Learning Management Systems (LMS) Training Blog

Find Distance Learning for Editorial Styles MLA and APA

2011-06-30T17:56:00.000-07:00

If you are a professional writer or proofreader, or are someone who is interested in taking up the trade, distance learning might be a great option for you. If you are already in the trade, you should know the difference between styles of writing.

Two different schools that provide writing guidelines are the Modern Language Association (MLA) and the American Psychological Association (APA).

You can become familiar with each of these styles by reading their corresponding manuals.

See related post: Devil's in the Details: Distance Learning for Picky Proofreaders

How to Proofread your Own Work

2011-06-16T17:50:00.000-07:00

Proofreading is something that not just anyone does well. That's why some people are paid to do it for us, people with experience in proofreading and/or some kind of formal education, such as a distance learning course in proofreading.

However, if you're a prolific writer, hiring a proofreader to review your content can become expensive. In order to make more efficient use of your proofreader, some tips are to: allow some time between writing and proofreading. Proofread your own work at your most alert time of the day. Read your work out loud. Use spell check. Proofread your text for only one type of error until moving on to another one. Take notes on your most common errors.

See related post: Copy-editing and Proofreading Distance Learning

Virtual Worlds, Real Results: Online Learning Programs for High Schoolers

2011-06-02T18:01:00.000-07:00

As more young people experience online learning, and as online education becomes more sophisticated, young people's learning experience becomes more translatable into a work context. Given the benefits that online courses and virtual world e-learning provides students, more and more schools have been integrating advanced technology and e-learning supplementation into their curricula.

Therefore, more and more young people are graduating high school prepared not only for further education, but also for a highly
competitive job market that prizes ICT skills above many other skills.

See related post: Master Online Learning in Your Free Time

Online RCA and Other Business Training

2011-05-20T20:50:00.000-07:00

Online training is a unique opportunity for any business looking to train employees cost-effectively, conveniently, and fast.

While complementary in-person training in fields like compliance training, root cause analysis, and conflict management can benefit employees and create a more personalized learning experience, online training has been proven strong enough to stand alone if chosen from a robust learning management system course provider.

Some LMSs also provide content creation toolkits and multi-language user interfaces, allowing businesses to create their own training content, and deliver it to employees across the globe, with just a few clicks.

See related post: You failed. What Now? Root Cause Analysis: How Organizations Rebound

Games in Language Learning

2011-05-11T19:48:00.000-07:00

Game-like learning has a promising future in the world of online education, as more and more online learning systems are incorporating them into their curricula.

Teachers of subjects from math to languages are also catching wind of the effectiveness of game-centered learning.

Language learning courses are particularly conducive to this kind of pedagogical approach, since languages must be learned in an interactive and dynamic way which allows learners to practice their skills.

See related post: Online Courses make Language Learning Easy and Fun

You’re Never Too Old to Go Back to School with a Learning Management System

2011-05-03T17:32:00.000-07:00

Hate the term, “mature student”? Learning knows no age limit, and these days, it’s never too late to embark on a new knowledge base or career path. You don’t even have to go to an actual school to do it.

The next time you’re searching for something online, search for a Learning Management System. You can work independently in a comfortable environment to learn the skills necessary for professional advancement, or to embark on an entirely new career. You can do so wherever you are most comfortable, not in a classroom where you might feel out of touch or too old for school.

Today’s technology enables you to focus on more effective absorption of material, keep track of your progress and make you feel comfortable. All you need is an Internet connection and a device on which to view the materials. No textbooks, no uncomfortable classroom chairs; just the tools you need to put yourself on the path to greater success.

See Related Post: Embracing a Learning Management System Proves You’re Never Too Old for Education

Post-Recession Blues: How to Kill them

2011-04-21T17:16:00.000-07:00

Unemployment is highly stressful and emotionally exhausting, but it can also be an opportunity to reflect on your skills and long-term goals, and take action. If you are unemployed, you might take this time to build on your skills and expand your marketability.

Especially for women, further education helps while seeking employment to fight the gender disparity that remains an active element in the work force. For many women either working, raising children, or seeking employment, an online program is not only the most attractive option, but the only feasible one.

Surprisingly, many women are finding post-recession time to be the most difficult financially. During the recession, men lost more jobs than women overall. However, now that the recession is over, and we are supposedly enjoying an economic recovery, women are losing more jobs. Why is this the case? Part of the reason is government funding—state money has been quickly running out. Government payrolls are shrinking, programs are being cut, and jobs are being eliminated left and right.

The increasingly financially crippling expenses of brick and mortar university education is enough to make anyone seek alternatives, but especially those with mouths to feed, bills to pay, etc.The low cost combined with the flexibility of LMS online courses make it the fastest-growing learning method in the world.

See Related Post: Post-Recession Unemployment and LMS Education

Human Resources Management Faces Huge Challenges with Online Training

2011-03-06T17:44:00.000-08:00

In the 21st century the business model has changed and so have challenges facing human resources management in the development of online training courses. The old models are no longer effective, so they need to look for something different for the future, something that will assure the organization of hiring people who have the necessary skills to bring something worthwhile into the organization.

Online training for new employees is something that should become passé because it no longer meets the needs of modern organizational models. Human Resources Management needs to look beyond pre-employment testing and move forward to things that will tell more about the applicant in general—assessment models are becoming more popular and useful in this area. Assessments provide Human Resources Management what testing does not: a look into the way an applicant functions and the way he sees his life in general.

Related Post: Common Human Resources Management Challenges: Online Training is a Major Player

Identify time wasters and find your balance.

2011-01-05T19:10:00.000-08:00

Finding the time to complete online training is much easier when we figure out where we are wasting our time.

Learning how to identify time wasters that we engage in and changing our approach is how we find balance. Simply looking at how we spend time playing when we could be doing something more productive is part of the process of balancing. If we stop wasting time online, in the land of email, on social networking pages, and in front of the TV we can then rearrange the time we have to fit in online training courses that will set us up for a much brighter future. This is one area where more people fail when attempting to continue their education through the internet, especially when half of the fun is online ready and waiting.

See Related Post: How to Balance Work and Continuing Your Education with Online Training

Harnessing soft skills in LMS online training

2010-12-17T15:56:00.000-08:00

Many organizations suffer the consequences of poor training in the simple procedures of soft skills.

An organization's success depends not only on hard technical skills, but its members' ability to work together effectively. Success can be jeopardized by factors such as inter-staff politics, personal agendas, lack of energy and commitment to organizational goals, and poor communication.

