NexLearn Simpact October '08

October 2008 Edition

Since the early 1990s, the members of NexLearn have been talking about the power of using immersive learning simulations as a training tool to anyone who’ll listen to us. From the positive responses we received from students who experienced the course Sexual Harassment: What You Should Know in 1994, we knew simulations would be the most effective approach to learning.

Now, almost fifteen years later, the explosion of e-Learning popularity—and the growing interest in immersive learning simulations—confirm that our initial decision to develop effective simulated learning programs was the right choice. And recent industry reports provide the statistics to support the increasing role of simulations as learning tools. For example, in March of this year, the eLearning Guild released its 360° Report on Immersive Learning Simulations. Here are just a few interesting blurbs pulled from the report:

“Immersive Learning Simulations Work: Over 93% of Guild members who have created an ILS report that their efforts produce results that are either somewhat or much better than other forms of rich-skill practice.”
“Members are Reporting a Good ROI: Of the Guild members who have weighed in on this, more than 76% indicate they have received either a modest or a very good return on investment.”
“ILS and Mobile Learning is Converging: We’re seeing a convenient marriage of learning games and mobile devices, as mobile devices are proving to be a perfect vehicle for delivering ILSs of modest scope.”
“Guild Members Believe that ILSs are More Expensive to Develop than they Really are: When we ask Guild members to indicate what they think an ILS will cost, and we compare it with what Guild members who have created an ILS tell us they cost, we see that the actual costs, on average, are quite a bit less than the anticipated cost.”
“Guild Members Plan to do a Lot More: 70% of Guild members plan to do more simulations and scenarios, 48% plan to do more mini-games, and 36% plan to do more serious games and/or Immersive Learning Simulations.”

At NexLearn, we believe immersive learning simulations provide the flexibility, interactivity, and real-world imagery necessary to develop the most efficient and cost-effective training for employees and students today. To learn more about how to make immersive learning simulations work for your organization, feel free to contact us.

BlogBites
Providing quality eLearning solutions can be tricky, but well worth the effort. This month’s BlogBites brings you an exploration of the importance of quality in the e-Learning world. Interestingly, one aspect these bloggers highlight is the role hybrid learning models play in delivering quality courses. You’ll find real-world tips for how to create and implement effective courses, plus a white paper that shows you how to deliver on the promises of eLearning.

http://devel2.njit.edu/serendipity/
What’s really best, face-to-face learning, online courses, or a combination? Ken Ronkowitz and Tim Kellers discuss a recent study that asserts hybrid college courses are as effective as traditional ones. The study compares traditional, online, and hybrid courses and explores how well students perform in each setting.

http://bloggeron.net/educational-software-a-revolution-in-learning/
Blogger Matthew Stanton considers the evolution of learning from the time-honored classroom to e-Learning applications. He claims the e-Learning revolution—while critical—depends on actual, “dear” teachers to enhance learning.

http://bloggeron.net/e-learning-development-secrets-maximizing-learning-potential/
Shhh! Clicking this link will send you to blogger Christine O’Kelly’s set of e-Learning development secrets. You’ll uncover valuable information for developers, educators, and learners alike, with ideas on how to create and implement quality e-Learning courses. Be sure to note the four tips on maximizing learning potential.

http://www.lockergnome.com/
From the IT Professionals blog, access a free white paper by Ellen Wagner of Adobe Systems on delivering on the promises of e-Learning. Wagner gives a snapshot of the current types of eLearning available, its standing in the market, and the landscape of its adoption. The paper focuses on how quality e-Learning engages learners.

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

Oct 2-3
Oklahoma ASTD Conference
Oklahoma City, OK

NexLearn’s Dennis Rees and Curt Renard will present in Room 215: Transitioning to Immersive Learning Simulation Based Training
Visit the NexLearn booth for one-on-one discussions

Oct 26-29
Elliott Masie’s Learning 2008
Orlando, FL
Visit the NexLearn booth to learn about:

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

October Survey

Which component would you most like to incorporate into future e-Learning courses?

Simulations

Podcasts

Wikis

Blogs

Last Month’s Survey Results

What is the biggest challenge you experience when developing e-Learning programs?

Getting executive buy-in

Securing appropriate budget

Allocating production resources

Generating user interest

Ask the Expert

Question:
We’re having difficulty generating interest in our employee training program. Any ideas how we can get our employees to actually take our courses?

Answer:
Well, we’ll assume that participation in the training program is not mandatory. To entice people to do something on their own, you have to make it worth their while. First and foremost, you must have quality content available. Programs that are interesting and engaging will make users want to try another course, and then another and another…get the picture? It’s also important to get management’s support. If employees see their boss and their boss’s boss interested and using the training program, they’ll most likely want to participate as well. Finally, make employees accountable. Work with your employees to set individual goals, and make sure they understand the objectives of the company. And create milestones so their progress can be measured. By allowing your employees to participate in the planning and training process, you’re more likely to gain their buy-in, which typically means increased participation.

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

Aligning Design Elements

SimWriter 3.0 allows developers to align graphics easily. Simply select all images to align, and then set to left, right, center, top, middle, or bottom.