Ideas for E-Learning

Advancing E-Learning Technology

www.FlexTraining.com

Create an Online Training Strategy

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5 Key Reasons Why FlexTraining is the Right Online Training Choice________ 3

Section 1: Bank Time and Training Dollars___________________________________4

Save Time_____________________________________________________________ 4How Multi-Taskers Get It Done________________________________________4

Compare Traditional and E-Learning Approaches_____________________ 5

Section 2: Leverage Key Personnel____________________________________________7

Instuctor-Led or Completely Automated_______________________________7

Give Students Direct Access to the Experts____________________________7

Instructor Collaboration Tools_________________________________________7

Maintain Open Communication with Chat Server______________________ 8

Message Board Threads_______________________________________________ 9

Self-Paced Study______________________________________________________ 9

Section 3: Measure Results Instantly________________________________________11

What Do You Measure?_______________________________________________ 11

360o Training Effectiveness__________________________________________ 11

Ad Hoc Analysis______________________________________________________ 12Powerful “Drill-Down” Reporting & Analysis_________________________

12

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Content Transformation Best Practices Results Measurement

Instructor Collaboration Tools Time and Cost Savings

Table of Contents

FlexTraining Page 3Confidential & Unique Tracking______________________________________

13

Section 4: Breathe New Life Into Old Content________________________________14

Give Your Content an Online Makeover_______________________________14

Organize Your Existing Formats______________________________________14

Examples of Content Transformation_________________________________15

One-Click PowerPoint Conversion____________________________________15

Building With the Right Tools________________________________________ 16

Key Benefits of an E-Learning Solution_______________________________16

Section 5: Ideas for the E-Learning Generation_____________________________ 18

Ready – Set – Launch_________________________________________________ 18

Online Training Best Practices_______________________________________ 18

Contact Us__________________________________________________________________ 21

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1. Need Professional Help?

Our e-learning consultants can help you assess the scope of your e-learning training initiatives, guide you through the transition to online training and help you get the most out of your web-based training software options.

2. The Right Size for the Right Price.

FlexTraining offers you a choice of a licensed, server-based product or a monthly hosted subscription. Choose the Small Business Express, Standard Corporate, Enterprise Volume or Unlimited license to train and unite your workforce, customer base or student body.

3. Outstanding Value.

Your bottom line is our top priority. The FlexTraining Total E-Learning Solution can be licensed for limited or unlimited students at one fixed, economical price. The licensing options offer a simple, one-time payment for the best edition to fit your online training needs.

4. Convenience.

Our consultants, development and support teams are just a call or click away. FlexTraining provides everything you need in one software package so you can manage all of your e-learning training initiatives in one place.

5. Expert In-House Service and Support.

We’re here for you. The actual developers of FlexTraining manage and provide support, so you’re getting assistance from those who know our software best.

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5 Key Reasons Why FlexTraining is the Right Choice for Your Online Training

Software

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Save Time

Training specialists must keep pace with a perpetually growing volume of product details and the complexity of industry information changes. Meeting these objectives requires training for internal employees, external customers or students, but traditional classroom training can be time-consuming and expensive.

It’s your time, and as a busy professional, it’s worth saving. An online training strategy will save you time and training dollars.

Organizations are leaving no stone unturned in an effort to become more efficient, effective and productive, all the while saving time, and money. When you reduce development and classroom time, it’s like putting money in the bank.

While online training is the answer to your savings question, FlexTraining is the solution to your e-learning training opportunity. Cut training costs and save time and effort with the FlexTraining custom web-based training software for powerful delivery and dramatic results.

How Multi-Taskers Get It Done FlexTraining can assist the content-oriented, high-functioning multi-tasker with transforming training material from the classroom to the web. Convert product manuals, procedure guidebooks or policy handbooks from instructional to interactive. Repackage your existing material, such as printed books, video, Word, PowerPoint, HTML and others, to online training to create dynamic, multimedia offerings.

Freshen up information that is less exciting or time-consuming in an innovative, new format. Put technology to work for you by running all of your training courses simultaneously. By creating online training lessons up front, you’ll save hours of preparation, travel and classroom instruction in the long-run. Your e-learning program development will enable you to run a comprehensive training program with ease. And, your e-learning program can go anywhere your students go.

