E-Learning Newsletter: November 2011

Introducing the New E-Learning Newsletter

At MicroAssist, we offer a variety of products and services.  As a result, our clients are a diverse group with varied interests.  In order to better serve you, our readers and customers, we have divided our monthly newsletter into two tracks, E-Learning and Instructor Led Training. We hope this change will result in content that is fresh, interesting, and most importantly, relevant to you.

Land Ho! The Final Steps

The final installment of the Great Voyages series is coming up November 9th. Usability and accessibility are the topics for the fifth in a five part series on converting instructor-led training to web-based training.

Steve Krug is a well respected web usability guru. In his book, Don't Make Me Think, Krug gets right to the point. He says when we look at a web page, we should understand what to do and how to use it. That's what usability is all about. This session will look at usability considerations and go through the process of conducting a usability test. 

Accessibility is a topic that should concern all workplace learning professionals because the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires that all on-the-job training be accessible to people with visual, auditory, and mobility disabilities. It does not matter if the designer believes the target audience can go through training without accommodations. The law requires that all training be accessible. This session will provide awareness of the issues you need to address when putting training online. 
This Great Voyages session, sponsored by MicroAssist, is on November 9 from 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM. Speakers are Linda Warren and Jillian McCarthy. For more information, visit the registration page.

The Future of E-Learning and Instructional Design

Wouldn't it be great to be able to predict the future, especially when it involves your career? Sanjay Nasta, CEO of MicroAssist and founding member of the E-Learning Council, will be participating in a panel discussion on the future of E-Learning along with owners of three other Austin-based E-Learning companies. This is a unique opportunity to hear what industry leaders have to say about current influences on learning such as the use of mobile devices, technology mediated social learning, gaming, simulations, virtual reality, and more. Each panelist will talk about trends in his business and answer questions from the audience. With more than 20 years in the training business, success in hosting E-Learning conferences, and a lifetime of research; Sanjay is an expert on methods to improve workplace performance. 
 
The Future of E-Learning and Instructional Design is sponsored by the Austin chapter of the American Society for Training and Development (ASTD). This panel discussion is on October 27 from 6:30 - 8:15 PM. Pre-registration is required. Admission is free to Austin ASTD members and $10 for nonmembers. 
 
For additional information and to register, visit Austin ASTD online: http://www.austinastd.org/en/cev/97

TCLEOSE Training Coordinator's Conference

The Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education (TCLEOSE) is charged with ensuring Texas citizens are served by highly trained and ethical law enforcement personnel. The agency provides training on a wide variety of topics and keeps officers updated on new legislation. MicroAssist is honored to help the agency offer training online thereby enabling officers 24/7 access to required courses. As a result of this collaboration, MicroAssist accepted an invitation to give a presentation at the TCLEOSE annual Training Coordinator's Conference at the end of October. With increasing demand for online training, we are presenting a session on converting instructor-led training to web-based training (WBT). This presentation will cover development tools and best practices for WBT. The two hour session will share research on how people read online and go in depth on how to write for the web based on reading patterns. MicroAssist is pleased to support the law enforcement community by sharing best practices for the development of engaging and effective training.