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.

February 23rd, 2011 by Robin Green

In designing online training or other adult LMS courseware, close your eyes and remember the last time you really learned something. When was the last time you dug your nails into learning something complicated, be it a work-related LMS course or a more personal endeavor, like learning to play the guitar?

If nothing comes to mind right away, try to recall learning how to drive. It’s something most of us have at least vague memories of, and perhaps a few moments in particular. I myself remember almost all of it (how could I forget?). The thrill, the sense of possibility and anticipation of new experiences—and, inevitably, the frustrations.

Luckily, my mother was a good sport (and apparently enjoyed living dangerously) and took me out driving. She suffered months and months of practice. I remember panicking at intersections, cutting drivers off, and being told to take it slow, relax, over and over.

The very first time I got behind a wheel, my father took me to an abandoned lot and we drove in circle after circle. I remember thinking as I tried to maneuver around cones while practicing parellel parking: I am never going to be able to do this. And indeed, it took me quite a while to learn to drive.

Like driving or any other skill, everyone learns at their own pace. But none of us is born with the ability to drive or play the guitar, and that’s where pedagogical strategies enter into play—and your own knowledge and expertise as an LMS course creator. Repetition and practice may be the only ways for knowledge to be truly digested in LMS online training. The challenge lies in working repetition into your course in an effective and engaging fashion.

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Coggno.com offers world-class LMS features and benefits.

January 27th, 2011 by Robin Green

These days, huge sums of money are handed over to people with a specific expertise—web design expertise. Are you a web designer? If so, you’re already aware of the value of your knowledge base. You may, on occasion, have considered sharing your expertise with other people—an enterprise which in itself can prove very lucrative. Have you ever thought of creating your own web design course?

Even if you’re a beginner web designer, you might know enough to design your own introductory web design course. One benefit that beginner web designers have over pros is that they understand well the fact that you don’t need to know everything about web design or the internet to create your own effective and aesthetically intriguing website.

If you’ve never created your own online course before, that process can also be a simple one. All you need are knowledge about web design and your own pedagogical approach which breaks down the information into neat, well-ordered steps, allowing students to gain the skills they need in a logical fashion, and to test them out. An LMS online course which is dynamic and allows for trial and error will make all the difference in this aspect.

There are a few great options for course creation toolkits out there. Some LMSs provide tools and applications for web design courses such as Rapid Intake Unison, which allow designers and subject matter experts to collaboratively capture, storyboard, develop, review, test, and publish Flash-based courses—without having to know Flash. (Although most designers would probably know Flash, Fireworks and other programs, it’s not always necessary, either.)

Want to create tutorials for your web design online training? Some LMS course creation kits include tools like BB FlashBack, which allows you to create professional tutorials and polished presentations. Simple-to-use editing tools are one benefit of such applications in an LMS creation toolkit.

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Coggno.com offers world-class LMS platform.

January 19th, 2011 by Robin Green

Retail training is another area that well suited to online LMS courses–and if the conditions are right, it’s particularly appropriate for the creation of customized training courses.

Any company can benefit from retail training covering a variety of sectors, providing training for all employees within an organization, including store employees, operations managers, and owners.

Of course, there are many online retail training courses available which are pre-packaged and ready to be implemented in an organization. But why not design your own, customized to your organization’s specific retail training requirements?

LMS platforms allow organizations to provide their employees and managers with robust training courses which are specifically designed for unique organizational structures. Using tools such as podcasts, video tools, simulation technology, streaming and other simple-to-use LMS tools, retail training can be tailored to individual companies and provided in a user-friendly way. For beginner authors of online courses, simple and user-friendly LMS course creation toolkits are available. Additionally, after designing a training course, authors can choose to syndicate the course, use it in-house only, or a combination of both.

Some LMS platforms include their own marketplace where online courses can be showcased and sold. Additionally, for the pre-packaged option, online courses that others have designed can also be found on some LMS sites. Shopping around for an online course is a must for organizations either unable or uninterested in designing their own courses. Of course, there is also the time factor. Designing online training requires a good amount of time, energy and planning. If you don’t have the resources or time for such an endeavor, you might opt for existing courses. However, if resources for authoring a customized course for your organization are available, you’ll find it’s worth the effort.

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Coggno.com provides a robust learning management system platform.

January 13th, 2011 by Robin Green

Insurance licensing exams aren’t a walk in the park. Taking a pre-license exam online or a preparation course is a great idea for anyone studying for these exams. Through LMS platforms and other accredited education providers, studying for insurance licensing exams can be simple, cost-effective, and convenient.

You can learn how to sell more life insurance, insurance sales training, and securities licensing, all while sitting in your pj’s drinking coffee. There are plenty or state-specific and self-paced courses online.

Securities licensing is one service that clients often request, and one which is more useful than you might think. But it isn’t easy. Gaining a license to sell securities requires sponsorship from a broker-dealer and a great deal of studying for the licensing exams. Take your time choosing a sponsor; this process can take a long time, but there are many companies to choose from, and it’s worth shopping around for.

Preparation for the licensing exams is another process which shouldn’t be rushed. After all, the benefits of online education courses go beyond saving time and money; they also allow you to go at your own pace. Many LMS courses also provide support and guidance along your online education journey.

Find an accredited LMS course that is engaging and interactive–there’s nothing worse than information presented in a way that puts you to sleep while you’re trying to learn. True, insurance representatives often admit that this part of their career path was the least enjoyable, but depending on the online training course you choose, it doesn’t have to be so painful.