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Section 1: Bank Time and Training Dollars

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The growing online training trend is here to stay, and FlexTraining offers a complete framework and delivery system for the development, assembly and management of your e-learning initiatives. The economical price at about $3 per student offers unlimited courses and is easy to install, configure and manage.

Compare Traditional and E-Learning Approaches

  Traditional Classroom e-LearningClassroom Physical - limited scale Unlimited  Time and location dependent Anytime - anywhereContent PowerPoint slides Simple text, audio, animation,

video, simulation, printed and  Textbooks online resources, online  Video communities, collaboration  CollaborationCollaboration Perishable Reusable    LimitlessPersonalization One learning path - lowest

common denominatorLearning pace and path determined by user

When you take your classroom training to a web-based environment, you can drastically reduce training costs, curtail effort and ease complexity while providing a cutting-edge, interactive and multi-medium learning experience.

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Time is Money.

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FlexTraining is a learning management system powerful enough for the enterprise, yet so simple you can be delivering interactive education in hours rather than weeks. With an ease-of-use that is almost revolutionary, FlexTraining puts you on the fast track to build and manage online training courses without programming or complex setup and administration.

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Concept: What kinds of training can be performed with a Learning Management System (LMS)?

Any type of training that services a distributed audience and needs a practical solution. Examples include employee orientation, software user training, technical skills enhancement, continuing education for professionals, computer systems workshops, personal enrichment courses, policy and procedures training, public service and citizen involvement courses and many others.

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Instructor-Led or Completely Automated - Who’s In Charge?

When considering the benefits of a web-based training environment, companies may wonder who trains the students or employees, the computer or a subject matter expert. The answer is “both.” An e-learning milieu provides the learning platform and contains carefully prepared course material, including charts, photographs, assignments, tests and multi-media.

Whether your courses are instructor-led or completely automated, your students are still being trained by the content developer, presumably an expert in your domain or topic. Expand your learning footprint within the organization and tap into the value of a company “know-it-all.”

Reach out within your organization and invite the great thinkers to participate in course development by providing content and viewpoints on the topic, company, objective or training program. By utilizing the resident experts, your content will be enhanced and the learning experience will be enriched.

Give Students Direct Access to the Experts

When you convert your classroom teaching to online training, your learners will have direct access to the experts through the augmented subject matter without the need for on-going instructor preparation or classroom time. Once the material is integrated into your learning content, students benefit from the added value. With FlexTraining, you’re in control of the collaboration team on a class-by-class basis. Invite one expert or multiple authors to augment content and boost your message.

When you assign an instructor to a training program, the possibilities range from a high-touch solution, where the training framework primarily connects the students with an instructor, to a more high-tech, hands-off setup. The subject expert has the option of leading the class online or letting automation take the reins. Either way, students are mentored by the subject specialist in ways that might not be available in a classroom setting.

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Section 2: Leverage Key Personnel

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The curriculum remains intact through the clear-cut course development format. Your in-house experts open the door to an enhanced learning environment through an invaluable contribution to the course content. Whether they lead the students through a high-touch or high-tech approach, student access to the information benefits everyone.

Instructor Collaboration Tools

If you assign an instructor, he or she will use the instructor features to:

Interact with the class

Evaluate and update student progress and record completed assignments

Review or print class-related information such as a Course Guide

Access an external online collaboration/meeting facility or discussion forum, if desired.

Access a “teacher’s lounge” facility designed to promote knowledge sharing and collaboration amongst faculty. In the lounge, instructors can:

1. Upload or download best practices, tips, white papers, photos or other learning materials for/from other faculty members

2. E-mail other faculty members

3. Enter the teacher “chat room” or post and answer messages and suggestions on the faculty message board

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If you would thoroughly know anything, teach it to others.

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Maintain Open Communication with Chat Server

The FlexTraining Chat Server provides a 24-hour collaboration and interaction venue for your online learning participants and instantly adds another dimension to your organization’s e-learning experience. When you activate your integrated Chat Server, individual chat rooms will be created automatically for each course you create. Create and maintain open communication lines in an integrated chat forum.

The Chat Server feature allows you to establish synchronized, or asynchronized, chat rooms for real time collaboration and interaction among students, linking students and instructors or between instructors.

