Future Concepts

Learning Management System (LMS) Demo for eLearning

It’s a lesson too many content developers learn too late; in learning management system course creation, less is more. This truism applies most especially to one’s writing voice in e-learning content. It refers to developing engaging and thought-provoking content using concise and readable language.

A great number of choices are involved in developing online course content. These decisions range from visual and audio media and graphics to writing style and format. That last decision may be the most important one. The fact is that a powerful or poor writing style can make or break an e-learning course.

What are the requisites for an engaging and effective writing style, you may wonder?

If the learning content has weight and importance, it is often grounded in a course developer’s experience and subject matter expertise. And considering the rainbow of course subjects that exist–not to mention all the different learning and pedagogical styles–it makes sense different contexts are better suited by different writing styles.

But all too often, courseware developers fail to realize their power in regard to an authorial voice. The traditional writing style for learning content–be it e-learning or otherwise–has involved very formal text and tone, or “voiceless writing.” The ideal of the “voiceless writing” model, of course, is the doing away with every trace of authorial voice.

But a growing number of e-learning authors is catching onto the idea of writing with a voice. Especially in e-learning courses, studies show that students tend to be more interested in a writing style that shows personality, rather than a formal and impersonal style.

It’s true that in particular contexts of e-learning writing, a formal and bland tone is simply unavoidable–and there’s nothing wrong with that. The problem lies in the general attitude that formality and blandness is the ideal. And all too frequently, course developers fall into the trap of purposefully making difficult-to-read content in a weak attempt to create intrigue and respect for the course. This is, frankly, a bad idea.

What is the ideal and how does one obtain it? Concise and relevant learning management system content infused with your voice as a subject matter expert and enthusiast.

Design and syndicate robust courses and training with Coggno’s Learning Management System (LMS) Online. Easy to use, robust and reasonably priced.

Learning Management System (LMS) Demo for eLearning

In creating content for a learning management system course, less is more. This truism applies most especially to one’s writing voice in e-learning content. It refers to developing engaging and thought-provoking content using concise and readable language.

A great number of choices are involved in developing online course content. These decisions range from visual and audio media and graphics to writing style and format. That last consideration is of utmost importance. A strong writing style or weak one can make or break your content.

What are some guidelines in creating a powerful writing style?

Strong courseware is grounded in an author’s personal experience and expertise on a particular subject. And taking into consideration the practically endless multitude of course subjects that exist–as well as different learning and teaching styles–it follows that different writing styles are better suited to different kinds of content than others.

But all too often, courseware developers fail to realize their power in regard to an authorial voice. The traditional writing style for learning content–be it e-learning or otherwise–has involved very formal text and tone, or “voiceless writing.” The ideal of the “voiceless writing” model, of course, is the doing away with every trace of authorial voice.

However, a growing group of content developers is coming to the realization that e-learning content can and often should have a strong voice. Most notably in e-learning course material, studies suggest that students respond better to a writing style with more affect and tone.

It’s a fact that in some contexts, a blank-faced kind of formal writing is simply necessary–and that’s fine. The problem lies in the general attitude that formality and blandness is the ideal. And all too frequently, course developers fall into the trap of purposefully making difficult-to-read content in a weak attempt to create intrigue and respect for the course. This is simply a poor practice.

How can this be avoided? Concise and relevant learning management system content infused with your voice as a subject matter expert and enthusiast.

Design and syndicate robust courses and training with Coggno’s Learning Management System (LMS) Online. Easy to use, robust and reasonably priced.

Amazon announced the Kindle DX (DX for deluxe) in May of 2009 and it was released in early June – just a few months after the launch of the updated Kindle 2 in February 2009. The new DX, with its larger 9.7” screen, was heavily promoted as being ideal for reading newspapers, magazines and academic textbooks and, although there have been some partnerships put in place with a good number of newspapers and magazines, it’s probably fair to say that the academic textbook market potential has caused the greatest buzz over the last few weeks.

Amazonhas already established pilot programs with six colleges and universities. These include Princeton, the Darden School of Business, Reed College, Case Western, Pace and Arizona State University.

