you understand your work isn’t just about finding and correcting errors in text. Your ability to navigate the intricate web of factors and rules for deciding what parts of a text to change and how to change them, and when it’s best to leave good enough alone, ultimately decide how good you are at your trade.

Online proofreading courses are an affordable way for copy-editors and proofreaders to sharpen their existing skills. And for beginner copy-editors, gaining this skill in a formal context can open the door to many different jobs including writing reports, publicity writing, journalistic writing and news articles, marketing content, and more.

In a copy-editing course, you’ll learn to differentiate between the numerous editorial, proofreading and typesetting roles within the publishing industry.

Then, you’ll get into the nitty-gritty of copy-editing. To be an effective copy-editor, of course, you’ve got to have a solid grip on the basics. An online course will review how to identify typical spelling, grammatical, punctuation and layout mistakes in printed text. To be a great copy-editor, proficiency in the application and understanding of the parts of speech including nouns and pronouns, verbs, adverbs and adjectives is an absolute must.

Web editorial skills

Today most editors need to have some experience working with online content, and a growing market exists for proofreaders who can tailor their content for a web audience. A distance learning course in copy-editing will help you adapt your skills to the online medium to enable expanding your client base. Furthermore, if you yourself are responsible for online content, an online course in copy-editing can greatly improve your ranking and the quality of your web content. Learn how internet content differs from printed text, and how to structure and articulate your content in a way that is easily to read online.

Tech-savvy copy-editing

You will also build on or develop your knowledge of computer applications. More and more content copy-editors and proofreaders are expected to read is web-based. Perhaps you are already working from content on the web but aren’t sure that you’re doing it correctly. An online course can help smooth out the uncertainties and give you the tools for seeking guidelines for publishing on the web. You’ll gain an overall competency in your knowledge of theoretical and practical features of proofreading and copy-editing.

Get with the program….or is it programme?

Is it program or programme? One important topic in a copy-editing or proofreading distance learning course is that of regional and stylistic language differences, such as MLA or APA and differences between British and American English. Copy-editing is one of those professions where the devil is in the details: a UK-based client will not want to see z’s (realize, utilize, etc.) in their text where they do not belong, for example. Consistency is key.

An online course should cover these regional differences to guide proofreaders in their task of marking text accurately.

Proofreading vs. Copy-editing

All this talk of proofreading and copy-editing, but what really is the difference between a proofreader and a copy-editor? Simply put, the copy-editor works on a book in its manuscript stage, while the proofreader works on the galley proof. Proofreaders are expected to make less subtantive changes than copy-editors. If you are searching for an LMS online course to brush up on your marketable skills, check out Coggno’s selection of distance learning courses.

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Coggno.com is leading provider of Learning Management System.

June 23rd, 2011 by Robin Green

Last month, Coggno announced the deployment of Russian, Spanish, Portuguese and German languages into our Learning Management System software. Now is the time to think globally, not locally when it comes to learning. Giving non-English speaking and bilingual employees in international locations (or even those in the U.S.) the ability to learn in their native languages is a win-win for everyone.

Why Should I Consider Global LMS for My Organization?

Having foreign language capabilities in your Learning management system provides bilingual employees, as well as those who are native speakers of the above mentioned languages, to learn new material in their mother tongue, at a pace they feel comfortable with. We native English speakers don’t realize how difficult it is to learn a different language, especially as adults. Individuals may feel comfortable speaking English conversationally, but when it comes to learning, they will be better able to comprehend the material in their native language.

Is it Difficult to Integrate Additional Languages into My LMS?

Not at all. You still get the same conveniences regardless of language. Employees anywhere in the world with access to a high-speed Internet connection can log in to access materials in any available language. All types of materials can be made available in your languages of choice including skills assessment, certifications and even testing to ensure that employees are learning what they need to know to become more productive and efficient.

Global LMS Saves on Travel Expenses

If you’re part of an international organization, bringing employees together from all over the world is a pretty hefty expense. You can save big on traveling costs by giving international employees the opportunity to participate in training from their home countries, without the hassle of flying them halfway around the world to participate in seminars and skills development sessions. It can all be done online in a language of choice, at their own pace.