Message Board Threads

Let the FlexTraining Message Board provide 24-hour asynchronous collaboration and interaction for your online learning participants. The "asynchronous" element means that your learners do not have to be on-line at the same time to communicate. This user forum provides a secure platform for threaded discussion among students, linking students and instructors or between instructors.

Enhance the learning experience by promoting student opinion and contribution to the subject matter with postings on the Message Board. Students exchange ideas and comments as they go through the course. Administer and review assignments via the user forum and allow student ideas to shine.

Utilize the Message Board feature to create private message boards as courses are built. Multiple Message Boards may be created for each class, and additional private message boards may be established for collaboration between instructors in the "Teacher's Lounge" for instructor-led courses.

Self-Paced Study

Many organizations conduct extensive online training without ever utilizing an instructor. By converting your subject matter expertise into course content, our high-tech solution facilitates self-paced study. You may not want to staff an instructor for each time a course is offered and prefer to let automation handle the content delivery for you.

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FlexTraining is designed with the automation option in mind but lets you establish the right mix of computer-based content and instructor interaction, if any. Assignments, tests, exercises, training plans, course guides, e-mail and online discussions are available to supplement your course content as needed.

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Concept: Do we need to have an instructor at all?

It’s up to you. When you define your course lesson, you designate whether the course you are building requires an instructor. Students learn directly from your prepared course content, and also from each other in discussion forums.

Input from subject matter experts enriches the quality and expands the capacity for multi-dimensional learning content. If desired, the technology can do the rest with automated instructional delivery 24/7.

Either way, your learners will benefit from the flexibility your new learning system offers!

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What Do You Measure?

Data reporting and results analysis are critical components of establishing, achieving and maintaining organizational objectives. As mission critical goals are set, the training professional should begin the training program by asking “what do they need to know?” The response to this question defines what should be measured.

When the training content is developed and launched, the reporting tools in your online training system should be utilized to measure training effectiveness. Track and log critical data regarding student and group progress to help management in their decision-making and student assessment processes. Why wait for performance evaluations? Measure results immediately, and monitor employee progress with company-centric information and skills development.

Define skills groups and create quantifiable performance criteria by job description, occupational grading or advancement prerequisites. The FlexTraining Learning Management System offers an integrated auto testing feature that allows you to assess knowledge before and after training.

360o Training Effectiveness

The FlexTraining 360o Training Effectiveness report shows learner’s assessed skill level before and after taking each specific course. Training and communication are a two-way street, and the more efficient the training, the more students are reached, broadening the capacity for interaction and exchange of ideas.

Reporting and analysis of learning effectiveness should be integrated as soon as students have signed up and participated in classes. The moment student data is collected, it can be accessed in the reporting module and made available as necessary to assess progress and effectiveness. Your course authors can define a pre-assessment and/or a post-assessment for any course, allowing for easy measurement of knowledge transfer and progress.  Also, tests are assigned a relationship to course lessons, so that assessments can occur at the proper sequence in the learning process.

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Section 3: Measure Results Instantly

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Ad Hoc Analysis

Information tracking is not static, and dynamic analysis is an essential component of your online training software. Whether you want to evaluate enrollment trends, test question effectiveness or detail test results, the FlexTraining reporting functions allow for unlimited data analysis for repetitive or ad hoc reporting. Extract routine or unplanned data for spreadsheets, presentations and reports. Archive the information for review down the road. Track learner progress against short- and long-term goals and deadlines.

Store, search and retrieve documents regarding training performance and augment performance evaluation data to identify strengths and opportunities within your workforce.

Powerful “Drill-down” Reporting and Analysis FacilityYour online reporting capability should provide quick access to the specific information you need by using selection filters to target specific classes and/or learners. FlexTraining offers this and more, including:

Eight report types with data filters to focus your results.

An item analysis report that shows how learners are responding to your test questions by detailing percent correct and percent chosen for each candidate answer. Also provided is a feature to reprint a learner’s exact test, with results, long after it was completed.

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What gets measured gets done.

-Tom

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A custom report builder that lets you build your own report “on the fly,” selecting data filters, display columns and sort sequence. All reports can be saved, titled and run again as needed.

An option bar on every report lets you download, print or send your report to someone else via e-mail.

Confidential and Unique TrackingStudent activity and training results can be tracked by a unique identifier to protect anonymity or objectivity, if desired. FlexTraining offers an option to create a unique identifier that can be imported with incoming student records and tracked through the system all the way to course completion reports.