Given the long list of possible benefits offered by electronic textbooks – which include interactive learning, easier and faster updating of textbooks and financial considerations – it may be a little surprising to learn that more than one of these universities have stated that saving paper and being more environmentally friendly is a major factor in the introduction of the Kindle on campus. According to Lauren Robinson-Brown, the assistant vice president for communications at Princeton, “… sustainability is the driving force behind Princeton using the Kindle”. The Kindle initiative is to be part of a Princeton drive to reduce the amount of printed paper used.

Clearly thinking along similar lines, Robert Carraway, an associate dean of Darden School of Business said that school had the target of being “carbon neutral” by 2020 and that the introduction of the Kindle reader seemed to be one possible method which would help to achieve this. Case Western Reserve’s chief information officer, Lev Gonick, said that, whilst reducing paper usage was one advantage of the program “…freshman student success is really our interest in Kindle”.

The trial programs with these universities are exciting for Amazon of course, and they must also have been more than happy to learn that the state of California will also start providing free electronic textbooks for students in certain subject areas. This program will also start in fall of 2009 and, whilst Governor Schwarzenegger’s announcement did not specifically mention the Kindle it does seem likely to be the most likely to benefit at this time, given its position as the current industry leader.

The Amazon marketing team would also have been more than pleased with recent white paper issued by the New Democratic Leadership Council, entitled “A Kindle In Every Backpack”. The document proposes that America’s K-12 schoolchildren should be provided with a free ebook reader. The document proposes that this would save money and permit instant updating of academic textbooks.

It’s almost impossible to imagine, considering the high level of support that electronic readers for educational purposes are currently enjoying, that major changes in the academic textbook market are not imminent which, based upon the fact that there are several projects about to start in this fall, will be in the near, or even immediate, future. At the moment Amazon is the leader of the pack with the Kindle reader, but competition already exists and further readers are scheduled for release in 2010 from competitors such as Plastic Logic and Apple.

Children as young as a few months old to four years old can absorb the most information from their surroundings. So through research done by the late professor Dr. Makoto Shichida, he believe learning starts from the moment the baby is born.

He has done a lot of research over 30 years with children in the pre school years in Japan. At the early age, children learn learn using their right brain. As they get older, their left brain will begin to develop. Hence to develop the child’s creativity and intuition, we must train the child at a very young age.

With more than 30 years of research he created “The Shichida Method”

Below are some of the methods used to train the child using the right brain method:

Flash cards: Flash cards can be used on a child at the age of a few months old. From one to six months old the child is able to see only white, black and red objects, so flash cards of the mention colors are used to help the child to recall the object. From six months old and above, color flash cards are used. the pace of flashing cards increases as they get used to it. Topics used for the flash cards can be anything from daily objects, actions, people or even mathematics. As they get older they will be able to recognize what have been flashed to them.

Photographic Memory: fun puzzles, guessing games and memory games are part of the photographic memory development which is related to the development of the right brain. The games get increasingly more advance as the child get older. This is part of training the child’s intuition and imagination.

Speed Reading: This is part of the training of the right brain. As the child develops the right brain, they are able to see things as a whole. So, they to can acquire the technique of speed reading. Just like looking at the flash cards at a fast speed.

Today there are many specialized preschools in Japan, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia that are providing Shichida method right brain education to young children.

As in US, you have Tweedle Wink by Pamela Hickein that is also similar as the Shichida Method. 

Lastly, it is believe that the child learn and absorb information best when the child is having fun. Learning is meant to be entertaining, meaningful and long lasting.

Learning Management System (LMS) for eLearning

E-learning courses distributed via learning management systems help to solve many problems that schools have faced in recent months, including fewer course offerings, lack of funding, and lack of AP courses.

However, along with the benefits of e-learning systems come a few downsides, such as the increased likelihood of plagiarism and other kinds of falsity in student work.

Many of us in the e-learning community with the conviction that online education can be an effective and powerful way to teach and train students are also deeply concerned about the bad practices we see becoming more widespread. Much too often, e-learning systems are not well thought-out. And the students are the ones who suffer. It becomes difficult to know whether or not a student understands the material based on the online assignments and assessments.

