Mylearning.be

Jane Hart posted some links to free e-learning content about … e-learning. The content was created by Brainshark, and is very traditional (slide based), but of high quality. I embed my favorite below, check Jane’s site for the other content.

Microsoft introduces the Microsoft Live Services plugin for Moodle. This extension for the popular Learning Management System Moodle adds two major functions to the LMS:

• authentication in Moodle via Windows Live ID
• a Windows Live Services block in Moodle that allows students to access their Windows Live Services (mail, messenger…)

This extension could allow a school or institution to use Microsoft’s Live@Edu offering, together with a full blown LMS like Moodle.

More info in this video (Silverlight required):

Microsoft is offering 3 free e-learning “clinics” about the upcoming Windows 7. So if you do not have time to find out every new feature by yourself, have a look at the modules.

You get free access for one year. Access to the site is usually rather slow, but still acceptable. And a tip for the Internet Explorer 8 users: make sure you activate Compatibility View for the site, otherwise content is not displayed properly on a lot of interactive pages!

The links:

• What’s New in Windows 7 for Consumers
• What’s New in Windows 7 for IT Professionals
• What’s New in Windows 7 for Information Workers

Today, I attended a seminar organised by BE-ODL about the use of a Learning Management System. Lots of interesting presentations and a good discussion. One of the returning topics was the contradiction between the upcoming usage of social learning tools (“Learning 2.0″) versus the formal aspect of a LMS (reporting, tracking…)

In my opinion, this will always remain a contradiction (that’s why one is called “informal” and the other “formal” ) but if you do not provide your learners the possibility to use the newer tools on your own network, then be prepared to find your company content open and freely available on YouTube, Twitter, Delicious, Google Docs and others… Learners will find a way.

I stumbled upon an interesting presentation … on SlideShare. And if you wander off to other similar presentations (is that so bad?), you will find even more…

Microsoft released a free community edition of its e-learning authoring tool, called LCDS. They will not get the creativity award for the name of the product, but after a first look, the tool seems very useful. 

Some highlights:

• runs on Windows XP and Vista (needs to be run as administrator), requires .Net framework 2.0
• development is “template-based” according to the traditional instructional design (read, watch, interact, tryp, play)
• supports multiple languages (including Dutch, yes!)
• creates native SCORM 1.2 compliant content by default
• includes a “player” for stand alone viewing outside an LMS
• interactions, simulations can be created in Flash and… Silverlight, what were you thinking

I followed quite some e-learning courses on the Microsoft Learning platform, and they were probably created with this tool. Very consistent, not very Flashy, but clear, concise and to the point. My kind of courses  

I hope to get some time soon to create a course, and share it with you. “Brandjes blussen, the sequel” (inside joke…)