Are We Little Brains or Big Brains?

I recently read an interesting blog entry about a course offered at Johns Hopkins University called Mind, Brain, and Teaching, given by Mariale Hardiman, author of the book, The Brain Targeted Teaching Model for 21st Century Schools.

In the post the author talks about the Brain Targeted Teaching Model (BTTM), which espouses six stages of teaching and learning processes, which are (and this is only the treetops here): establishing an emotional climate for learning; creating the physical learning environment; designing the learning experience; teaching for mastery of content, skills and concepts; teaching for the extension and application of knowledge; and, evaluating learning. If that isn’t a truckload of scientific drivel, I don’t know what is.

The truth is, learning is all about keeping the learner engaged, no matter what age or level of education. Way back when (in the 70s and 80s in my personal experience), teaching was all about the relationship between the teacher and pupil. Where I grew up, good teachers were fewer and farther between, especially by the time I got to high school. By then, the sense of “I don’t give a crap” coming from my educators was so strong, that I fell into the same rut they were in. It’s no surprise that I didn’t really excel at school until I returned to it later on in life. And, the fear element was greater then than it is today. I can remember cowering in fear from some of my teachers; third and fifth grades stand out in my mind. Today, in many academic settings, the roles have been reversed.

While studying the brain is a worthwhile endeavor, when it comes to learning all bets are off. Now, we have to embrace all different types of educational tools in order to engage the average student. There is so much more visual stimulation today than there was when I was a student that teachers are lost when it comes to motivating their charges. What’s the answer? Well, there is no clear-cut solution at the moment, but what helps is embracing quality online coursework to supplement the classroom experience. That goes not only for K through 12 students, but for adults in the workplace looking to further their careers.We’ve all been blessed with access to a plethora of technology, and it makes sense to use it for more than video gaming and online shopping. Unfortunately, the quality of the educational tools currently available varies greatly, to the point were getting an education requires a significant amount of homework before the real work begins.

Don’t get me wrong – I applaud the study of the brain; but we all need to grow and learn at every available opportunity. As our brains mature, so do we as people. And to do that, we always have to keep the educational journey in mind.

If you’ve been on a “questionable” educational journey recently, we want to hear about it. Then, if you want to see what quality online learning looks like (no brain scan necessary), visit Coggno.com.

Don’t Let the Kids Leave You In the Dust!

School is almost back in session and many teachers have already begun to gear up for the new year. We don’t need to get slapped with a ruler to know that kids can spot a fake better than we adults can. That includes a teacher that pretends to be technologically advanced when he or she doesn’t know a smartphone from a toaster oven. The best teachers know that learning must be integrated with today’s technology in order to be successful. That means they have to be well versed on all the newest technology and social media trends in order to keep their students engaged. Plus, communicating with parents is no longer as easy as making a phone call. In this busy electronic world, you have to juggle multiple phone numbers and e-mail addresses in order to track them down.

We can’t just assume that everyone is as “with it” technologically as we’d like. Some people eschew technology for a more traditional approach, but unfortunately, when it comes to education, you’ll get left behind quicker than last year’s back-to-school clothes if you don’t adapt to the constant changes. And, the most important of those changes is being technologically up-to-date.

In order to usher in the new school year with a bang, here are some suggestions to help you bond with technology, and better engage your students:

Broaden the Number of Sources Students Can Use For Projects: Encourage students to use blogs, podcasts, and other online sources for papers and reports. Get them comfortable with online communication by asking them to interview subjects using Skype.

Have Students Collaborate With Other Students In Different Locations: Arrange group projects with students in other schools. Those schools could be local or even abroad. Have them interact exclusively online!

Ask Students to Create Mock Social Media Profiles For Historical Figures: What would Benjamin Franklin have posted if he he had a Facebook page?

Ask For Report Submissions as Podcasts: Students can jazz up reports or presentations by submitting them as podcasts. This gives them an opportunity to be even more creative.

Take a Trip Around the World Without Leaving the Classroom: Access images of famous places and landmarks online; a virtual world tour is at your fingertips.

Stay In Touch With Parents Via Your Blog: Start a blog and keep it updated with regular progress reports on each student.

These are just a few ideas teachers should consider to make the new school year fun and interesting. But, if you’re a little lacking when it comes to technology, don’t fret: there’s plenty of time to get up to speed before Labor Day. Many skills are super-easy to learn and can be self-taught. If you need a little extra help, there are plenty of online tutorials out there, many free of charge, and others at a nominal expense.

For more about how you can become a techno-force, visit Coggno.com for access to a wide variety of top-notch online training courses.