According to some studies, 70% of American high school seniors admit to having cheated on at least one assessment, and 95% of those students who admitted to cheating never were caught. In other words, the majority of Americans cheat or have cheated at some point.

The goal of educators, online course developers, and training instructors is to offer effective learning content that ensures that students are both engaged in the learning content and held responsible for inadequate participation. But how can we go about accomplishing this mission?

A powerful learning management system will include the best features for ensuring that learners are giving their best effort and creative work. One aspect of these tools are those that prevent cheating and track student success in a course.

Particularly at the university level, employing Web 2.0 tools such as discussion forums for assignments is common. But it isn’t sufficient simply to tell students to answer questions and post them, and then to get engaged with the content. Without a powerful strategy to use the tools to their full potential, copying, repetition and a general lack of learning are inevitable.

To ensure that students are engaged with the material, the best strategy is to create interesting learning content in the first place. E-learning tools like videos, simulations, and podcasts are often simple and effective ways of obtaining and maintaining student interest.

Nevertheless, even the most interactive, engaging and interesting course requires some way to track and monitor student progress.

Automated tracking tools provided by a learning management systems system exist to help not only e-learning instructors, but more importantly, the students whose efforts are being monitored.

Using LMS online courseware, students benefit in many key areas, such as a higher level of independent study skills and increased self-motivation. However, what many peoples still don’t realize is that e-learning now offers much more than independent study, providing courseware learners and educators with a host of interactive and exciting components and options.

Oftentimes, a professor or trainer’s teaching style can make or break a face-to-face course. Students’ degree of interest in whatever the subject may be can be lowered by an uninspired teaching style. On the other hand, an inspiring instructive style can change even the driest learning content into something fascinating and engaging.

The latter case is often partly attributed to the factor of student input and discussion in the classroom. More and more e-learning programs are putting this pedagogical method to use. Almost four centuries ago, John Milton said: “Give me the liberty to know, to utter, and to argue freely according to conscience.” One feature that often distinguishes university classrooms is the space it often allows for exciting discussion, dissent, and debate.

Even though in some traditional higher education classrooms, instructors still choose a format in which students are not encouraged to speak, virtual classrooms are becoming much more interactive.

Of course, not every school subject necessitates debate. For instance, a calculus class may not have much time or need for student voices. But for many online courses, space for student discussion is in fact suitable. Student-led dialogue can help students formulate ideas and familiarize themselves with the learning content in a way that no singular instructor can achieve.

With the growth of Web 2.0 tools and their inclusion in online courseware, e-learning certainly has come a long way from the solitary enterprise it started as. Using LMS ’s and Web 2.0, learners can “utter” and “argue freely according to conscience” just as Milton encouraged everyone to do. Tools such as wikis, discussion forums, and social network pages dedicated to a course allow students an efficient, simple and easy space for students to share and develop ideas with their peers.

They also tend to effect more sophisticated and democratic discussions, in which students can take their time to respond and develop thoughts. LMS online courses that incorporate Web 2.0 tools allow students to collaborate and interact with the learning material in a thoughtful and comfortable way.

The original Amazon Kindle reader – launched in November of 2007 – didn’t make much of an impact on the academic community. The updated Kindle 2 – which started shipping in February of 2009 – didn’t really change matters very much – not from an educational perspective at any rate.

The relatively high purchase price of the reader may be a bit steep for many students, but that’s probably an issue which could be worked around. The trouble is that the 6” screen on both the original Kindle and the Kindle 2 – whilst perfectly adequate for reading normal books – is just too small for academic textbooks, many of which contain diagrams and illustrations.

However, with the launch of the Kindle DX on June 10 2009, things may change – and rapidly. The new DX has a considerably larger screen, 9.7” measured across the diagonal. It is also fitted with an accelerometer which allows users to flip from portrait to landscape automatically when the device is rotated. Amazon is promoting the DX as the perfect solution for readers of magazines, newspapers and academic textbooks.