How can your organization avoid these dangers and achieve actionable outcomes with LMS online training?

The purpose of any kind of training is the acquisition of skills. So what kind of skills are teachable? What skills can you expect to nurture in online training? The truth is that all skills, both soft and hard, are teachable--and critical to an organization's success.

Soft skills, or "people skills," are utilized in both professional and personal life, and include all the procedures involved in effective communication. These include listening, engaging in dialogue, providing feedback, functioning in a team setting, resolving issues and conflicts, and contributing in staff meetings.

See Related Post: How to Train the People behind the Skills

Are the results real and Measurable in Online Training Courses?

2010-12-07T18:57:00.000-08:00

One of the big issues around online training is perception that measuring and monitoring the effectiveness and substantive results of this training can be elusive.

In other words, turning the training into an actionable outcome is the difference between a pretty screen that your learners will stare at, and a meaningful translation of what they just learned into accountable result.

So as important as it is to develop a great online training course, it is just as important to develop an evaluation methodology to measure the impact of the training. This and effectively interacting with your learner in your online training course are important element.

See Related Post: Online training and actionable outcome and result

How to Gauge the Quantity of LMS Training

2010-11-18T19:11:00.000-08:00

Let's face it: management often has a difficult time in gauging the appropriate amount of time to devote to training. One common mistake is to skimp on training. It's rushed through, and ultimately the manager figuratively shrugs his shoulders and concludes that employees will learn the particular skill or topic on-the-job. However, managers should keep in mind that training IS on-the-job.

Training is a critical part of employees' work experience, which delivered effectively, can make an enormous difference in performance, greatly ease the task of performance management, and save an organization an enormous amount of time and money in employee turnover.

There are many causes of failed online training initiatives, which are obviously a huge waste of organizations' time and energy. Many of these causes are related not only to the quantity or length, but also the texture of the training.

Coggno is now offering a free trial for performance review training creators on its learning management system. Create online training for free, whether it be for internal use, for inclusion in Coggno's E-learning Marketplace, or for outside syndication on hundreds of websites.

See Related Post: Quantity Control in LMS Training

MGMT Behaviors to Avoid for Decreased Employee Turnover

2010-10-11T15:39:00.000-07:00

Why do employees quit, and how can LMS managerial training help? First, the improper handling of situations is a common way to lead employees to their next job with a company who may be your competitor. When things go wrong, management must step up to the plate and become the leader, rather than the finger-pointer and blame-assigner. Another sure way to kill morale in the workplace is the constant reorganization of staff and shuffling employees around. This only causes confusion and a lost sense of priorities.

The second behavior that management should avoid is the alienation of staff by silence. Oftentimes, management fails to make time to inform staff about the decisions it is taking. Clarity and transparency in management should be consistent in order to keep a healthy employee morale and sense of good communication at work.

The third managerial behavior that effects high employee turnover rates is killing morale by not allowing employees to make any decisions about their work. Employees begin to view their work as only a job instead of developing pride and positive energy in the workplace.

Coggno is now offering a free trial for management training creators on its learning management system. Create an online course for free, whether it be for internal use, for inclusion in Coggno's E-learning Marketplace, or for outside syndication on hundreds of websites.

See Related Post: 3 Managerial Behaviors that Contribute to Employee Turnover

What's Your Most Valuable Resource? Invest in LMS Performance Review

2010-09-19T13:05:00.000-07:00

I've already mentioned employee dread of performance reviews; but what about the managers giving the reviews? Surveys report that managers also harbor a strong dislike for performance reviews, oftentimes because an organization's employee performance development is often lacking. Oftentimes, supervisors have a difficult time remembering the major achievements of each employee in a given year, let alone their goals, development, and other contributions.

Short memories on the managerial end and insufficient time spent on goal-setting and performance assessment throughout the year often make annual reviews unfair, inaccurate and worst of all, ineffective. Lack of preparation for a performance review communicates that you do not take the review seriously, and you can safely assume that neither will the evaluated employee.

The cost of using an LMS to manage performance development and feedback is low and even free in some cases, but the value is great. An investment in systematic performance development is an investment in your most precious resource--your people.

Coggno is now offering a free trial for performance review training creators on its learning management system. Create an online course for free, whether it be for internal use, for inclusion in Coggno's E-learning Marketplace, or for outside syndication on hundreds of websites.

See Related Post: How to Give Great Performance Reviews Using LMS Performance Management

Go Armed and Ready to Your Annual Review

2010-09-03T16:36:00.000-07:00

Do you have an annual performance review coming up? An LMS prep course could help you make it a success.

Oftentimes people dread performance reviews for all the wrong reasons. You might be unfamiliar with the process, or haven't taken the time to reflect on the work year, or create professional goals for the future. You might believe it's time for a pay raise, but you aren't sure if it's the right time to ask.

The trick is to go prepared. Keep in mind that workplaces do performance reviews differently. While some require that you take time to assess yourself, and later use that assessment as the basis for your review, others focus more on the future, or the past. Find out from your boss before the review for some specifics on how the process works.

Coggno is now offering a free trial for performance review training creators on its learning management system. Create an online course for free, whether it be for internal use, for inclusion in Coggno's E-learning Marketplace, or for outside syndication on hundreds of websites.
See Related Post: Nail Your Performance Review with LMS Prep

Proactive Management for Newbies

2010-07-22T17:29:00.000-07:00

A recent poll showed that over half of new managers received no formal training whatsoever before beginning the job. If you're a new manager, be proactive in your own training and transition process. Pick up a course on an online learning platform like Coggno. Free courses include a Sample Negotiation Presentation, Conflict in Workplaces, and L19-Influence. For new managers there are courses such as 6 Steps to a Successful Start as a New Manager, which offers practical tips and strategies to help new managers successfully move into their new leadership role.

Take time to get to know the people you are managing. Even if you have worked beside these people for years, that doesn't necessarily mean you really know them. Find out what's exciting or interesting for them, how to motivate them, and what concerns they may have. If you get to know them as individuals, you will be able to more effectively manage them.

