ASTD Lessons Learned: January 30th, 2006

Today Helen and I went to the Advanced Design for E-Learning Workshop. It was led by Margaret Driscoll and Saul Carliner (co-authors of Advanced Web-Based Training: Adapting Real World Strategies in Your Online Learning.)

I didn't have any great epiphanies, but came away with a numer of tips and tricks for developing e-learning. I'll share a couple:

• Be very judicious in the use of bold text.
  This is a situation where less is more.
• It's worth hiring professional voice talent.
  I would have leaned toward doing this in house, but several participants agreed with this sentiment - I guess they've learned the hard way.
• Write test questions based on learning objectives. And make sure that your learning objectives are clear and acheivable.
• Make sure that the technology/medium of delivery doesn't magnify test "anxiety" and add undue burden onto the learner.
  i.e. make sure that your technology is as user friendly as possible
  

I also learned of a number of books that I think will be really interesting and a whole slew of web sites to go to for the latest in ie-learning, information design and technology trends. I'm REALLY excited about it! Now I just have to find the time to read and digest everything.

One of the things from today's session was that they showed us a bunch of really cool, interactive sites. Here are a couple of examples of web interactivity.

• http://www2.saabusa.com/build/step3.asp
  build your own saab
• http://www.mtv.com
  the latest in multimedia functionality
• http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/mulimedia_zone/
  some amazing games to enhance learning from the BBC
• http://www.speak2me.net
  a site developed to help teach English. you should really check this one out!
  

Ok - more later tonight. I'm off to dinner with some old friends (and their newborn baby, Lydia) while Helen and Mary live it up!!