Well, once again this week, I have been reading eLearning discussion boards and on several  the topic is whether eLearning is "good", "successful", "better  or worse than classroom"? How long will we continue to have these discussions? Yes, I work for a custom eLearning content developer who also has one of the best learning management systems around. But long before I became involved in the industry of online education platforms  and web based training, I was a learner. Still am.

And, I am frankly tired of the endless comparisons to classroom training and questions of the value of eLearning. Look, it is here stay and it is a valuable weapon in the training arsenal. I sought out eLearning before I was involved in the industry. Don't you? Listen, I have been in sales and related roles longer than I care to acknowledge. I have participated in a number of classroom trainings for sales techniques, processes, behaviors. Some of them were good and some were abysmal. And, I have taken (and created) sales training courseware. Not only have they have provided an opportunity to expand my knowledge but they have been extremely effective in communicating that knowledge...exactly when I needed and wanted it!And, I have even taken computer application training in a classroom. And, that, I can tell you flat out, can not compare to the value of taking such training just when I need it as eLearning. And, how about product training? Sure, you can spend, literally millions in some cases, to roll-out product training to your sales teams in classroom settings. As Dr. Phil would say," how's that working for you?" Millions spent, time out of the office for your most important revenue generators, and they will still need support materials to enhance that training. With rapidly changing products and services, the best way to keep your global sales teams educated, is to provide that training online, where they can access it when they need it through a learning management system.   

So why do we keep trying to justify eLearning? I really don't know the answer to that. It's value is just so obvious. Implementing eLearning should be a basic training methodology for any organization. Let us at KMi assist you with your online training solutions. Contact Margie Herron mherron@kmionline.com.

We have spoken often in the past about how to up the production value and, therefore, the education "stickiness" of online training content. Whether it is basic skills or computer application training or, something more conceptual, such as sales behavior and communication skills training, all online training solutions benefit from added interactivities and exercises which force the user to actually participate in the web based eLearning. 

In an effort to better enable our clients with the tool set to add these value-laden interactive Flash assets easily into their own custom content instructional design, we have created interactive asset libraries. Depending on the client these libraries may include only custom exercises and interactivities designed specifically for them . Or for other clients they may contain assets that we developed over the years of our experience and , then, can be customized for the particular client's content. Or the library might contain a combination of assets: custom and pre-existing. This library approach allows the assets to be selected based on the content, audience, and level of interactivity desired. It makes it simple for the client, cost and time effective for both the client and custom content developer.  So if you are interested in creating and implementing eLearning, this is just another way of getting greater bang for the proverbial buck.

For some  great examples of games, exercises, and interactivities
that could form the foundation of your own interactive asset library, see http://www.kmionline.com/services and click on the production level tab and then select "learning exercises"or contact Margie Herron at mherron@kmionline.comfor more information.

812-325-8748 bhoffsis comhoff mherron@kmionline.com lucilu hdr1 - 882 883 bio 884 margie 885 886 Custom content development is just what it says: the creation of training deliverables from client-specific content. This is an exceptional method for educating staff, partners and clients with information designed especially for them. The process to effectively develop this content is collaborative, creative and technical. Most outstanding eLearning companies have a very precise and well-defined process which is communicated thoroughly to the client and their review team. However, there still may be a disconnect between the vision, the communication of that vision and the final execution.

It is very important that the eLearning "story" development is communicated effectively via both words and pictures. Since the final result is an artistic, verbal and written rendering of the content, the development stages must clearly reflect this ultimate result. This means that the client review team, in addition to understanding their content , must also be able to visualize the ultimate course. This process is only as good as the tools and communication between the eLearning development provider and the client review team.

For example, we just completed an online sales skills training course where the primary objective was to educate the audience about selling within the military hospital structure. Not only was it essential to have client team members knowledgeable about the military hospital enterprise and the related protocols but they also had to be able to visualize from the storyboard what the final course would look like. Granted there are interim design steps, such as providing character style illustrations from which the client will chose the most appropriate, but the most common tool is a PowerPoint storyboard supported by Word documents.

This slide shows the final storyboard for a single interactive page:



This is how that same slide appears in the final Flash course:


As you can see there is visually a big difference between the two. Whether it is online communication skills training, customer service skill training, complex management leadership behavior training or computer application training, your internal review team must incorporate not only content knowledge but conceptual and artistic vision.

