All is a buzz at eLearningToolBox.  With 2010 in full swing we are planning one of the biggest changes ever!  Over the past several years, our client base has grown, our products have improved, and the market has evolved.  To serve you better we are changing our company name and the names of our product line.  We will still be offering you the same great service and nothing will change about our current products. 

Although the new name won't be announced until early March and change over will begin in April, it is so hard to keep this exciting news to ourselves!  Join our facebook fanpage, watch Twitter and the blog for updates.

The only hint I can share is that it appears we are getting SMARTER!

Change is on the Horizon

Tom Kuhlmann from The Rapid E-Learning Blog, delivers a wealth of information about eLearning.  With over 15 years experience, he provides great insight to new technologies, what works and what doesn't and new ideas to integrate into your distance learning program.  We recommend keeping this website marked as a favorite.  Great information!

In a recent post about what makes eLearning so effective, Tom examines organizational objectives that correspond with eLearning (listed below).  Do you have some others that could be added to this list? 

1. E-learning Supports the Organization's Goals

• Improved training costs.
• Decreased material costs.
• Increased productivity.
• Standardization.

    2.  E-learning Supports the Learner's Development

• Real-time access
• Freedom to fail.
• Improved retention.
• Personalized learning.

    3.  E-learning Nurtures a Learning Organization & Community

• Ongoing access to resources.
• Knowledge management.
• Encourage sharing.
• Employer of choice.
• E-learning is good for the environment.

Why is eLearning So Effective?

Although online education has been around for over a decade, there are still several myths or misconceptions about it.  Many strides have been made to dispel some misinformation but there is still work to do.

Many schools find themselves struggling to help students overcome inaccurate feelings of what distance learning is and what it entails.  Listed below are the top seven myths of online education published in a recent post on DistanceEducation.org from Jennifer Williamson.  Can you think of more to add to this list?

1. You don't get as much peer and teacher interaction online.
2. Online education isn't as good as traditional school.
3. Online education is a scam.
4. Online education is easy.
5. You can't transfer distance learning credits to other universities.
6. Traditional colleges look down on online education.
7. Employers don't accept online degrees.

Top 7 Myths About Online Education

A recent article from University Business about using distance learning to manage surging enrollments, explores the possiblities virtual learning can have on an ever increasing enrollment and the implications of creating more of these environments.  It interviews a host of distance learning leaders and focuses on ideas from mulitple schools. 

The article examines four areas that deserve attention as schools increase their online offerings.  Beginning with the man vs. machine idea, all agree that setting up the infrastructure is the easy part to accomodate multiple sections of an online course.  However, having a qualified online teacher trained, hired, and ready to go is more difficult.

Another issue facing faculty and schools is load balancing.  Most faculty agree that teaching an online course takes more time and training than a traditional classroom.   Some schools have a required training course that is required of all online teachers.  Clearly teaching online is very different than face-to-face and thus should be acknowledged.

Course selection should also be a consideration for those growing their online offerings.  Examine what courses work best online.  Some content simply works better virtually than others.  QualityMatters is mentioned in the article as a peer review process of the course delivery methods and content.

Lastly the article illustrates how Taming Technology is essential in making your distance learning program work.  Acknowledging technology is a postitive resource if you have people who can manage it, understand it, and use it effectively.  The same holds true on the other side of the coin.  High tech classes for students who have low technical competencies will cause frustration and result in poor retention.  Some specific tools are mentioned in the article such as READI (online readiness assessment and Kayako (a helpdesk support suite) to help students and administrators.

All parties interviewed agreed that distance learning was popular long before the economic downturn and that continued growth is inevitable.  Recognizing the challenges that come with growing pains will be key to offering quality and convenience in a format that involves qualified instructors and capable students.

University Business - Virtual Capacity

Today is Groundhog Day and that means many are anxiously waiting to see if the groundhog will see his shadow and thus sentence us to another six weeks of Winter.  In researching where the Groundhog Day celebration came from I stumbled upon a clever piece from GKLife with some history.  It turns out that it originates from folks looking for something...anything...to celebrate in the dead of Winter. 

Have you ever thought about how much power the groundhog has in his shadow?  Whether fact or fiction, it is something to think about.  This is a great lesson for us all to ponder on a personal level.  What do others see in our shadow?  Are we leading them to greatness or mediocrity?  Are we leaving behind a shadow that is powerful, shows ambition, and organized brilliance? 

What about your organization?  Your school?  Do your practices leave you in the shadows of other's greatness?  Businesses that carefully plan, look at market trends, and have a committed workforce generally leave the shadows that others find themselves in. 

eLearningToolBox is making some changes in 2010.  After a strategic planning session, we found ourselves wanting to create a stronger shadow that others can see and imitate. We are in the process of changing the company name and product line.  Details will be coming soon so pay careful attention and don't forget to follow our fan page on facebook for up to the minute updates! 

Speaking of Shadows