Do Your Homework When Choosing Your Online Training Courses

It’s no secret that online education choices are becoming plentiful, but prospective students have to be picky when it comes to choosing their courses. Unfortunately, there are many scams out there in virtual academia, and you have to be careful not to fall victim to any of them.

We’ve all been inundated with ads for schools offering quick degree programs and such, many of them for free. But really, how much in life is really free? With all the talk about how expensive a traditional college education has become, we should all know better than to believe that we can really obtain a degree online for free. And, if that degree is promised by a school you’ve never hear of, chances are, it’s a big fat scam. Nothing in life is free, and a degree you can get while sleeping is most assuredly too good to be true. Think of all those weight loss ads that promise results despite being able to eat anything you want and not exercise.

Many universities that previously eschewed online learning are dipping their collective toes in the water by offering “MOOCs,” an acronym for “Massive Open Online Courses.” These MOOCs are free to anyone who can access them online, from anywhere in the world. Schools like MIT, Duke University, Johns Hopkins, the University of Toronto and other big academic names are making lectures available online, but not for students interested in obtaining degrees. The idea is to give students the opportunity to expose themselves to coursework without making a commitment. If you just want knowledge, MOOCs are ideal. If you’re in the market for a degree, there will be homework involved.

Many online training and education pundits are encouraged by the creation of MOOCs, but there’s no telling at this point what they might morph into. Many traditional universities have not fully embraced online learning, and others have made myriad online degree programs available to students. Students, however, are the ones getting caught in the tsunami of choices.

Our advice to anyone planning to embark on a training course of degree program online: Choose carefully! Make sure you read up on your chosen institution/training provider before you sign up for anything, and definitely before you give up the digits to your credit card. Make sure the institution is reputable, and accredited to provide the education you want. Same goes for training, especially if you need a certificate or some other type of proof that you’ve completed the necessary sessions.

Remember, Anything worth doing is worth doing right; that is especially true of online education.

For the best in online training, make sure you check out Coggno.com for training courses in hundreds of categories.

Who Needs Grad School When You Can Access Online Training?

The conundrum many individuals (and not just college-age students) face is whether to pursue that graduate degree or take one’s chances by attempting to procure a job with just a bachelors degree. It all depends on which field you want to pursue; there are some fields where education is the utmost necessity, but for many of us, we cannot put off career advancement for climbing the academic ladder towards a masters degree.

There are a number of reasons why students decide to forgo obtaining a graduate degree in favor of entering the workforce. The first, and most daunting of reasons is the debt that a college education saddles us with as soon as we leave the hallowed halls of academia. Who wants to plunge even more in debt for a graduate degree? Let’s keep in mind that graduate credits cost at least 50 percent more than undergraduate credits, so a two-year masters program might end up costing almost as much as a four-year undergraduate program.

Second, we might be squandering opportunities that are open to us while we toil away for another two years. There is no rhyme or reason to the job market these days; no one can say for certain whether a graduate degree will open more doors than a bachelors, or even plain old life experience, if you happen to be considering going back to school after you’ve been in the workforce for an extended period of time.

Third, many of today’s most marketable skills can be self-taught. Topics like social media, Search Engine Optimization, and other types of Internet technologies can be learned by doing, as well as through online training. The costs of obtaining these skills are significantly less than graduate degree programs, and you have access to an infinite wealth of information just by having a computer and a high-speed Internet connection. But, again, depending on what knowledge quest you’re on, the choice is yours.

Make no mistake – we’re true advocates of education here; but, we much prefer quality over quantity. Investigate your options and let us know which decision you’ve reached.

For the best in online training, make sure you check out Coggno.com in your travels.

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.

Don’t Rage Against the Machine; Or Your Colleagues

In today’s ultra-competitive workforce, you don’t have any friends. Really – even those in your office who you think are your friends aren’t. Friendships in the work place are a nice idea, but when it comes to hanging on to your job, any co-worker, no matter how close you think you are to him or her, will throw you under the bus in order to get ahead or hang on to their job.

As cutthroat as this sounds, there are ways to protect yourself from the wilds of the office jungles, keep your sanity and advance in your position. You can still socialize with your co-workers – go out for drinks or lunch; heck, you can even get them to baby sit your kids. But never, ever take for granted that when it gets down to it, said co-worker would snap up your job in a heartbeat if the opportunity presented itself.

The way to get ahead is not to quit and go back to school full-time to get that MBA or even a bachelor’s degree. Yes, education is a lifelong process, but the key to making sure you have the qualifications necessary to success isn’t heading back to the classroom. You can obtain the necessary skills via online training, without having to sacrifice your position or even inconvenience yourself.