At KMI, we pride ourselves on having a documented process and a talented and skilled staff who can take your content and create outstanding eLearning. And, you will know at every step what your expectations should be and if they are successfully fulfilled. Take a look at our custom content development process at:
http://www.demo.kmionline.com/courses/uploaded/1000003495/index.html

And for more information, contact Margie Herron at mherron@kmionline.com.

It is a continuing surprise to me to see that there is still an ongoing debate about the viability of online learning as compared to classroom training. How long are we going to beat this horse? Whether we are discussing  behavior -based training such as sales training or  technical training such as computer application training, the answer is still the same. Good training is good training no matter the delivery method.  Yes, individuals may respond better to training matching their particular learning style. But can they still learn from another delivery method? I will say absolutely! However, the training must be well-designed and executed. And, even further, why does one even have to choose between the delivery methods?

It is so amusing to read the learning discussion boards and have classroom advocates identify all the distractors for online training: surfing the web, responding to emails and on and on. I can recall so many times being in a classroom setting forced to listen to mind-numbing lectures or to watch dull, dull, dull Powerpoint presentations. Was I engaged? Was my mind wandering? Was I learning? NO! 

It still comes down to effective learning development and execution. You must know your audience and your content and effectively weave a compelling story. In most cases, this can be done in either a classroom setting or in online training. And, sometimes the best solution is a combination of the 2 delivery methodologies.

So be wild, look at all the learning delivery options, look at the needs of your audience, your business needs and learning objectives. And, for goodness sake, look at the type of content! Not all content is equal. Your required compliance training is very different from customer service skills training or sales training. Then, look at how you will communicate this training. Are experiential examples best suited for computer application training? Are real-life scenarios more effective for customer service skills or sales behavior training? Can these different instructional design models be effectively executed in a classroom setting or are they better suited for an online training solution? Or would you engage your audience best by a combination of delivery methodologies?

For example, I worked with a high-technology client who had a very sophisticated and complex custom sales process. They wanted a global program to share with their distribution partners. We assisted them in developing a program that included job aids, resource documents, marketing kits and an online video-based scenario narrative for role playing, followed by personal coaching and then online follow-ups. The program was so successful in generating new sales that the program was expanded to include the corporate direct sales force. It was a creative approach that included a wide-variety of learning tools and delivery methods.

At KMi we will explore and advise on all custom content development forms using our expertise and creativity to create the most compelling learning programs for all kinds of content. Additionally, our SCORM learning management system, eLMS, will provide training and events management, reporting and tracking and collaborative social networking tools.

Learn more about the KMi LMS, eLMS at http://www.kmionline.com/more_about_elms.htm. 

And if you need help with formal learning programs, review our custom course demos at http://www.kmionline.com/services.htm 
and take a look at the KMi Whitepaper on Custom eLearning at: http://www.kmionline.com/offer_whitepaper.htm
And for even more information, contact Margie Herron at mherron@kmionline.com.

As a long-time provider of online custom content courseware, I am often asked " How can your company understand my specific content well enough to create a course?" Well, the short answer is it takes a talented and highly motivated team. It really is not enough to have people trained and educated just as instructional designers. In fact, we have often had ID teams comprised primarily of non-formally ID trained staff. It has only been recently that most educational programs have recognized the difference between designing classroom courseware and online courseware so traditional instructional designers are often lost when it comes to creating online content. I have found that some of the most successful online course designers and developers have a robust and varied interest in learning as well as a significant interest in all things online. Additionally, they understand , as users, what makes for a compelling and memorable online learning experience. They are excited by the eLearning development process and tools. They are unafraid to push the envelope, to try new approaches, to act creatively. They never forget what it is like to be the user.

And obviously, over time our staff gains extensive knowledge in a wide ranging variety of topics and content areas. This multi-industry, multi-company experience brings additional value to each individual company. For example, we just completed an online customer service course for a client in the financial services industry. Although, the learning objectives,processes and procedures may be specific to this client, our experience in producing similar courses for high technology companies, medical distribution companies and natural resource companies, helps us process and deliver the information more effectively.

Our team of instructional and online custom course developers immerse themselves in the specific client content. This may be done by researching and reviewing any related materials, interviewing client and industry SMEs and participating in classroom or web -based events. For computer application training or online application training, it is common for our IDs to actually learn ( by doing) the particular application or hardware. We just completed a very technical medical procedure training course for nurses. Had our staff ever performed the procedure? No. But did they understand the procedure after learning the technical details. You bet they did. And, even more importantly, they knew how to present the information so that anyone would understand it.

So whether your content is highly technical application training, very conceptual marketing material, specific online soft skills training, or complex sales training, rest assured that our instructional designers will embrace your content. 