Coggno's LMS combines state-of-the-art tools with quality content to provide managers and all students a memorable and effective learning experience. Coggno is now offering a free trial for management training program creators on its learning management system. Create an online course for free, whether it be for internal use, for inclusion in Coggno's E-learning Marketplace, or for outside syndication on hundreds of websites.
See Related Post: Three Tips for Bright New Managers

Continuously Improve Your Training--And Your Business

2010-06-24T09:05:00.000-07:00

Beyond the time and money saved, one major benefit of a learning management system (LMS) is the potential for creating a team learning experience that fortifies your staff unity and efficiency. But how do you train employees for continuous improvement and team thinking? Moreover, how can you create a group learning experience for your trainees?

First, incorporate Kaizen into your company philosophy, and explain and demonstrate the concept in your training. Kaizen, the Japanese business philosophy of continuous improvement, is a philosophy which involves all employees, of every rank. It is quite different from outdated hierarchical improvement programs of "command and control". Under Kaizen, all employees are encouraged to make suggestions to improve all processes of a business.

Second, create a team learning experience. For example, introduce your staff to a new product or service, and allow them to practice developing strategies and solutions for that product or service. If the trainees are in sales or customer service, use your LMS to introduce the new product, deliver training on the product, and prompt trainees to work together to develop strategies and solutions to given situations when dealing with clients, and so on.

Coggno is now offering a free trial for training program creators on its learning management system. Create an online course for free, either for internal use, for inclusion in Coggno's E-learning Marketplace, or for outside syndication on hundreds of websites.

See Related Post: Three Ways to Strengthen Your Training--And Your Company

Effective LMS Training with Simple Strategies

2010-06-10T20:45:00.000-07:00

Using learning management system training courses, transferring knowledge from the short-term memory to long-term is a process easily facilitated. One of the most effective ways to help learners absorb course material is through repetitive review.

Here's an analogy. Although you have probably parked your car in hundreds of places throughout your lifetime, you probably remember easily enough where it is each time you go to find it. And you just as easily forget where it was parked after you no longer need to find it there.

However, if one day you parked your car in a specific place in the parking lot, and then walked by it several times throughout that particular day, you might remember for days or even weeks where it was on that day.

This is a simple strategy for helping learners put course content into their long term memory. When your trainees learn something new, try to review the main points on the same day. Ask them to take notes on the learning management system material, and allow them to refer back to them as they practice.

Coggno is now offering a free trial for online course creators on its learning management system. Create an online course for free, either for internal use, Coggno's E-learning Marketplace, or for outside syndication on hundreds of websites.

See related post: Practical LMS Training for Long-Term Knowledge

To Homeschool or Not to Homeschool: 3 Questions to Ask Yourself

2010-05-27T08:11:00.000-07:00

Considering homeschooling your child? Here are three important considerations, three critical thoughts, before you take the homeschooling route.

First, is everyone in the family on board with the decision to homeschool? This is an essential precondition of homeschooling that both parents (if applicable) are in agreement about the decision. It will prove very difficult for everyone involved if one parent is against it. If this is the case for you, try talking to more people and doing more research on homeschooling. Read up on learning management systems and other learning strategies before bringing up the topic with your spouse again.

Coggno is now offering a free trial for home educators on its learning management system. Create online courses for home use, or for syndication.

Your child's opinion, of course, should also be considered. Is he or she warm to the idea of homeschooling? Ultimately, it's your own decision, but a willing student is always much easier and more pleasant to work with. If your child is absolutely against the idea, you might not have an easy time of it. Remember, no homeschooling is a lifelong one. Most families take it one year at a time.

See Related Post: The Homeschooling Route: 3 Pre-Thoughts Before You Take it

Learn to Manage Your Outsourcing Relationship with an LMS Online Course

2010-04-06T19:30:00.000-07:00

A company's executives should approach outsourcing relationships in a way that corresponds exactly to the company's short- and long-term objectives.

A key concept that an LMS course teaches executives is that good ORM involves a proactive strategy in preventing failure. Instead of simply measuring, tracking, reporting measures against targets, and penalizing the service provider, executives should use that information to manage future performance. That way, when systems or processes are showing signs that they are heading towards failure, they can be eliminated or changed before the problem actually occurs. A proactive approach has higher rates of effectiveness than any carrot-and-stick strategy. It will also help to root the major causes of dysfunctional or unsatisfactory outsourcing relationships.

A complete online course in ORM deals with the three areas of concern in BPO transition and ORM, which are management strategy, organizational structure, and IT infrastructure. Management strategy refers to identifying the best service level agreement and relationship techniques for your business process outsourcing strategy. Organizational structure refers to developing the appropriate in-house management, or the oversight structure and mechanisms. Finally, IT infrastructure is the supportive IT infrastructure which enables the monitoring and management of a network of external service providers.

Management strategy involves a critical element: contract management. This includes tracking, measuring and ensuring results, tracking, penalizing and preventing failure, and developing performance measurements. These measurements should not only address current performance, but also respond by providing proactive solutions and predictions. Contract management also involves a quality assurance approach that governs the processes and the service delivery of a BPO group. Remember that the outsourced service provider has a vested interest in achieving results, just like the company is it servicing.

Since service provider contracts are often transitory, they should specify responsibilities and processes of the BPO transition term. Generally, the contract with an outsourced service provider should include provisions for performance management, and the contract language should be flexible, allowing for changes as they become necessary.

See Related Post: LMS Courses Help Proactively Manage Your Outsourcing Relationship

Business Process Outsourcing Demands a Solid Learning Management System

2010-03-01T13:00:00.000-08:00

It's never been uncommon for organizations to outsource content development, such as learning programs, management and company training, including tasks such as the production of books, training materials, videos, and other educational materials. Learning management system vendors offer benefits such as flexibility, customization, and cost-effectiveness to organizations using business process outsourcing (BPO).

BPO is quickly becoming the norm among large-scale companies and businesses, and offers some outstanding benefits. But it can also be a complicated venture, which is why strong learning management system or other online company training is crucial for organizing and training employees whose work is outsourced.

Before learning management systems and other online training systems, training employees was a more decentralized process. Oftentimes, companies could not even be sure how much money they were spending on training across their enterprise. The process varied widely from group to group, and company to company.

In relation to the frequency of business process outsourcing taking place, companies are paying greater attention to their learning management system training and other online training systems. Everyone wants to secure a process that works for his or her company, to reduce the cost of training by finding a customized solution and making it both adaptable and repeatable.

Companies who use business process outsourcing can save money if they are able to centralize and repeat the process of training. This is where learning management systems are useful, since they allow users to create and deliver customized training solutions. Companies can make training their own, integrated with their logo and corporate color scheme. Learning management systems that use a pay-per-use business model make it easy to load and reload learning content as required for relevant, up-to-date training. This model allows organizations to help employees gain the skills and knowledge required in exactly the period of time necessary.