Amazon has already announced partnerships with a number of colleges and universities, including Princeton, Case Western, Arizona State and the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business. These institutions may offer the Kindle reader at a discount to some students and it does seem like a good way for Amazon to enter the emerging market for higher education electronic books.

According to the National Association of College Stores, college book sales for the year 2007-08 amounted to $5.4 billion. It’s a large market which would be attractive both for Amazon, who would hope to secure a good share of these sales, and for the educational establishments, who would hope to save significant amounts of money and to have an easier method of keeping academic textbooks current and up to date.

As an example of the types of savings that could be made, Arnold Schwarzenegger, the Governor of California, recently confirmed that his state would start providing digital text books in the Fall of 2009. For a school district with around 10,000 high school students, a yearly saving of $2 million is forecast. Savings may vary for tertiary education due to the slightly different nature and cost of text books – but the savings are definitely there for the taking. Money saved in this manner would hopefully be made available for use in alternative areas.

With potential profits for ebook reader suppliers, and savings for educational bodies, it seems likely that there will be some hot competition in this important market sector in the very near future. Currently Amazon do appear to be ahead of the game, but Plastic Logic, News Corp. and Hearst are all widely believed to be developing large format ebook readers for launch next year. Apple has also stated that they will be releasing a tablet type notebook, perfect for reading ebooks, sometime next year.

As well as profits for Amazon and its competition, and savings for the educational establishment, it is to be hoped that students will also benefit as a result of investment of monies that would otherwise be unavailable. The availability of cheaper textbooks, which are updated more frequently, should also be a plus and, in the mid future, it seems likely that different, more interactive, learning techniques could be introduced .

How a student grows up to become is the result of how his teachers moulded him to become. However, if these educators fail to do the responsibility and obligation vested upon them, then the future of the society will be in put at stake.  

The holistic development of the students lies in the hands of the teachers.   However, if the teachers fail to portray their role appropriately, then the fate of the students are put at risk.

What becomes of a man can be traced from how well (or poor) his educators portrayed their role during his formative years. Hence, the educators should provide only the best fostering to their students.

The quality of education in the United States is swarmed with numerous unresolved issues such as the incompetence and malpractice of educators. For years now, the reputation of public school educators or teachers are stained because of erupting infamous incidents about their attitude and management in the classroom. 

The competency of educators in public schools in the United States is becoming dodgy to the parents and students nowadays. This has become one of the reasons why the quality of education in the country is deteriorating.

There is a considerable number of things to be done to “clean up” the quality of public education in the country. Competency and adherence to standards comprise the attack against teachers’ performance in many public schools.

In 1999, investigative studies in some cities in the United States revealed the “other” face of teachers of public schools. There were incidents of non-compliance with the standard procedures of the school. With regards to administering tests, it was found out that the teachers tolerate or even encourage unchallenging methods for the students to easily pass, not to mention their dissuasion to poor students from taking the tests, and the teachers were not reprimanded for such misconduct.  

Many investigations have been conducted on the actual performance of educators inside the classroom. Since decades ago, there have been issues attacking the credibility and behaviour of teachers towards the students and in classroom management. The public education has gone multi-directional, meaning; teachers tend to deviate from the standard policies and procedures in implementing academic requirements. Many investigative researches exposed the non-compliance of teachers in terms of administering and implementing the prescribed methods such that students’ competency is not challenged through tests and the like.

The conduct of teachers is in question mainly because of the results of numerous investigative studies conducted in the past. Deviations from the acceptable standards included cheating the grades of students, discouraging poor performing students from taking exams, and the like, while the teachers were not reprimanded for such deliberate actions.

