a rapid e-learning primer for technical communicators
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Cheryl Lockett ZubackTRANSCRIPT
A Rapid e-Learning Primer for Technical CommunicatorsPresenter: Cheryl Lockett Zubak
Copyright 2008, Work Write, Inc. – page 1
Cheri Lockett ZubakWork Write, Inc.
A Rapid E-learning Primer for Technical Communicators
Who am I?
• Call me Cheri• President of Work Write, Inc.
(suburban Philadelphia)• More than 25 years as a user assistance
consultant and educator
A Rapid e-Learning Primer for Technical CommunicatorsPresenter: Cheryl Lockett Zubak
Copyright 2008, Work Write, Inc. – page 2
What will we cover?
• What is rapid e-learning?• Lots of demos (view & deconstruct)• Rapid e-learning tools• Rapid e-learning skills
What is rapid e-learning?- Definition- Why is it important?
A Rapid e-Learning Primer for Technical CommunicatorsPresenter: Cheryl Lockett Zubak
Copyright 2008, Work Write, Inc. – page 3
What is rapid e-learning?
“The ability to produce, deliver, and quantify quality interactivematerial to learners in a timely
and cost effective manner”
Bradley MersereauContest winner, Articulate.com
Rapid e-learning is not an onlinebook, whose purpose is reference
A Rapid e-Learning Primer for Technical CommunicatorsPresenter: Cheryl Lockett Zubak
Copyright 2008, Work Write, Inc. – page 4
Rapid e-learning characteristics
• Easy, quick authoring• Interactivity• Guided learning experience• Specific goals• Online
“Water cooler” learning
75% of the learning taking place in organizations
Talking, observing others, trial-and-error, and simply working with other people
Informal LearningPfeiffer, 2006
Informal learning is key
A Rapid e-Learning Primer for Technical CommunicatorsPresenter: Cheryl Lockett Zubak
Copyright 2008, Work Write, Inc. – page 5
Risk takersComputer expertsGreat multitaskersSocialTeam playersLoyalVisual and auditor learnersTrial and error learnersUnderstand the importance of failure on the road to success
Got Game - Pfeiffer, 2004Gadgets, Games, and Gizmos for
Learning – Pfeiffer, 2007
Coming soon: The gamer generation
Other influences
• Skills development for traditional CBT• Time to market• Working with SMEs to co-author
courseware• Web 2.0
A Rapid e-Learning Primer for Technical CommunicatorsPresenter: Cheryl Lockett Zubak
Copyright 2008, Work Write, Inc. – page 6
What does rapid e-learning look like?- Example: Demo- Example: Branched
Scenario- Example: Video instruction
First, a personal story
A Rapid e-Learning Primer for Technical CommunicatorsPresenter: Cheryl Lockett Zubak
Copyright 2008, Work Write, Inc. – page 7
Demos and simulations
• Demos – a recording of exactly what is happening on the screen
• Simulation – allows the learner to interact with a simulated product, perform certain procedures or tasks and get feedback
Demos and simulations
http://www.debugmode.com/wink/
A Rapid e-Learning Primer for Technical CommunicatorsPresenter: Cheryl Lockett Zubak
Copyright 2008, Work Write, Inc. – page 8
Branched scenario
• A story (scenario) sets up the problem or issue
• The learner makes choices and provided feedback based on those choices
Branched scenario
http://www.articulate.com/community/showcase.php
A Rapid e-Learning Primer for Technical CommunicatorsPresenter: Cheryl Lockett Zubak
Copyright 2008, Work Write, Inc. – page 9
Video instruction
• Just what it sounds like!• An expert (shown or just voice)
informs, teaches, or entertains on a subject
• In the software world, often includes demos
Video instruction
http://www.ehow.com/video_2970_tie-tie.html
A Rapid e-Learning Primer for Technical CommunicatorsPresenter: Cheryl Lockett Zubak
Copyright 2008, Work Write, Inc. – page 10
How is rapid e-learning created?- Processes- Tools
Tools you know already
• Powerpoint (yes, really!)• HTML (any web editor)
A Rapid e-Learning Primer for Technical CommunicatorsPresenter: Cheryl Lockett Zubak
Copyright 2008, Work Write, Inc. – page 11
Demo and simulation tools
• Camtasia (TechSmith)• Captivate (Adobe)• Wink (DebugMode - free)
Demo and simulation tools
http://www.google.com/trends?q=authorware%2Ccamtasia%2Clectora%2Ccaptivate%2Ctoolbook
A Rapid e-Learning Primer for Technical CommunicatorsPresenter: Cheryl Lockett Zubak
Copyright 2008, Work Write, Inc. – page 12
Viewer and Flash conversion tools
• What do these tools do?– Convert to Flash– Provide navigation– Provide extra tools (e.g., notes)
• Examples– Camtasia and Captivate– Adobe Presenter/Breeze (Adobe)– Articulate Studio (Articulate Software)
Graphics tools
• What tools do you use now?– PaintShop Pro– Fireworks– PhotoShop– PhotoShop Express– SnagIt– GIMP
A Rapid e-Learning Primer for Technical CommunicatorsPresenter: Cheryl Lockett Zubak
Copyright 2008, Work Write, Inc. – page 13
Audio tools
• Built into capture tools• Sound Forge• Audacity (free)• Hardware (microphone, digital
recorder)
The process
Step 1. Author and assemble
A Rapid e-Learning Primer for Technical CommunicatorsPresenter: Cheryl Lockett Zubak
Copyright 2008, Work Write, Inc. – page 14
The process
Step 2. Convert to Flash and refine
What skills do you already have?