See Related Post: Centralized LMS Training for Business Process Outsourcing

Learning Management System Portal Imparts Continuing Education in Healthcare

2010-02-16T19:38:00.000-08:00

Different concise modules related to various fields-accounting, business, governments, even law are updated to training programs by using a Learning Management System portal. In recent times, additional domains are using a LMS to provide training and consequently, continuing education in healthcare is promptly accessible through online courses.

Technological and scientific advancements in the field of medicine are being made nowadays and it is imperative for nurses, and everybody associated with the medical field to be conversant about these diverse progressions. The best way to do that was through seminars. But lack of time is the biggest factor. To make individuals existence uncomplicated, Learning Management System programs are already available or their services can be acquired as needed.
Giving a profound elucidation, continuing education modules are not de rigueur, it alleviates individuals in the medical field to sign up for these short programs. Without a doubt; the erudition that we acquire whilst in university is indispensable for health providers. Books undoubtedly update us when in need.

You can also browse through the Internet for the latest in medical care. Nevertheless, Learning Management Systems can currently offer a lot. The information on the Internet should be taken only at face value and it doesn’t cover all topics related to your field. But, with these online training modules, more care providers get the opportunity to brush up on their skill sets and register for continuing education short programs any point of time.

It’s been observed that academia which offer continuing education programs are capable of churning out proficient nurses. Given that the learners and nurses get the option to schedule these modules, it becomes effortless for the information to permeate.

It is absolutely true that these programs are very valuable as nursing students, nurses and individuals associated with medicine are abreast with the latest. Most experts advocate these short courses for individuals wanting to refurbish their nursing permits. Learning Management System is a brilliant and highly efficient solution when it comes to continuing health care education modules.

See Related Post: Continuing Education in Healthcare Made Available via the Learning Management System Portal

Ensure Active Learning with Learning Management Systems

2010-02-08T20:37:00.000-08:00

The Activities feature serves a practical purpose. Using the feature, administrators can track student activities to find out where each one is exceeding, and in what areas extra attention may be required.

Monitoring trainees with the aid of a learning management system feature like Activities helps ensure that students are actually absorbing the content they are learning. Why is this important? First of all, ensuring training effectiveness saves organizations and educators valuable time and energy. In what ways? Many--and each depending on the kind of training you're delivering.

On the other hand, some kinds of training may not necessarily benefit from such a feature. For example, training material given to new employees, teaching them the ins and outs of their new position, may not cry for a feature that monitors student progress in such an active way. After all, newcomers to an organization are typically excited about their new job--they want to learn. They are intentional learners.

With compliance training, however, that story changes. Here organizations save money in the long run if they ensure successful training. Conflict can be avoided, and employees can be protected. And of course, productivity is always increased when employees are well educated on workplace issues which are meant to facilitate communication and prevent conflict.

Automated tracking of learning allows trainers and educators to concentrate on teaching and administering content. Trainers can focus on the content and guiding student interaction with the material, rather than actively keeping tabs on them.

However, the most effective way to ensure that learning is taking place is the existence of a strong and engaging training course. It's not enough to create satisfactory content, get it out there, and expect students to eat it up. A complete and flexible learning management system which provides a variety of robust features is the best way to create content that entices all learners to become intentional ones.

See Related Post: Motivate and Monitor Students with Learning Management System Features

Implementing Classroom Environment into Learning Management System

2010-01-25T08:13:00.000-08:00

Are you interested in upgrading your skills of your employees? If yes, a learning management system can be the perfect solution for your team. A LMS does not necessarily mean online courses on a portal with login and passwords for employees. You can also have a virtual classroom environment that can be monitored, with self study modules available for learners.

Basically, a learning management system is a software application that consists of several e-programs, training methods and content programs to educating the user. Companies across the world have started realizing the benefits of encouraging their employees to take up this system as it is being considered a great way of teaching a job skill to multiple employees at a time.

Even though e-learning has gained tremendous popularity in the last few years, many organizations still find the classroom environment more effective in training employees. To meet both the needs, organizations are looking at blended learning solutions. According to their recent studies, when employees attend a virtual classroom training session with their co-workers it gives them a feeling of being a part of the team.

In a virtual classroom setting it becomes easy to address everyone at once and track learner statistics using a learning management system. In case some changes are made in the course or there is any important notice, all employees can get be updated with ease. Training employees, developing their skills and creating a helpful work environment are vital for any organization. Virtual classrooms promote networking between employees, improve comfort levels between employees and provide the flexibility of online training.

The main aim of using a virtual learning environment and a learning management system is to make sure that everyone learns at their pace and experience the benefits of a classroom. Even though the company encourages the employees to work in a team and learn as a team in a classroom setting, the organization can always make them work individually when required.
Related Post: How Classroom Environment is Being Implemented Into the Learning Management System

How Your Learning Management System Can Help Your Business Thrive in 2010

2010-01-07T08:42:00.000-08:00

Provide your employees with a customized, one-on-one training method via an learning management system. Using a SCORM-compliant LMS is one solution that more and more organizations are turning to to make sure their employees are well-educated on their products.

Unfortunately, trainees' absence of interest in a compliance training topic is often a result of bland training material--not to mention the sheer reality that the training course is mandatory. And that lack of interest can cause students' failure to really learn and process the learning content, and to skimp on the time required to actually absorb the material.

However, holes in employee understanding of important issues (like those listed above) which compliance training courses cover can cause big trouble down the road. That is why supervisors are wise to ensure that employees are completing course material completely and correctly, and devoting the appropriate amount of time on each part of the learning management system training.

Of course, it isn't enough just to train employees on organizational policies and procedures. In order to get ahead in a competitive job market, take advantage of your training management system to go the extra mile. This year, educate your employees with state-of-the-art and effective tools so that they can efficiently and effectively educate your customers.

Customers want to make an informed decision when considering buying a product. There is no greater discouragement to purchasing a product than an apathetic or unknowledgeable sales representative.

Aiding with the development of employee knowledge is an essential practice for any company hoping to remain relevant in an increasingly competitive business environment. For this reason among others, investing in your employees is the wisest business move you can make in 2010.

This year, think long-term and invest in your best asset: your employees. Use your LMS not only for compliance and other basic training, but to educate your staff on how to best interact with and educate your customers.