The issue on unprofessional conduct of educators should be addressed right away regardless of how rampant it is because of the pressing effect it brings to the quality of public education. School administrators should adopt a learning management system, or LMS. The LMS is software that will take care of the administrative and academic undertakings of the school such as record-keeping, performance management, materials sharing, and many more. The LMS will allow centralization and standardization of all academic-related materials released to the students such as test questionnaires, manuals, and others. The students will be trained to grasp and appreciate virtual learning, while the teachers will be challenged to practice virtual management. In essence, there exists transparency in terms of regulations and curriculum compliance among teachers, students, and the school administrators. The LMS also provides a performance management feature that will monitor the conduct and behaviour not only of students, but also of teachers. The students are assured of a standardized curriculum that will settle the parents while their children are with the teachers. LMS can measure the performance of each students, hence will provide accurate grades in accordance to the actual inputs.  

The issue on unprofessional conduct of educators must be terminated right away as it contributes to the deterioration of public education quality. The best way to arrest the problem is through a learning management system. Through an LMS, schools are able to monitor and manage the academic training and education. The LMS, as software, has the capability of monitoring and assessing the performance of students and teachers. Since it is available online, all required academic activities are standardized and made official by the governing administrators. The parents and students are assured of the teachers’ compliance to school standards. The curriculum and syllabus are made available online that will let the students and parents know what to expect. The performance of teachers and students can also be monitored through the performance management feature of the LMS. For the grading system, the parents will no longer worry about incredible grades because the LMS can quantify the actual performance of each student according to work inputs.

The existence of teaching malpractice in public education should not be condoned; hence a need for an urgent solution. The key to resolving the problem is a learning management system or LMS. An LMS, since it is software, can assist the school by managing tasks online—an efficient and innovative way of handling things. Since an LMS is based in the web, all academic and administrative requirements can be standardized through a central hub. Training manuals, syllabus, curriculum outline, test questionnaires can be made official and standard for the benefit of the students, parents, teachers, and the school administration. The parents are assured of an honest performance of teachers and their children through the performance management feature of the LMS. Moreover, since the LMS can quantify the actual performance of each student, it can be guaranteed that the grades granted to the students are objective and measurable.

The quality of public education in the United States can be improved by resolving unprofessional conduct of educators through a learning management system.

The tainted reputation of the teaching profession in public education can be salvaged by practising a learning management system; this will lead to the improvement of the quality of education in the country as well.

Public education system can be improved by adopting a learning management system.

The well being of students is greatly influenced by the teachers who handled them during their formative years in school. But if the teachers are not able to do their part well in shaping the students, the fate of the society will be affected.  

The teachers have a crucial role in building the perceived future of their students. In the event that the students are misguided during their formative years, then the teachers have a huge responsibility for the future of the students.

The development of a society greatly depends on the foundation of the citizens during their formative years in school; hence, educators play a very vital role. That is why, if these educators fail in their portrayal, the future of the society will predictably collapse.

It is reality that the quality of public education in the United States is put on challenge until these days. One of the reasons why such quality is worsening is the continued attack against the competency and capability of educators in the academic institution.

More stains are smudged on the image of the teachers in the public schools these days. This has become one of the reasons why the quality of education in the country is deteriorating.

There is a considerable number of things to be done to “clean up” the quality of public education in the country. Competency and adherence to standards comprise the attack against teachers’ performance in many public schools.

Years ago, investigative research results exposed the deceitful side of public school educators. The teachers were discovered to deviate from the standards of the academic institution. With regards to administering tests, it was found out that the teachers tolerate or even encourage unchallenging methods for the students to easily pass, not to mention their dissuasion to poor students from taking the tests, and the teachers were not reprimanded for such misconduct.  

Many investigations have been conducted on the actual performance of educators inside the classroom. Many years have passed and infamous issues continue to assault the reputation of teachers. There is no specific direction as to where public education is heading to insofar as meeting academic expectations. Teaching malpractice pertains to the inconsistency of teachers in gauging the students’ degree of competency and understanding through administering the appropriate and prescribed testing method, according to investigative studies in the past.

Professional misconduct of teachers has shaken the public education because of the results of investigative research conducted in some cities in the country. Misconduct pertains to the inability of teachers to post challenging tasks on students to gauge the degree of learning and competency such as taking tests honestly and giving grades objectively.