• Self-assessment?• Content development• Foundation tools (presentation,
graphics)• Instructional design
A Rapid e-Learning Primer for Technical CommunicatorsPresenter: Cheryl Lockett Zubak
Copyright 2008, Work Write, Inc. – page 15
What skills might you need to learn?
• Self-assessment?• Streamlining content and
incorporating other media• Multimedia creation (audio,
video)• Story development
Some elaborate examples- View- Deconstruct
A Rapid e-Learning Primer for Technical CommunicatorsPresenter: Cheryl Lockett Zubak
Copyright 2008, Work Write, Inc. – page 16
More elaborate examples
• Combine a variety of methods and technologies– Informational– Branched choices– Quizzes– Demos
Dictionary with avatars
http://www.vcom3d.com/signsmith.php
A Rapid e-Learning Primer for Technical CommunicatorsPresenter: Cheryl Lockett Zubak
Copyright 2008, Work Write, Inc. – page 17
Product overview with story
http://www.jingproject.com/
Conversational demo
http://www.fogcreek.com/FogBugz/
A Rapid e-Learning Primer for Technical CommunicatorsPresenter: Cheryl Lockett Zubak
Copyright 2008, Work Write, Inc. – page 18
E-learning with quizzes
http://www.articulate.com/community/showcase.php
A new kind of demo
http://www.commoncraft.com
A Rapid e-Learning Primer for Technical CommunicatorsPresenter: Cheryl Lockett Zubak
Copyright 2008, Work Write, Inc. – page 19
Questions, comments, quandaries?- Q&A
Questions, comments, quandaries?
• Ask now• Or ask later:
– +1 215.357.3453– [email protected]
• If you have questions later, send them my way!
A Rapid e-Learning Primer for Technical CommunicatorsPresenter: Cheryl Lockett Zubak
Copyright 2008, Work Write, Inc. – page 20
Resources- Web- Print
A Few Good Websites
Rapid Elearning Blog: http://www.articulate.com/blog/Presentation Zen Blog: http://www.presentationzen.comE-learning Guild: http://www.elearningguild.com/E-learning Magazine: http://www.elearning.b2bmediaco.com/E-learning Technology Blog: http://elearningtech.blogspot.com/Corporate elearning Strategies Blog: http://elearndev.blogspot.com/Learning Visions Blog: http://learningvisions.blogspot.com/Karl Kapp website: http://www.karlkapp.com/Digitales: http://www.digitales.us/index.phpTen Best Places to Find How-to Videos:
http://mashable.com/2007/05/14/video-howtos/Center for Digital Storytelling: http://www.storycenter.org/index1.html
A Rapid e-Learning Primer for Technical CommunicatorsPresenter: Cheryl Lockett Zubak
Copyright 2008, Work Write, Inc. – page 21
A Few Good Books
Beyond Bullet Points: Using Microsoft® Office PowerPoint®2007 to Create Presentations That Inform, Motivate, and Inspire, by Cliff Atkinson (Microsoft Press, 2007)
e-Learning and the Science of Instruction: Proven Guidelines for Consumers and Designers of Multimedia Learning, by Ruth Colvin Clark (Pfeiffer, 2004)
Gadgets, Games and Gizmos for Learning: Tools and Techniques for Transferring Know-How from Boomers to Gamers, by Karl Kapp (Pfeiffer, 2007)
Got Game: How the Gamer Generation Is Reshaping Business Forever, by John Beck (Pfeiffer, 2004)
Informal Learning: Rediscovering the Natural Pathways That Inspire Innovation and Performance, by Jay Cross (Pfeiffer, 2006)