Management, Administration and Employees Can Participate

Students and Employees have the ability to pick and choose their courses, and auto-enrolment can also be provided based on job descriptions. Managers and supervisors are kept apprised of a student’s progress, and administrators can modify, create and manage materials to suit their needs. Testing and report generation are available no matter which language you choose to work in.

Give a Boost of Confidence to Your Employees

Native English speakers take for granted that people the world over will always understand them. The global economy demands that business be conducted in the languages relevant to your organization’s place in the world. If your company employs German, Spanish, Portuguese and Russian speaking individuals, or if you have locations in countries that speak these languages, it is important to incorporate native culture into the corporate culture. Employees need this to feel they are making a significant contribution. By offering them learning materials in their native language, they will gain confidence and feel empowered in their positions.

Now is the Time to Integrate

If you are already using a learning management system and want to integrate foreign languages, now is the time. Give your existing employees the opportunity to improve their performance by getting the necessary training they need, and entice newcomers to your organization by embracing multiculturalism. It doesn’t matter which language we learn in, as long as we never stop learning.

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Coggno.com provides high-quality online education  world-wide.

June 15th, 2011 by Robin Green

Distance learning is a valuable resource for proofreaders and copy-editors, professions which are in high demand in today’s global market place.

However,  these valuable skills are often needed in environments where coworkers or clients are not able to do their own editing, and therefore on-the-job training is often lacking.

Many proofreaders and copy-editors are self-taught and have little formal training.

What are the best proofreading distance learning options?

Online training can consolidate and expand upon skills which have been developed on-the-job through trial and error. Distance learning in proofreading and copy-editing is a great option for people already doing this work who would like to brush up on their skills. Most courses also involve theory and context, helping learners understand editorial tasks in the context of the complex publishing process.

Levels of copy-editing elearning

There are three standard levels of copy-editing training: beginner, intermediate and advanced. Beginner courses are for well suited to those who have an interest in copy-editing but have no formal work or education in copy-editing. An intermediate level is appropriate for those who have been copy-editing for a year or more. An advanced level is meant for those who have already had formal education in copy-editing or proofreading and who simply want to polish their skills.

Who enrolls in copy-editing courses?

An LMS distance learning course in copy-editing is useful not only for people currently working in the industry, but also for those editors who are experienced but who are out of practice, such as in-house staff who have taken on other roles within an organization, or people with a background in editing.

Why knowing “the rules” doesn’t cut it

To be an efficient copy-editor, you need to develop strategies to maximize your existing skills. That’s where online learning comes in: to help you organize and expand your understanding.

Knowing “the rules” of  grammar, punctuation, form etc. is only part of the big picture. To be a copy-editor or proofreader you must also possess the self-confidence and organizational skills to put these rules into practice. An e-learning course in copy-editing teaches critical skills which you can offer to your clients to make you a highly depended-upon asset to their work.

What you’ll learn

An online course in copy-editing will teach you, among other things, how to: interpret your client’s instructions, even when they are unclear or difficult to understand; propose solutions rather than seek help from your client or other sources; be decisive; take control of the situation and all the details involved in the work; and give your work a complete and professional touch.

If you are a copy-editor who has experience and expertise in your field, and are considering creating an online course for proofreading or copy-editing, check out Coggno’s simple online course creator toolkit. The simple user interface and fast delivery make distance learning creation or in-house training content development easy and fast.

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Coggno.com offers high-quality LMS.

June 8th, 2011 by Robin Green

Online learning isn’t just for college students, but adults seeking to learn the universal business language of software skills.

If you’re in the job market, you’ve probably seen many ads that read something like “Computer skills are a must” or “The ideal candidate for this position is computer savvy.” You might be expected to use database software, or Microsoft programs like Outlook, Excel, or Access. Desktop online learning offers the most needed skills in the job market today.

What kind of learner are you?