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Concept: How many tests should there be, and which type of testing format is most effective?

The number and type of testing are completely up to you. Consider the complexity of the training content and the workloads of the participants. Pre-testing, progress assessment and post-testing are all accurate measures of student progress.

Once you decide to present questions one at a time or all on one screen, you can choose a single testing format or mix-and-match with multiple choice, T/F, hot-spot clicks or fill-in-the-blank. A variety of question configuration plus interactivity, including streaming video and audio, may reduce traditional test anxiety.

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Give Your Content an Online Makeover For most organizations, there is a high probability that some form of training material exists already in an application such as Word or PowerPoint, Flash movies, audio, video or your favorite online authoring tool. The amount of time invested in the development, production and editing of this training content was most likely considerable, and you should not get rid of something that is working, although it may be stale or limited in its delivery options.

Choose a content strategy and take your good, usable learning material to new platforms. Give your existing training material an online makeover by taking it from standard classroom issue to online innovation.

Organize Your Existing Formats

The FlexTraining learning management system helps you assemble, organize, structure and deploy online training using existing materials without a complex conversion process and without having to start from scratch. Once you assess your in-house library of learning content, or identify the subject matter you plan to develop, you will easily recognize the various format origins for grouping and conversion.

The organization process begins with one small step and takes you down the simple path of identifying all sources of content. Include those resources controlled by others in your organization, as well. Your Word, PowerPoint, video, flash, web sites, charts, graphs, HTML, text, PDFs and other assorted classroom material can have a fresh new look as you quickly and easily build online courses. Your content list should include department, point of contact and possible content assets. Sources may be external vendors, partners, regulators and other stakeholders. Always be sure to note intellectual property ownership attributes, such as copyright.

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Section 4: Breathe New Life Into Old Content

FlexTraining Page 16Examples of Content Transformation

Source Format Convert To Benefit Note

PowerPoint HTMLNo need for learner to have PowerPoint on his computer. Also yields smaller files, faster loads.

Dramatic improvement in learner's response time.

PowerPoint FlexAuthoring(TM) Same as above, along with ability to insert multimedia and exercises.

Interactive exercises improve knowledge retention.

MS Word FlexAuthoring(TM)

Break up large documents into digestible Learning Screens. Also, learner does not need to have MS Word installed.

An example might be a procedures or technical manual.

Video file Streaming video Much faster transfer to each learner, smaller files.

May use with text and images in FlexAuthoring templates.

Audio File Streaming Audio

Much faster transfer to each learner, smaller file sizes.

May use as audio narration in any or all FlexAuthoring templates.

Toolbook FlexAuthoring(TM)Learners don't need a Plug-In; better speeds, reliability.

Also avoids unpredictable crashes and glitches.

Video file Flash Learners don't need a Plug-In; better speeds, reliability.

Fits neatly into FlexTraining templates.

One-Click PowerPoint Conversion

FlexTraining features an integrated Microsoft PowerPoint-to-Flash converter that provides instant transformation of your PowerPoint presentations into the versatile Flash movie format. This built-in, no fuss feature also handles PowerPoint animations and audio narrations.

Converting PowerPoint slide shows into Flash dramatically speeds up the delivery of the dynamic training file and eliminates the need for your students to have PowerPoint on their computers.

Now, you can author entire online courses using only PowerPoint, a familiar and reliable tool and most likely part of your training arsenal. This conversion feature is just one of the many features that make FlexTraining simple and unique.

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FlexTraining Page 17Building With the Right Tools

Build knowledge workers within your organization student-by-student and realize the true benefit of keeping staff connected through coordinated content delivery. Administer online training and spread your company message one employee at a time by providing access for diverse schedules and limited budgets.

Your e-learning initiative will empower you with the right tools to achieve your corporate or educational objectives in a local or global enterprise. For maximum knowledge transfer, when authoring new content, the FlexAuthoring tool includes templates, supports blended multimedia and testing and provides interactivity. Whether it’s instructor-led or self-paced delivery, your students will gain the most value and retain the experience when you change dimensions and breathe new life into your existing training material.

Geographically challenged? Engage your workforce or student base with efficiency and accuracy through online training. For the global enterprise, the widespread chain of multiple facilities or the at-home workforce, e-learning helps you stay connected, engaged and informed.