According to industry experts, the way to make yourself a more valuable asset to your organization is to acquire 5 Crucial Skills necessary for success. Those skills are:

• Applied Math and Statistics: knowing your numbers and how to interpret them
• Negotiation Skills: Above all else, you need to play well in the sandbox with others
• Self Expression: Computers can’t do the work for you
• Being an Effective Problem Solver: Within the problem lies the solution. Those who find solutions are noticed.
• Sell Yourself: You are your own best salesperson

In addition to these skills, let’s not forget that keeping up with technology is vitally important to keeping your head above water in today’s work place. Don’t take for granted what you know because technology advances in a heartbeat. There is always some new program that makes the machines more and more indispensable, and the more you know, the less likely you are to be replaced by one.  Computers are a blessing and a curse; they make your job easier, but the day one becomes capable of doing your job, you’re in trouble. Keep The Terminator in mind; once those puppies become aware, they will attack. No doubt about it.

So, what can you do to stave off the machines and your opportunistic co-workers? Acquire knowledge. It’s as simple as that. Make a list of the skills you need to learn or improve upon. Seek out the training that best suits your needs and get to it. You can learn all you need to know and then some with quality online training. You never have to set foot in a classroom ever again.

Oh, and if the training sucks, tell us about it. We want to know!

Mobile Learning as a Driver for Change in Educational Sector

Once the time has come for an idea, no army or any power on heaven and earth can stop it. The time for m-Learning has finally arrived after years of hype, and it is making waves as it spreads the light of knowledge into dark pockets of ignorance and poverty.

Most of us don’t really think about it all that much, but Fabio Sergio of Co.DESIGN has done some serious research and written a fascinating post that lists ten different ways that mobile learning is changing the face of education as we know it. You should read Fabio’s musings in full, but here’s the gist of it.

1. Ongoing Education – There’s really no way to stop learning when you’re connected and plugged in through phones, tablets and computers. If you have the curiosity to find out how something works, then you don’t have to go sit in a classroom for months or years, paying fees for learning stuff which you will never need. All the knowledge you need is just one click away on a smart phone or cheap tablet.

2. Leapfrogging the System – In fact, many people are cutting through the clutter of traditional educational formats to take up specific useful courses online. Anyone anywhere, with no background or prior qualifications, can sign up worth prestigious institutions like Stanford or MIT and take courses like artificial intelligence or computer science online. It’s just a question of needing it or wanting it, and the education will instantly be available with no entry barriers. Needless to say, studying at Stanford will be a pipedream for a poor worker or child in a third-world country  – unless you bring together a mobile solution and the ability to download and digest lessons as and when possible throughout the day and night.

3. Lifelong Learning – Easy to use mobile and tablet devices have removed the perceived fear of using a computer among the older generation. They have the time and the motivation to learn and teach. The rise of an army of well educated retirees and seniors willing to contribute to m-Learning is fueling the revolution.

4. Gender Bender – In many parts of the world, young girls and women are denied educational opportunities and not allowed to go to school. m-Learning is the perfect solution that has gate crashed through these barriers and is educating half the population in places where no other access to education is possible.

5. Software Literacy – The availability and spread of computers and their applications in various industries is held back because of the lack of developers who can provide these solutions. Most third-world nations and their corporate worlds don’t really consider it a priority to fly in programmers fromIndiaor outsource such work. If local programmers were available, it would be a whole new story. This is where m-Learning is making one of its biggest contributions.Kenyais a shining example, where mHealth solutions are making a real impact.

6. Use Existing Educational Material – The internet is a vast sea of information, where the only problem is finding exactly what you need and nothing else. It can be a full semester’s collection of educational videos and study material, or something as simple as text messages to help people improve their lives and take preventive health care on their own.

7. Who’s the Student – Today’s plugged in children can easily be educators themselves, spending some time teaching their own parents and others in the community how to use smart phones, tablets and computers for m-Learning.

8. Synergy – You cannot use one mobile solution without it affecting your status in some other area of life. For instance, those without access to the banking system became empowered when they got hold of m-Finance where they could send and receive money through mobile phones. That in turn has allowed them to spend resources on other mobile solutions and get hold of m-Learning, m-Health and a host of other solutions that have improved their lives.

9. Impact on Traditional Learning – The disruptive force of e-Learning and m-Learning has hit the old universities hard and they now have no choice but to get on-board or be left out. Major universities are now offering their full-time courses completely online, with the exact same curriculum, teachers and certification. Students can complete and submit assignments online through LMS systems, and virtual campuses provide the opportunity for group study and classroom style online teaching.

10. Customized Education – While m-Learning is forcing education providers to make changes, it’s still a work in progress. But students don’t need to wait for progress and can pick and choose what they want to study online. Every student can stick to preferred subjects or courses and get certified for just that. It cuts out the boredom and time wasted on studying irrelevant courses just to get a degree.

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!