It is imperative that the issue on professional misconduct be resolved right away to impede the deterioration of the education quality of public schools across the country. A learning management system is the solution to the problem. Record-keeping, performance management, and other academic and non-academic tasks can be handled with convenience and efficiency through the LMS software.   Since an LMS is web-based, the curriculum is standardized, hence, ensuring that all information, manuals, modules, and test questionnaires are official and approved by the governing administrators. The centralization of information sharing through the internet will promote virtual learning to students and virtual management for educators. In essence, there exists transparency in terms of regulations and curriculum compliance among teachers, students, and the school administrators. A performance management feature in the LMS software will ensure that all faculty members are doing—or teaching—as prescribed. The students are assured of a standardized curriculum that will settle the parents while their children are with the teachers. LMS can measure the performance of each students, hence will provide accurate grades in accordance to the actual inputs.  

It does not matter if there the prevalence of professional misconduct in public education is high or not, as long as it does exist in the system, it should be busted. To pin the culprit in the head, public schools should adopt a learning management system. Through an LMS, schools are able to monitor and manage the academic training and education. The LMS, as software, has the capability of monitoring and assessing the performance of students and teachers. Since it is available online, all required academic activities are standardized and made official by the governing administrators. The standardization guarantees parents and students of values compliance. Students can already study and prepare for upcoming lessons since course outlines are made available online. Both the teachers and students will be encouraged to perform well in the virtual class since the LMS has a performance management feature. For the grading system, the parents will no longer worry about incredible grades because the LMS can quantify the actual performance of each student according to work inputs.

Teaching malpractice is not in any way acceptable, so it has to stop. A learning management system can put a stop to all dishonesty and non-compliance of some members of the academic institution. The school can be guided and aided by LMS as software in terms of performance, training and education management. The centralization of materials and information source through the web will help the school manage both academic and non-academic undertakings efficiently. Parents no longer need to worry about the credibility of the teaching approach and methodology of educators since information source is made standard and official. The parents are assured of an honest performance of teachers and their children through the performance management feature of the LMS. Moreover, since the LMS can quantify the actual performance of each student, it can be guaranteed that the grades granted to the students are objective and measurable.

The quality of public education in the United States can be improved by resolving unprofessional conduct of educators through a learning management system.

The problem on profession malpractice in public education can be deleted through a learning management system.

Establishing the credibility of educators and the education system should be the priority of the public schools to regain the tainted reputation of the teaching profession in the United States.

As the economic downturn heads further downward and companies search for more cost-effective training systems, many turn to online training and learning management systems to meet training needs. As the demand for LMS systems and online education increases, e-learning software also matures.

In many ways, LMS technology is beginning to resemble gaming software, with an increase in interactive and exciting features. Game-like e-learning systems are becoming the new thing in online training.

Many organizations have adopted or plan to implement such software into their LMS elearning solutions. And why not?

Studies show that more and more teenagers and young people are using virtual worlds for entertainment.

As teenagers grow more accustomed to navigating virtual worlds, their understanding of different interfaces and interactions will help them use the same technology in an academic or professional context. Still when you think of virtual worlds, you may think of teenage gamers.

However, many organizations and universities have found that virtual worlds harbor great potential for learning. Virtual worlds allow learners to perform tasks that may be difficult or impossible in the real world because of conditions or situations involving personal, geographical or other limitations.

A virtual world, much like a learning management system, allows educators and trainers to share videos, simulations, and other media with students. Interaction with fellow trainees is a key benefit to virtual worlds as well, as is the ability to walk around using an avatar, performing tasks to demonstrate understanding of learning content.

“Serious game” virtual worlds are used in professional and academic education to teach everything from frog dissection to filling a cavity. When integrated correctly, software like LMSs and “serious game” virtual worlds can provide students with the means to engage in the material to a point at which traditional e-learning courses never could. Using a potent LMS, students have access to audio and visual information in the form of simulations, screen recordings, podcasts, and more.

The bad news is that most “serious games” are still under testing for professional use, and those on the market are pricey or not quite as sophisticated as other software options. Though “serious games” are still developing slowly, learning management systems software providers are stepping up their game to offer a greater fun factor, in order to compete in an increasingly engaging online education world.