If you are a learner who gets more out of watching and hearing than reading a textbook to learn a computer skill, you might want to check out online learning for desktop skills. Content providers like Kallience offer self-study training videos both online and on cd, for business software skills including Microsoft Excel, Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, Access, and Quickbooks. For designers there are also courses in Photoshop, Dreamweaver, Flash, Illustrator, and others.

What does online learning offer that face-to-face classroom doesn’t?

My experience in a face-to-face web design course wasn’t all negative. I met a couple of interesting classmates and enjoyed the cookies and even the coffee that the institute offered during the break. However, there were many downsides. Two students didn’t complete the course because they felt bad about raising their hands and pausing the activity or the teacher’s instruction so often. I myself raised my hand quite a bit to interrupt and ask questions, but soon stopped as I sensed it was wearing on the other students’ pacience.

The fact is, in a classroom full of students, learning is never done on your own terms. There are things you miss because the teacher must move on. There are concepts you didn’t understand and in a face-to-face classroom, there’s no returning to a previous lecture or activity. What’s lost is lost, and the class will continue on whether or not you’re sick or unable to make the class for whatever reason.

After finishing the course, I wished I had taken it online, where I can still experience learning in a dynamic way with e-learning tools like video, audio and podcast features. However, if I need to stop to make tea or go for a jog, the class waits for me to return.

What are the most essential business software skills?

Start with Microsoft software. Many learning management systems and other content providers offer great courses that are affordable as well. For example, featured Coggno content provider Kalliance has created a series of e-learning courses making it easy and enjoyable to master the most complicated Microsoft software applications in a cost effective, timely and efficient way.

While there are many software programs out there that can perform all the same tasks, the Microsoft bundle of software applications are still the most widely used and expected of job-seekers.

Do some research and find the best fit for your schedule. Talk with students who have already taken the course to see how they felt about the quality and effectiveness. Check out Microsoft software online learning programs and others in Coggno’s marketplace.

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Coggno.com provides world-class training.

June 1st, 2011 by Robin Green

Online learning, or distance education, is growing not only among full-time college students, but is increasingly used by adults working full-time jobs who like its flexibility and cost-effectiveness.

Even though the economy is supposedly back on its feet, many are still without employment or, not much better off, in a position that isn’t ideal only because they believe it will be too difficult to find a better one. Are you one of these people? If so, consider doing what many of us do: gain new skills via online learning.

The great thing about online learning is that you can fit it into your daily schedule without interfering with the job you have now. You can keep your job and gain new skills while weighing your options for the future. That way, when the market really does pick up again, as it’s bound to eventually, you are more marketable to land the position you’d really like to work in.

How do you start online learning?

The first step is to do research on online learning programs, whether they be provided by academic or corporate instititions. To guide you through your options, use a targeted online search engine. Take notes, weighing pros and cons of the courses you find.

Weigh the factors

While doing research, make a list or a google spreadsheet to organize your findings. Be sure to include factors that are important to you, such as the level of knowledge on the topic that you’re expected to already have, the course length, instructor involvement, and cost.

Relevance to your career goals

How relevant the course is to your professional goals is a huge consideration in choosing an e-learning course. You might decide to enroll in an online certification course or an LMS training program. Remember, obtaining new skills or refreshing old ones is the first step on your way to better opportunities. Take advantage of the flexibility if e-learning to gain the skills and certification that will propel you where you would really like to be.

Tech-Savvy courses

One great option for people trying to get back into the game of the job market is an online course that increases skill level in a software or other tech-related skill that can help you reach your professional goals. Courses in eco/clean technology, programming, and software are all highly compatible with the online education format.

Software knowledge in programs such as Adobe Creative Suite and Microsoft Word and Excel are a good start, but why not pick up a course in Powerpoint or Dreamweaver? The more fleshed out you can prove your computer skills to be, the better your chances at hiring time.

Of course, when job-searching, having pursued any online course shows that you are a self-disciplined and self-motivated person.

Coggno is one learning management system (LMS) with a simple interface and a variety of professional skill-building online courses. Enter Coggno’s marketplace and discover LMS online courses for developing and/or obtaining highly marketable professional skills.

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Coggno.com offers high quality e-learning courses.