Related post: Educate to Sell With Learning Management System Solutions

Learning Management System the Sustainable Franchise Training Route

2009-11-19T09:12:00.000-08:00

In making decisions about company training methods and whether or not to employ a learning management system(LMS) to distribute training, sustainability is one top consideration. What makes a company training method sustainable?

To be sustainable, a training method must function smoothly without requiring a great deal of extra work. And as with any company procedure, those involved must understand the practices involved. In order for franchise managers, for example, to successfully train employees on standard procedures within a company, they themselves must understand those processes.

Unfortunately, this is one problem individual franchises often experience in training their employees; there are so many rules and regulations to keep track of. It's no wonder that training is often done haphazardly or breezed through without much thought or planning--the specifics can be a little hazy.

Of course, online training delivered via a learning management system is great for small organizations. Managers can create short demos and tutorials using course creation tools, and quiz their employees to ensure that the material has been processed. They often create the material itself, and are able to provide all the information needed for their employees to be successful.

And for managers running a smaller operation, it's simple to keep track of employees' progress using LMS student tracking tools. A learning management system automates many training processes to ensure that employees are gaining the information they need to do their jobs well.

But LMS-created training courses are perhaps even more ideal for large companies, for the same reasons and more (some of which were mentioned in a recent post). Online training for large companies is the future, for many reasons.

Using a learning management system, companies are able to create and deliver training to large numbers of employees across the globe. Uniform training grants franchises uniform policies and procedures, which ensures better business practices. It ensures, in effect, the ability of a company to survive and thrive in an increasingly competitive global economy.

Another problem that online training addresses in franchise training practices is the confusion that comes with updates and changes that are often unknown or misunderstood by managers. And again, if a manager is confused about a change, it follows that the employees will also be left in the dark. An LMS facilitates the rapid communication of these kinds of updates, so that everyone is clear on every detail related to their workflow, company goals, procedures, etc. It also enables companies to be more elastic, adventurous, and try new things, since training is easy to update and distribute to all franchise branches.

Design and syndicate robust courses and training with Coggno's Learning Management System (LMS) Online. User-friendly, powerful and affordable.

Create Online Training Videos to Prompt Group Discussion

2009-10-29T10:42:00.000-07:00

With a little planning and forethought, anyone can make an online training video or other instructional video not only to supplement learning content, but to work with it as an integrated and vital part of the course material. Videos can work hand-in-hand with other formats of content in a course to make them an enriching and essential backbone of a course.

From training courses (including compliance and other kinds of training) to online high schools, including video is smart for a number of reasons.

In both online training courses and face-to-face courses and training programs, online training videos are able to engage the student and illustrate complex concepts using images and demonstrations. A video can bring a classroom to life and create interest for the learning content.

Another function of instructional videos in a face-to-face or group setting is that it can create a common experience for trainees to share and discuss.

Online training videos are convenient and allow for dynamic instruction any time. An online training video can be easily made up if a student misses a class, and it can be distributed via a learning management system (LMS) so that it is available for students to review any time they choose, at the click of a button.

Making a video is simple with LMSs like Coggno. Include webcam recording tools like BB FlashBack to create your own webcam video. Sound recording allows users to read a commentary at the same time as the screen is being recorded, using a microphone, microphone headset or other inexpensive hardware.
BB FlashBack is able to record high frame rate, high quality movies without affecting PC performance–even on lower powered PCs. BB users have successfully recorded large animations with which other screen recorders experienced problems. And finally BB’s robust annotation, editing and effects features allow Coggno’s LMS software users to frame and fashion movies just the way they want them.

Create and distribute engaging learning experiences with Coggno's Learning Management System (LMS) Online. Easy to use, robust and reasonably priced.

Integrate LMS Teaching Tools for New Generation Success

2009-10-15T08:35:00.000-07:00

With less-than-desirable federal test results making the headlines, the call for public education reform--including better salaries for educators, more federal funding, and the inclusion of more technology such as online course options and LMSs--has become more urgent.

Surprisingly, while education should be and typically is a "recession-proof" area of work, it has not proven to be so in the U.S. during this crisis.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the U.S. economy lost 273,000 jobs last month. Of those lost jobs, 29,000 were in state and local education, making the total losses in that category over the past five months 143,000.

Obviously, this reflects a huge change in U.S. educational standards. These standards are ingrained in our cultural heritage and go back to the 19th century, when the U.S. owed its success to the quality and high standards of its education. In the beginning of the 20th century, even more advancement was seen in the U.S. when the "high school revolution" took place. And in the later half of the 20th century, the U.S. established a competitive position in higher education.

However, American educational success was greatly based on the quality of its public schools. These days, state governments, who are responsible for their own public education systems, are in dire straits. And at a time when practically any federal government spending is viewed in a negative light, it's time for schools to start thinking out of the box.

The need for cost-effective and efficient online tools like LMSs to help educators boost student performance is revealed in the recent math test results.

According to new standardized test results, New York's state elementary math achievement has fallen for the first time in nearly ten years. This year's fourth grade test results from federally funded National Assessment of Educational Progress reveal that New York's scaled scores dropped two points from 2007. The state's latest average score is 241, on a scale of zero to 500. (National scores have stayed flat, at 239.)

The results came as a bit of an embarrassment to some Albany officials, as it was apparent that even though federal tests of fourth-graders showed no gains in New York from 2007, the state's own tests show steady improvement.

Create and distribute engaging learning experiences with Coggno's Learning Management System (LMS) Online. Easy to use, robust and reasonably priced.

New LMS Business Courses to Fulfill Your Company Training Objectives

2009-10-01T09:16:00.000-07:00

As more companies reassess their budget, more are also redefining their training needs and seeking more efficient training methods with learning management systems and other online tools. Successful teams and collaborative groups within an organization can determine whether or not an organization is destined to grow and compete.

For this reason, organizations that encourage and/or require collaboration between employees would benefit from teamwork training such as SilkWeb's Team Dynamics, a course that covers the stages of group development, communication, and conflict.

While most managers will claim to understand that motivation of staff is a critical element of managerial duties, many do not actually practice effective motivation, and are in fact clueless as to what kinds of strategies, techniques, and theories factor in. What kinds of motivation strategies actually work? This course Motivation in the Workplace reviews several popular motivational theories and methods for managerial success.

