Need to Learn Something? Learn It Online!

Those of us who can remember way, way back to 1986 (those of us who were alive, that is) remember a song by a group named Timbuk3 called, “The Future’s So Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades.” The song was, sadly, a one-hit wonder for the group, and the lyrics didn’t exactly depict a “Walking on Sunshine” vibe about the world. Nevertheless, the future has turned out brighter for those of us pursuing training and education, because we can learn almost anything online. So, nyah, nyah to Timbuk3, because in 2012, we’ve gotten the last laugh.

Some education experts believe in the possibility that online education might very well endanger the existence of the bricks-and-mortar university, just like Amazon.com is slowly but surely putting bookstores large and small out of business. That might very well be the case, but for many people,  the classroom experience cannot come close to the value of online education and training. Many factors contribute to that; most of all the need for convenience while we struggle to make ends meet and hang onto our jobs post-recession. The luxury of pitching one’s livelihood to return to the hallowed halls of academia just cannot be accomplished in today’s uncertain economy.

Today’s online training and degree programs manage to teach marketable skills to individuals at the fraction of the cost of a college education. Now, you can still hold down a job and not have to worry about racing to make that six-o’clock class at the local community college. Instead, you get to curl up in your bed with your laptop or tablet and do the work at your own pace.

Granted online education is still in its infancy, but it is advancing rapidly. True, this does not bode well for academia, but let’s face facts: we will always need education. Whichever form it takes is moot, so long as it is effective. Whether you’re taking a single class for personal enrichment, pursuing a degree, or increasing your skill set to get ahead in your career, online is the way to go. And yes, the future of education really is bright, thanks to some good old-fashioned technological ingenuity.

For more information about how you can access the best of the best of online training courses, visit Coggno.com.

Cobbled Together “Frankencourses” Are a Big No No!

We’ve all seen that “cobbled together” look just about everywhere: clothes, furniture, food; you name it, it’s out there. Also included on the list are online learning courses. Sometimes, course creators can go overboard using design elements and other tools until the course becomes one giant mishmash, like Frankenstein himself.

When an e-learning course is put together, there are a large number of tools that are used to give the material a logical flow, making it easy to follow as well as easy to absorb. Sometimes, using too many tools can spoil the look and feel of the course, and turn off learners (the old “too many cooks” scenario). When that happens, learners are less likely to want to complete the course, not only turning it into a waste of time, but a waste of money as well. The last thing you want to do is spend time navigating through a convoluted course with so many bells and whistles that you end up cross-eyed without even trying.

Course creators need to take the time to present materials in a palatable way that will encourage learners to stay the course (pun intended), as well as really learn what they need to. The best course of action (yes, another pun!) is to keep it straightforward while utilizing subtly appealing graphics that will keep the learner engaged. Familiarize yourself with authoring tools, choose a couple and put them to work. Don’t pick a little bit of this, and a little bit of that. When you take too many elements from too many different places, you wind up with Frankenstein. And no one wants to learn from Frankenstein. A perfect example is this blog entry from our pals over at Articulate Network.

If you’ve been “Frankensteined” by an e-learning course, we want to hear about it. Submit your story or comment on our post. And if you’re looking for a two-hour reprieve from your online learning endeavors, it’s time to watch Mel Brooks’ Young Frankenstein. Some very prominent e-learning experts can quote that classic almost verbatim!

For more information about how you can access the best of the best of online training courses, visit Coggno.com.

Educational Big Wigs Approve of Online Education and Training (Yeah, They Really Do!)

A couple of weeks ago, those idea-hounds over at the TED Web site posted a blog about third-generation Ph.D. Daphne Koller extolling the virtues of online training and education at one of their seminars. Now, some of you would think that Ms. Koller would be something of an educational snob and not think too highly of online learning, but surprise! she’s all for it.

Good schools can be out of reach for many people all over the world, even here in North America where the top institutes of higher learning are located. At the TED seminar, Ms. Koller quoted New York Times editorialist Thomas Friedman by telling everyone, “Big breakthoughs happen when what is suddenly possible meets what is desperately necessary.” And obtaining a quality education online is certainly a breakthrough that has helped millions of people obtain what is desperately necessary.

What differentiates online education, according to Koller, is that it provides a “real course experience.” Even the most hoity toity schools are getting in on the online action by offering free courses to give students all over the world a glimpse of what it’s possible to learn online. And, this is very definitely a good thing.

Not only is online learning an effective tool, it provides both students and teachers a way to disseminate materials in smaller, easier-to-swallow modules that give students the opportunity to absorb more without their heads hitting the desks during extended lectures. Professors are enjoying breaking up material into short “modular chunks” that allows for better preparation and less yawning from their students. Plus, the addition of shorter quizzes and exercises ensures that students really learn what they’re watching. The key is to not encourage passive viewing, but to include activities that ensure the material is truly absorbed.

What has been proven to work in colleges and universities holds true for those of you who desperately need on-the-job training, but cannot – or will not – leave your desks to get it. More and more companies are getting hip to Learning Management Systems (LMS) that make it easier to provide the training employees need without incurring the exorbitant expenses of bringing in consultants or sending employees to off-site training sessions. If they have an Internet connection, they can train. Plus, the best types of on-the-job training provide the same activities that university courses include, giving employees the opportunity to really learn what they need to.

That being said, we know that not all training is perfect. If your head has hit the desk for a snooze during an online training course, we want to hear about it! If it sucked, we have the “in” on some good ones – honest.

For more on the “good ones,” visit Coggno.com.

Welcome to That Training Sucked!

Greetings and salutations to all who have endured professional training sessions that have made you want to toss yourself out the nearest window! Here at That Training Sucked, you’re among friends and fellow trainees who have lots to say about all the bad training they’ve received over the course of their careers.

There’s a definite method to our madness here at TTS: We’re going to tell you stories about training gone awry, and we’re going to ask you, dear readers, to share your experiences as well. Consider this site a safe, warm environment where you can bitch, moan and complain to your heart’s content about training you received that was totally worthless; be it in your office, a local conference center, or an out-of-town location that required two stopovers on the way to crazytown. Regardless of where or when it happened, we want to hear about it!

A few simple ground rules to go over before we get the ball rolling:

• Keep your stories/comments within the boundaries of good taste. we have a zero tolerance policy when it comes to profanity. Feel free, however, to use the words “suck” and “bitch” where appropriate.
• Don’t spam! If you post spam at any time, we will find you and irretrievably corrupt your hard drive.
• Play nice with others. Take the flame wars and bad attitudes to another site. We’re all about peace, love and understanding.

Now that we’ve settled that, let the fun begin!