You can also become an author and help people develop their insurance skills and prepare for insurance and securities licensing exams. Create insurance training videos using simple-to-use video and audio tools that many LMSs offer.

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Coggno.com provides premier online training world-wide.

December 30th, 2010 by Robin Green

It’s that time of year again; a moment for reflection and action. For many both course content creators and learners, the new year signals an opportunity to renew dedications to projects, loved ones, work, or other areas of one’s life. And as we know, it’s also an important time to renew or develop commitments to oneself.

During the new year many people set plans in motion to improve the quality or change the direction of their own lives. One of the most common ways that people go about their self-improvement projects is with the body: becoming more physically active and improving one’s diet.

The key is to have a strategy. Among the strategies of losing weight and becoming a fitter and more mobile person, taking an online LMS course is a great option for many people. There are many benefits to online fitness programs. First, well-designed programs help individuals to begin a workout and diet plan that has been researched and proven to provide results. All too often, individuals set out on their own without any guide, and the consequences can be negative.

Without information on how to balance one’s diet, gradually increase workout activities, and other basic fitness program tenets, individuals run a huge risk of injury or setting themselves up for failure. We all need guidance, and LMS online programs can provide that.

Another benefit of LMS fitness courses is that they are private and customized. Fitness goals are as varied and unique as the people who create them; some of us want to lose 5 pounds, some 50. Some want to get into shape or train in order to run a marathon or climb a mountain, while others want to create a daily regimen which will last a lifetime and gradually become more demanding and fortifying. Some people are interested in increasing muscle tone and strength, and the capacity to burn fat. Others want to improve their heart health or manage stress.

Another reason for beginning and online fitness course is the desire to revitalize workout routines or dietary habits which have lost their energy, or have become too routine. Online trainers are often available via an LMS online course to help with many of these issues.

The new year is traditionally a time to put fresh energy into one’s commitments, and to begin new commitments altogether. Signing up for LMS online training can be the first step to accomplishing a variety of goals, and at a much lower cost than personal trainers or other costly programs.

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Coggno.com offers high-quality LMS platforms.

December 15th, 2010 by Robin Green

Many organizations suffer the consequences of poor training in the simple procedures of soft skills.

An organization’s success depends not only on hard technical skills, but its members’ ability to work together effectively. Success can be jeopardized by factors such as inter-staff politics, personal agendas, lack of energy and commitment to organizational goals, and poor communication.

How can your organization avoid these dangers and achieve actionable outcomes with LMS online training?

The purpose of any kind of training is the acquisition of skills. So what kind of skills are teachable? What skills can you expect to nurture in online training? The truth is that all skills, both soft and hard, are teachable–and critical to an organization’s success.

Soft skills, or “people skills,” are utilized in both professional and personal life, and include all the procedures involved in effective communication. These include listening, engaging in dialogue, providing feedback, functioning in a team setting, resolving issues and conflicts, and contributing in staff meetings.

Hard skills, on the other hand, refer to the occupational requirements of a position. These include technical or administrative skills related directly to the organization’s business. Examples include typing, software knowledge, operating machinery, and speaking a foreign language.

Hard skills are often contrasted to soft skills and defined as specific and “teachable” abilities which can be quantified and defined. However, unlike a personal attribute or natural talent, a skill is always something that can be learned, and converted into a personal and professional attribute.

It’s simple. In order to learn any skill, you need to learn and recall information accompanied by certain steps to follow. Then you need to apply the information and steps. It isn’t necessary that a learner understand all the principles behind the subject matter in order to gain the skills required to perform the tasks well, but that he or she understand what steps to take and how to take them in a given situation.

So how can you deliver effective LMS training for project management and other  In order to deliver effective online training in soft or hard skills, there are three simple steps: 1. Provide the information and steps. 2. Reinforce through practice and exercises. 3. Use quizzes and tests to confirm knowledge.

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Coggno.com is a leading provider of world-class LMS platforms.

December 8th, 2010 by Robin Green

Do you believe your organization to be unique? Just as every company is different, every organization manages performance appraisal in its own way. However, if performance appraisal strategies are ineffective, they can do great damage not only to employees, but to your organization and its bottom line.

What damage can they do? Improperly conducted performance appraisals can give an inaccurate impression of employee performance, and consequently of the entire organization’s performance.

The best way to create an effective performance appraisal process? Simple training for managers and supervisors.

All too often, appraisals are performed by managers and supervisors who have never been trained on how to perform them. LMS performance appraisal training provides managers the tools for preparing both parties–managers and employees–for the review. Training helps managers to develop a clear connection between employees’ jobs, the organization’s strategy, and individual performance.

Performance appraisal training can help answer questions about many topics, from the more general down to the particulars.

These questions include: As a manager, how can I create, monitor and track employee development plans? What is the best method of evaluating performance and rating employees? How do I remain objective during the appraisal? How can I deal with non-performers and employees who do not cooperate? What are the techniques for setting goals? How do I respond to different employee reactions to the appraisal? How can you structure the appraisal to focus on improving performance?

Part of a good performance appraisal strategy is development planning, where managers and employees work together to create an individual development plan, which is later monitored for effectiveness.

LMS training means you’ll be not only be prepared for performance appraisals, but you will have the know-how to establish an effective and ongoing performance appraisal strategy, which is year-long as opposed to once or twice and year.

Before you perform appraisals this month, invest in online training. Get educated on the standards for performance documentation, improving rapport and communication, building employee morale, motivating employees, and observing and measuring performance. At this time next year, you’ll be happy you did.

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Coggno.com provides a robust Learning Management System platform.