Another course, Project Management, helps organizations remain competitive and relevant in a time of perpetual change. It reviews project management processes, project and team cycles, and evaluation and improvement techniques. The objective of this program is to orient both staff and managers to the functions and tools needed for successful management.

Business Writing is a SilkWeb course that is also designed for both managers and staff, and which reviews styles, tones, bias, strategies, and uses of technology in business communication. And Creating a Professional Resume teaches users how to write a powerful and effective resume, based on one’s professional skills and abilities. The course Writing Reports trains users in the development of formal reports in the business environment.

Finally, Communication in the Workplace focuses on the role and different types of communication in the workplace, including communication strategies and tone, to improve the effectiveness of participant communication. Communication training can help both managers and staff become better communicators, and achieve organizational goals together.

Successful compliance and management training is proven to save organizations a significant amount of time and money. And when organizations adopt e-learning solutions through a pay-per-use learning management systems such as Coggno, the costs of training itself are significantly less than those of commercial LMS licenses and traditional training methods. For this reason and others, more organizations are finding online training solutions to meet compliance and management training needs.

Create and distribute engaging learning experiences with Coggno's Learning Management System (LMS) Online. Easy to use, robust and reasonably priced

Interactive Training Must-Haves Met with Coggno's Learning Management System

2009-09-10T11:03:00.000-07:00

It's the natural law that many organizations considering a learning management system to deliver training are still digesting and trying to overcome: Tough times = tough clients.

But for companies seeking an edge in the competitive market created by the recession, online training can help tremendously with everything from cutting costs to training employees to be more professional and efficient.

Training program developers are using all the available on e-learning platforms like Coggno--and an increasing number of these tools are applications offered by e-learning platforms.

Applications exchange partnerships help courseware creation toolkit providers help organizations create more feature-rich and low-cost training. On Coggno's LMS, Blueberry Software screen capture software is one such app that now integrates seamlessly with the Coggno learning management system.

Course creators who use BB FlashBack 2.6 to make screen recordings can now integrate the recordings with their curriculum, using Coggno's simple course creation tools, and then deliver training through Coggno's LMS. The combination of Coggno's tools and Blueberry 2.6 offers a more versatile and multimedia learning experience for trainees.

With the inclusion of BB FlashBack in your course creation process, you are given total control over what students view, so there's no need to rely on stock simulations or outdated demo in a training program. You yourself create, edit and apply it to your e-learning course.

BB's Webcam Recording allows for the user to create his or her own webcam video. Sound recording allows users to read a commentary at the same time as the screen is being recorded, using a microphone, microphone headset or other inexpensive hardware.

BB records high frame rate, high quality movies without affecting PC performance--even on lower powered PCs. BB users have successfully recorded large animations with which other screen recorders experienced problems. And BB's robust annotation, editing and effects features allow Coggno's course creators to frame and fashion movies exactly as they choose.

Tough times don't simply mean tough customers and clients. Tough times are a chance for organizations to renew and improve their training, sales, and other procedures to stay in the race and move ahead.

Create and distribute engaging learning experiences with Coggno's Learning Management System (LMS) Online. Easy to use, robust and reasonably priced

Never be Asked to Try Again with Coggno's Learning Management System

2009-08-27T11:40:00.000-07:00

Juggling all the different subscription, banking, social network, email, learning management system, and other account passwords is overwhelming. And it seems like more and more websites are creating increasingly complicated password requirements.

Your old stand-by password is suddenly no good anymore. Some sites want a mix of numbers and letters in your password. Some require more than 5 or 6 characters. Others want a combination of lower-case and capital letters, others a mix of both plus numbers, while the most horrible sticklers require a more-than-six-character mix of both cases plus numbers.

Some very efficient, clever, and/or über-organized people have found tricks for remembering passwords. For example, I read about one trick where you take the first and last letters of the website name, and stick your usual password in the middle, adding perhaps a number or two that you always use. I read about another trick too, but I've forgotten it. Just as I've forgotten the passwords to oh-so-many subscriptions, networks, and other sites.

I know I'm not alone. And that's why universal login, that magical feature that learning management systems and other e-learning platforms are beginning to adopt on a wider scale, is so smart.

For organizations and schools delivering e-learning content to large numbers of students, accessibility and ease are essential. And universal login provides this in a simple and logical way.

To aid organizations and all users in their virtual learning environment access, Coggno has recently integrated RPX with its learning management system. Accessing your training or other e-learning content is now so, so simple.

Coggno no longer requires users to create a Coggno account, providing instead a smorgasbord of login options. Through the RPX app, users can now access Coggno using identities from major sites such as Google, AOL, Yahoo!, Twitter, WordPress, MySpace, and Facebook.

Develop and deliver interactive training courses with Coggno's Learning Management System (LMS) Online. Simple user interface, potent and cost-effective.

Learn the Universal E-Learning Content Tenets for Successful LMS Content

2009-08-13T08:34:00.000-07:00

If your e-learning content is prepared and ready to migrate to a learning management system listen up.

To ensure its success on the marketplace and/or its effectiveness with your own organization, consider a few simple key concepts.

As I've written before, strong learning material is grounded on extensive research as well as your own personal experience, and because everyone has different strengths and interests, learning styles, teaching styles, and so on, not every piece of advice offered to you regarding your online course will apply.

But one crucial and fairly universally important element of a good e-learning course is early and detailed communication with students. So what kind of information is essential to provide early on in your e-learning course?

Mainly, you'll need to provide some pre-course basic training on how to use the learning management system, e-learning course, and/or other online tools. If collaborative tools like wikis or discussion boards are involved, you should clearly indicate how you'd like students to participate.

Teach students about course navigation with the use of videos, taking advantage of the simple-to-use video creation tools that LMSs like Coggno offer. Video tours are an easy and fun way to reach students quickly and effectively with important information. And presenting this information in a visually interesting way will help ensure that this important information is delivered successfully.

Of course, the three basic tenets of human communication are gesture, speech, and visuals. So the online fusion of these three elements recreates the natural ways we humans communicate in face-to-face communication. Using these three aspects--especially the emotional signals of tone and voice--helps you to create a sense of trust in the virtual learning environment.

Another guideline to successful communication with students--and something that will help ensure their comfort and ease working with your e-learning course--is developing a clear course outline or syllabus. A syllabus provides a space for courseware developers and educators to break down into simple bites the course expectations and goals for learners. This information must be presented before any actual learning begins, to ensure best communication with students.
Develop and deliver interactive training courses with Coggno's Learning Management System (LMS) Online. Simple user interface, potent and cost-effective.

