NexLearn Simpact February '08

February 2008 Edition

Just as Luke traveled to the swamps of Dagobah to train under Yoda; as Daniel learned from Mr. Myagi the true power of wax on/wax off; and as Omarosa searched for boardroom wisdom with the help of Donald Trump, the apprenticeship has been a successful and popular approach to training and knowledge transfer. Of course, the teacher-apprentice relationship is more than just a clever device to advance storylines on the silver screen and television shows. Collaboration during the learning process is a sound and effective training method that actually works quite well in the real world.

To make it easy for organizations to take advantage of NexLearn’s custom development capabilities, and to help our partners appreciate and experience the full potential of SimWriter® (the most advanced immersive learning simulation authoring tool available), we have developed and perfected three approaches to immersive learning simulation development.

We Create and Maintain
NexLearn has a full complement of custom development services for creating any type of e-Learning—our instructional designers, editorial and simulation developers, graphic artists, animators, audio/visual engineers, and software engineers can develop your project from the ground up. If you have training materials that need an update, we can convert existing content into a dynamic online delivery format, or turn monotonous, click-forward computer-based-training programs into non-linear, scenario-based immersive learning simulations that offer users a comprehensive learning experience. All our experience, plus the technology we’ve created, including instructional design templates, interactive elements, and SimWriter, is at your disposal.

We Create, You Maintain
If you want ownership of your e-Learning content, but don’t have the resources to create the project, NexLearn can help. First, we’ll go through the full development process with you to create a finished product that matches your needs. Second, by licensing SimWriter, you will have the source files and the technology to maintain, enhance, or upgrade your training program going forward. In addition to receiving any level of SimWriter training you need from our training experts, you can also think of NexLearn as an outsourced partner for any phase of the development cycle. By utilizing the same technology and file formats, we can easily complete a portion of your project—like media creation—in a shorter time that is more cost effective than any other outsourcing model.

You Create and Maintain
If you have the content, people, and the know-how to create e-Learning on your own, but need a tool that allows you to develop robust simulation learning, we can help there as well. By licensing SimWriter, you gain the ability to create, update, and maintain as much or as little simulation content as you need. Your budgets and timelines are your own. We’ll provide comprehensive SimWriter training, and the rest is up to you. As always, we’re available as an outsourcing option if your internal simulation development team doesn’t have the bandwidth for a particular phase of the project.

As you can see, NexLearn’s various custom development options allow you to pick and choose the level of assistance you need to create the immersive learning experience you want. The popularity of our apprentice programs is skyrocketing as more clients take on larger roles in the development of their own e-Learning programs. Partner with NexLearn, and you’ll discover how well the apprentice approach works. After all, it was Yoda who said, “Always two there are, no more, no less: a master and an apprentice.”

BlogBites

As the Spring e-Learning conference season warms up, BlogBites turns to high-level e-Learning discussions from learning purpose to interface design. This month’s BlogBites includes discussions about ways to use technology to share tacit knowledge, new potentials in human computer interfaces, and the importance of having targeted and organizational goal-specific content.

http://elearningtech.blogspot.com/2008/01/human-computer-interfaces.html
Tony Karrer responds to a reader’s post asking why school kids who are expected to generate documents on the computer, receive ample instruction in cursive writing and no instruction in touch typing. Karrer answers the query with a discussion about alternative human computer interface designs. The discussion threads following the post posit that companies like Apple and the Web 2.0 movement are forging new innovations in HI (Human Interface).

http://internettime.com/2008/01/18/everything-is-changing/
Effective e-Learning is no longer about quick content delivery, suggests Jay Cross, founder of the Internet Time Group. In a recent blog post leading up to his keynote at the Learning Technologies 2008 conference in London, Cross contends that, for content to make a difference it must be organizationally effective. Learning and development now includes using the right tools, having the experience to implement them, and understanding how that learning supports organizational objectives.

http://breakthroughelearning.com/
In a recent post on Breakthrough Elearning, Rick Nigol discusses the importance of using technology to record and encourage employee-to-employee knowledge sharing. Enabling employees to share their tacit knowledge—the information that they have learned through on-the-job experience, can supplement the traditional learning you provide and create a greater “community” around a blended learning solution.

If you have a great blog (or know of one) that you want to share, send us the link. We just might include it in a future Simpact edition. Send the link to our Expert.

On the Road

Talk with a NexLearnian

February 2008

Feb 26-28
ASTD TechKnowledge Conference and Exposition
San Antonio, TX
Visit NexLearn (booth 108) to learn about:

Custom education software development
Immersive learning simulations
NexLearn’s SimWriter authoring tool

Podcast

Listen to this month’s roundtable discussion about the latest issues regarding e-Learning and immersive learning simulations.

Video Version
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Audio Version
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February Survey

How many e-Learning courses (programs/modules/experiences) does your organization plan to create/update in 2008?

1-5

6-10

10-20

More than 20

Last Month’s Survey Results

Do you currently create custom podcasts to train or educate your employees?

Yes

Ask the Expert

Question:
How do we transition training material from existing hard copy, PowerPoint, and audio formats to more engaging training without throwing out all our existing content?

Answer:
While many trainers and CLOs have recognized the need to repurpose existing material to teach to different learning styles effectively, they have had limited options for making it happen—that is, until now. NexLearn SimWriter, which by the way, is the most advanced immersive learning simulation authoring tool available today, allows instructional designers, trainers, human resources personnel and subject matter experts to incorporate audio and video files, Flash animations, text-based documents and even e-Learning materials created with other tools such as Captivate, Firefly, and Articulate into new, robust training experiences. And pick-and-click functionality allows developers to focus on creating content and storylines instead of programming code. Give SimWriter a try. You—and your learners—will be amazed by the robust training you create.

Have a question about e-Learning or Simulation-based Learning? Send it to our Expert.

NexLearn SimWriter 2.0 Captures Brandon Hall Silver Award. Contact us today to experience the best simulation authoring tool available! Information at NexLearn

Project Settings

SimWriter® Project Settings offers developers complete control over the look and functionality of their project. Easily customize four main components of the simulation: file naming conventions, layout size, scoring and tracking method, and reporting format with customizable settings for overall passing score, pass and fail messages, and topic-specific performance messages.