Useful Instructional Design Site #2

Sometimes you just need a new idea or two when you are designing an e-learning course. There is plenty of technology out there, but it can be expensive. You don’t always need the latest technology to make a really great e-learning product. I discovered a very useful site for tips about e-learning. The articles are concise step-by-step instructions with pictures about developing high-impact e-learning products doesn’t cost an arm and a leg. The blog is called “The Rapid E-Learning Blog.” It currently has over 78,000 readers. The link is: http://www.articulate.com/rapid-elearning/. The author’s name is Tom Kuhlmann.

The company that hosts the blog is Articulate. They also have a suite of E-Learning software that includes Storyline, Studio ’09, and Articulate Online. Their software is touted as easy to use with instructional design built into the product. The blog is partially an advertisement for their products and seminars; however, it also provides useful information about creating more effective e-learning by smarter use of technology currently available.

Just thumbing through the different posts, I can find a plethora of useful ideas and low-cost solutions. For instance, if you are looking for a way to edit sound, they have suggested WaveShop which is a free downloadable audio editor. Here is another one—how to setup the Quick Access toolbar to quickly access the selection pane, clipboard, and slide master in PowerPoint. These are simple tips to help speed up development of a training presentation. I am quite certain a lot of people who use PowerPoint either do not know about it or they haven’t taken the time to set it up so they can have their toolbox close at hand. I like that the topics are short so you don’t have to read a lot of extraneous rambling to get to the meat of the idea.