E-Learning Tools and Learning Management Systems for an Evolving World

2009-07-23T14:02:00.000-07:00

E-learning courses hosted on a learning management system need to overcome the danger of students copying, giving unoriginal responses to questions, or simply reiterating the responses of other students.

From online training and learning content to the use of discussion boards and other Web 2.0 tools for educational purposes, there is a real possibility in many contexts that students are simply looking up the answers, copying and pasting responses, and learning nothing. Depending on the content, it may have a profound impact on the course's effectiveness.

Education in its online form must undergo some critical growing pains. One of the most common complaints I hear from e-learning students is that courses are simply too easy. Peer originality becomes dubious. And for educators, student effort becomes harder to monitor. Or does it?

What we really need is smarter e-learning design and deployment. It's not enough to create good content, get it out there, and expect students to be engaged. The effective use of Web 2.0 programs, learning management systems, and online courseware in an online learning context requires strategy.

This strategy can be built into the course, developed and maintained by a course administrator or educator, and/or enforced in a face-to-face learning environment if one exists. Tools like Coggno's Activities feature allows LMS administrators to track student activity. Another strategy is to build exams that effectively test student knowledge, rather than asking them to solve problems and post them on a board.

If you're choosing a learning management system for e-learning training or a virtual classroom, choose one based on its built-in solutions to an evolving world.

Design and syndicate robust courses and training with Coggno's Learning Management System (LMS) Online. User-friendly, powerful and affordable.

LMS Activities Feature Helps You Train and Protect Employees

2009-07-13T10:12:00.000-07:00

It's something many LMS students often lament; depending on their position, they may need to undergo compliance training. However, greater complaints down the line can be prevented if compliance training is completed in a serious and effective way.

Compliance training may cover issues ranging from sexual harassment prevention, workplace safety, cultural sensitivity, or respect in the workplace. Oftentimes, to someone taking mandatory compliance training, a topic may feel like common sense, or not worth his or her time. This common attitude towards required training can lead to learning content skimming, skipping of entire sections, and ultimately, guessing on exams and retaking quizzes until the correct answers are guessed.

Students' lack of interest in a training topic is often due to a bland training course, as well as the sheer fact that the course is mandatory. This lack of interest can lead to students' failure to process the learning content, and to spend the time required to truly learn the material. But gaps in employee understanding on key issues (such as those listed above) which compliance training covers can end with trouble down the road. For this reason, supervisors are smart to ensure that trainees are completing course material correctly, and spending the appropriate amount of time on each section.

Coggno has responded to this problem with its addition of the Activities feature, which allows LMS administrators to track in real-time student activity on the LMS online course.

The Activities feature also helps educators integrate LMS courses and Web 2.0 into the classroom.

Unfortunately, online education tools for children and teenagers are sometimes avoided because of supervision issues. In some cases, mishandling and/or lack of supervision of online programs can even become a source of litigation against educators and schools. Because of the hazards involved with including Web 2.0 technologies in many LMS and classroom learning systems, educators who use them must take extra precautions, supervising the use of these technologies to ensure that students stay on track.

Coggno's Activities feature is one solution for the problems of supervision in LMS e-learning programs at school.

Design and deliver robust courses and training with Coggno's Learning Management System (LMS) Online. User-friendly, potent and affordable.

Set Your Own Pace to Success with LMS Online Exam Prep

2009-06-08T09:02:00.000-07:00

One advantage LMS online exam prep has over face-to-face study groups or prep classes is convenience. Students can study wherever they like, whenever they want. Online prep courses allow students to prepare for the test at their own pace.

For those who have already completed a program or degree in their fields, taking the big test--be it a board exam or other standardized test--can be an enormous cause of stress.

Oftentimes institutions offer preparation courses and set up group study sessions, but these aren't for everyone.

For many people, studying for an exam is something that is best done individually. With online exam prep, students can set a timeframe themselves, and access practice, review and refresher assignments, and supplementary learning material to get them prepared for the big test. Some courses also provide tutorial support online, and organize groups using Web 2.0 interactive technologies.

No matter your circumstances, you always hold the power to examine your life and reassess your professional goals. LMS online exam preparation classes are effective and serve a practical purpose: helping people start their path on a new career without interfering much with their lives.

Design and deliver robust courses and training with Coggno's Learning Management System (LMS) Online. User-friendly, potent and affordable

Coggno LMS Now Offers Flash-Based Course Creation Tool

2009-05-26T08:12:00.000-07:00

Have you been looking for robust, versatile and imaginative tools for your LMS online training or eLearning course? Coggno's feature-rich course creation toolkit just became even richer.

This week Coggno teamed up with Rapid Intake Unison, online software that allows course creators to build Flash-based eLearning courses.

Rapid Intake Unison's tools allow course developers and subject matter experts to capture, storyboard, develop, review, test, and publish Flash-based learning content.

But Rapid Intake Unison makes it exceedingly simple--users don't actually need to know Flash. All a user has to do is fill out form-based templates to create interactive Flash-based courses, tests, quizzes, learning games, demos and simulations.

Rapid Intake's tools compbined with the Coggno LMS platform will enable content creators to create richer learning with easy distribution and reporting.

Coggno's Applications Exchance partnerships reflect the consciousness within the eLearning industry that the parts combined are greater than one alone; joining forces provides the best solution. Working together works wonders.

The model of partnering and vending software solutions not only allows for fast and effective performance, but brings together the collective power of combined software skills and know-how. It's an LMS model that Coggno believes is the future.

Design and deliver robust courses and training with Coggno's Learning Management System (LMS) Online. User-friendly, potent and affordable.

Fresh New UI Offered to Coggno LMS Online Users

2009-05-11T10:35:00.000-07:00

A easy-to-use, robust user interface isn't easy to come by in LMS online course creation.

A problem that continues to plague the software industry is that program designers are often masters of engineering and programming, but lacking in other areas, like human psychology. It's a sad truth that the industry is driven largely by profits and the ability to offer cutting-edge technology. Even if that technology isn't exactly easy to manage.

In times like this, even finding a user-friendly interface can be a challenge.

LMS online courses and course creation tools can likewise suffer from this quandary. Some LMSs are extremely well developed, created by people who understand how to design technology based on human behavior, and meeting high standards. But weak, unattractive, confusing courseware continues to prevent more effective and widespread online learning.