Key Benefits of an E-Learning Solution

Characteristics of E-Learning BenefitsLearning is a continuous, integrated part of work

Training is no longer distinct from work or an additional "burden"

Just-in-time access to knowledge Information is always up to date

Training can occur anywhere Substantial travel and time cost savings

Learning can be easily directed to targeted, supplemental resources

Instruction has more meaning for the learner

Learning is "holistic" and blended Enhanced learning experience

Instruction becomes learner-centric Learners have more responsibility for their personal success

Addresses the need of all learner types Information retention rates increase

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Section 5: Ideas for The E-Learning Generation

Concept: Is an online course the same as an online lesson?

The content is the essence of the lesson, and each lesson you create will become a course section and should flow in a natural sequence from section to section. One or more lessons make up a course.

A course can contain a mixture of new or existing material and a variety of delivery platforms. Integrating video, audio and other media add interactivity and flexibility for better learner retention.

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Ready – Set – Launch

The launch of your Online Training program will establish a new and improved training era within your company, and the web-based conversion will win over your students from the classroom to members of the e-learning generation.

Raise awareness of the increased access to training and advanced technology within your organization, and promote the value of your e-learning initiatives and the potential long-term benefits across the entire enterprise.

You may consider launching your e-learning with a pilot project that focuses on a small group or a small number of courses. Or, you may want to drive widespread change with one large project that makes a strong statement about the shift. Either way, your web-based training efforts will demonstrate your company’s commitment to effective, learner-oriented training, with short- and long-term economic benefits.

Online Training Best Practices

As your organization moves into the world of online training, it is helpful to integrate proven techniques and practices to help you produce the best content and course design, with the least time and effort, leading to the best results possible. Your Learning Management System should integrate several key features for optimal organizational and student impact while maintaining ease of use for the instructional designer.

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Every generation needs a new revolution.

-Thomas

FlexTraining Page 20Authoring ToolUtilize the Authoring Tool that lets you build individual learning screens that you can then group into lessons as you assemble courses. Also, it gives you another level of control and interactivity. You’ll have more robust navigation and more detailed bookmarking for student progress. Remember, you can simply assemble your PowerPoint shows, Flash movies, PDF files or other existing training material into online courses, and FlexTraining will provide tracking and navigation. Many training professionals have launched successful training projects and operated in this manner for years.

InteractivityInteractivity reinforces learning, and instructional designers advocate that the key to knowledge transfer and retention is interactivity. When a student interacts with an online course, rather than just viewing it, the information will be retained longer. PowerPoint, Flash, buttons, clickable icons and form fields are just a few examples of interactive content.

NarrationNarration adds life to learning content, and a voice-over narration can spice up your learning material with a limited amount of effort. You can add narration to several or all learning screens if you are using an integrated authoring tool or FlexAuthoring. Once you have recorded and utilized a few narrations, you will see that the process is straightforward and the improvement in your learning material is considerable.

Video, Images and Multi-MediaIn general, the use of video, images, photos, audio and other multi-media objects add interactivity and flexibility for better retention and student-centered learning. This media collection builds on the information being presented and reinforces the content.

The medium should maintain student interest and attention and should be complete and accurate with appropriate terminology, proper sequence and visual appeal.

Multi-LanguageBy giving learners the ability to choose their language, performance levels will achieve a positive and collective outcome. Multi-cultural workforces, customers and students will benefit from customized, multi-language learning screens.

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Contact Us

Concept: How student-friendly is an online training system?

Your online learners should have no problem enrolling in courses and navigating a personalized, secure student menu. From the comfort of their computers, students can view a catalog of schedule courses, enroll in courses, view a course syllabus and view scheduled tasks and/or news announcements. As students navigate course content, the LMS tracks their progress.

Students will search and view course documents and images in built-in course libraries, download assignments and download a personal online student notebook. Communication with instructors and/or other students is made easy via a message board or chat room facility. Once courses are completed, students can access and take online tests which are automatically graded. Finally, students can view and print a class completion certificate.

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Phone: 888-957-7771 or 813-264-2046

Address: 3418 Handy RoadSuite 201Tampa, FL  33618

Email: solutions@flextraining.com

Web Site: www.FlexTraining.com

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