If you need that expert custom content developer partner, look no further. Learn more about  KMi eLMS athttp://www.kmionline.com/more_about_elms.htm. Also, review our custom course demos at http://www.kmionline.com/services.htm  and take a look at the KMi Whitepaper on Custom eLearning at:http://www.kmionline.com/offer_whitepaper.htm
And for even more information, contact Margie Herron at mherron@kmionline.com.

Recently, a client came to us with a challenge. They not only had a a very cutting edge program in sustainability but had a corporate philosophy and culture around sustainability. They wanted the impact of this carefully constructed program to change employee behaviors, not only in the office environment, but in their everyday life. Unfortunately, it was evident that even some of the basic recycling behaviors were not exemplified routinely or across the global population. To encourage these behaviors, excite the population and to instill a "natural" compliance with the sustainability guidelines, the client and KMi decided to produce some simple game-like interactivities. These activities would be tracked with registration and scores recorded through our SCORM compliant LMS, eLMS.  And, the daily results of the "games" would be posted with the daily high scorer being entered in a raffle.

Games or learning activities can be as complicated as multi-media with branching scenarios or built simply on a drag-and-drop exercise. Each can be compelling and incite the competitive nature of your audience. And, further, these interactivities can be applied to almost any content. Do you want to make a lasting effect on behavior change? Then it may be time to consider a contest -based learning activity for your online customer service course, your computer application training,  customer service skill training and even sales training.

Do you want to provide online application training? Then , perhaps, you should consider a  learning activity for the training. Not all training needs to be contained in a lengthy module. Sometimes the best approach is a learning activity that demonstrates by doing:
 

Do you have a need for training for a specific skill? Then try a game-based online solution:


But even if you have more complex behaviors and concepts for which your audience needs education, you can still use a learning activity. For example, online sales and customer  service courses, usually require a more rigorous style of interactivity. Simulations and role plays are a terrific way to provide this training that is engaging and memorable:


So whatever your content, learning activities can be incorporated in your training. They provide your audience with an opportunity not only to learn skills, behaviors and concepts, but, they make the learning fun! And, with a SCORM ( Or AICC) based learning management system, you can create a competitive environment with rewards attached. Who doesn't love to win something!

Get in the GAME! We are the real professionals when it comes to training content development and learning management systems. Learn more about  KMi eLMS at http://www.kmionline.com/more_about_elms.htm. Also, review our custom course demos at http://www.kmionline.com/services.htm  and take a look at the KMi Whitepaper on Custom eLearning at: http://www.kmionline.com/offer_whitepaper.htm
And for even more information, contact Margie Herron at mherron@kmionline.com.

Last week, we enjoyed a visit from one of my favorite clients. They are a leading provider of surgical tools, nurse attire and medical supplies; they supply scores of hospitals with the necessary supplies every day and have dozens of distribution centers around the country.

For KMi's part, we provide online compliance courses, computer compliance training, marketing material and sales training material for a large portion of the company; and hopefully, eventually, the entire company. 

What we did this week, was to provide computerapplication training for the client administrators. I think everyone agrees, that the training was very successful. Admittedly, the KMi eLMS sometimes battles the "website" misnomer. eLMS isnot a "website". It is an online application. And this is where I think much of the success of the past week comes from. In training the client administrators to use the application, they are able to more clearly understand how the application works. More importantly, they understand, and can communicate back home, that eLMS blows any possible "website" out of the water.

Hmmm...so you have a custom eLearning development project. Do you want it to set the mood of Old Blue Eyes or do you want the modernity of a Lady GaGa performance? Had you even considered the " mood" of your eLearning project? Believe it or not, the mood or tone of your eLearning piece can be as important and compelling as the content.  And the tone is impacted by the design approach, the music, the illustration or photo style and the many other other subtle details of the custom elearning project design. It is critical to the training content development discovery and scoping process to really develop a description of the tone you wish the piece to express.

And it can help your eLearning development partner to know if you want it to feel more like Frank than Lady GaGa. In fact, pop culture references can really provide cues to the overall feel of any custom development project. Using these references, which are readily available and relateable for most people, can greatly enhance a design brief. For example, a client wanted a very engaging, thematic module series for a youthful, diverse sales team. The creative brainstorming session with the client revealed that:
 

• they loved a "cartoon" illustration approach
• they wanted it to be "hip" like This American Life
• they wanted custom music to reflect a lively and relevant sales team
• they wanted the characters to be realistic but stylized
• they wanted the series to represent their diverse employees, global locations and wide range of clients