Luckily, some LMS online systems are perking their ears to the voices of consumers.

Coggno is an LMS online system and e-learning platform that serves as an intermediary for the transfer of knowledge. The goal is to facilitate the connection between trainers/courseware developers and learners.

Coggno's user-friendly, flexible, straightforward user interface is a breeze to navigate and you'll be walked through every step of your course creation.

Create and distribute engaging learning experiences with Coggno's Learning Management System (LMS) Online. Easy to use, robust and reasonably priced.

Stress-Free Online Training Courses: Breaking It Up

2009-04-29T09:26:00.000-07:00

One major plus of online training courses is the flexibility they provide to you, the student. You can learn at home, at the library, or on the road. And with about 300 Municipal Wi-Fi projects in the making around the world, which will provide wireless access to entire cities, the possibilities will be endless.

The flip side of elearning's flexibility is the healthy dose of self-discipline it requires. In order to juggle all the activities in your busy schedule and create a stress-free elearning experience, some planning and strategizing are called for. Here are five tricks you can use.

First, practice distributed learning.

Study skills for online training courses are in many ways like exercising and eating habits. A healthy approach to exercise is to find ways to move your body constantly, rather than remaining stationary all day but at 9 pm squeezing in a trip to the gym. In the same vein, smaller, more frequent meals keep your metabolism stimulated and running smoothly.

When you're studying online course material, a healthy approach is distributed learning, or breaking learning up into small, more frequent study sessions. Just like the metabolism's response to food, the brain is stimulated by smaller installations of information. Your brain likes to recover and recharge between learning. In the periods between online courseware study sessions, the brain rests and digests learning material.

Second, develop a set schedule. This is an essential aspect of managing your time and reserving a chunk of your day for your online courseware. A good, well-planned schedule can help you in all kinds of ways. You'll keep track of your time and feel more satisfied when you've completed the work you need to do. But at its essence, a schedule is meant to save you time.

Having said that, it's important to remember that schedules should be created with the premise that they're flexible. If studying your online training course at 10 pm hasn't been working out after all--you get sleepy and zone out a bit--change the schedule. It's meant to keep you from wandering off course, and if you're doing that anyway while following the schedule, then it's time to revise it. Online training courses, remember, are designed for your busy life, and you're in charge.

Capture Your Screen Activity for Elearning Integration with Coggno LMS Software

2009-04-22T09:29:00.000-07:00

Are you searching for an inspired way to create sharp and effective LMS software training and courseware? Try screen recording.

LMS and elearning course platform Coggno and its Application exchange partner Blueberry Software have teamed up to provide Coggno's authors an exciting and rich toolkit for course design.

BB FlashBack includes many exciting features that integrate seamlessly with Coggno's LMS software.

Webcam Recording allows for the user to create his or her own webcam video. Sound recording allows users to read a commentary at the same time as the screen is being recorded, using a microphone, microphone headset or other inexpensive hardware.

BB FlashBack's screen recording includes an incredibly simple-to-use interface, instant video creation, and easy editing.

Save movies in all the major video formats, including Flash, QuickTime (H264), Windows Media Video (WMV), AVI, or EXE. You can easily add text, sound, images, and 'zoom & pan' effects. Also, you are able to edit multi track audio and video, side by side.

BB FlashBack is able to record high frame rate, high quality movies without affecting PC performance--even on lower powered PCs. BB users have successfully recorded large animations with which other screen recorders experienced problems. And finally BB's robust annotation, editing and effects features allow Coggno's LMS software users to frame and fashion movies just the way they want them.

Create Harmonious LMS Online Teams

2009-04-13T14:05:00.000-07:00

In designing and maintaining your organization's LMS online training, keep in mind its community-building capacity. The more interactive and collaborative, the more effective your course will be. Synergy is the bread and butter of today's globalizing economy.

These days, organizations are practically composed of a vast network of teams to meet all the goals and functions an organization has. An LMS can be not only a helpful way to organize employee training, but service teams can use them to keep track of customers and employee achievements. Service teams are an increasingly international group. They support customers or the internal organization, normally with a service or technical support role, 24/7.

Training for a role in a service team is something an LMS can take care of, with video tools, simulations, and audio tools like those used by Coggno, to create situations dealing with customers. Some LMSs are even multi-lingual, offering a variety of built-in languages to personalize employees' training experiences.

One problem virtual teams may experience involves the very learning system tools that are meant to facilitate group collaboration. Although cutting-edge collaboration and learning system technologies like Web 2.0 tools and even virtual worlds can help virtual teams achieve goals, the introduction of these technologies can also impose time-costing distractions.
The introduction of a real-time conferencing and collaboration tools may sidetrack members from their focus and draw them into a distracting cycle of tool experimentation. Or an interactive virtual world that is meant as a product-creation learning system, training tool or meeting space may take hours for users to get the hang of, and ultimately may not even function efficiently. The existence of a solid team base is crucial, greatly overshadowing the importance of the newest, fanciest

Engaging, Pocket-Sized Content for a Learning Management System

2009-04-06T23:59:00.000-07:00

In a training course hosted via a learning management system, lectures can be presented in a number of exciting ways. Information can be laid out on a web page or in a downloadable packet.

But why not make it more interesting? One way to provide lectures in a convenient and optimally portable way is in audio or video format, via podcast.

Podcasts have an array of educational possibilities, and appeal to many learning styles. They are an exciting and convenient feature added to any course content. Podcasts can be used to supplement and reinforce course learning material, or renew learning activities.

They can be used as announcements, reminders, and updates to be heard by everyone using the learning management system. Podcasts can be used to distribute interviews and discussions, or to inform students what to expect in the next lesson.

They are easy to create, produce, and share, and listeners don't need an iPod to listen to them. Podcasts are typically in the form of mp3 files, making them accessible to all learners.

What are the criteria for a good podcast? Topics depend on the learning content of your course or the functions you've assigned to the podcasts within your learning management system.

Especially if the content is more technical or number-oriented, keep the podcast at 5 to 10 minutes. Many listeners who don't have an excessive amount of time to spare generally avoid long texts, courses, etc. Small installments of learning content are ideal.

Providing intriguing material that piques listeners' interest is essential to the success of any podcast. Otherwise, your listeners' attention will begin to slip. True, choosing material that's interesting is a matter of taste and opinion, but the way in which you present the information can make or break your podcast's effectiveness in a learning management system.