Friday, July 24, 2009

eLearn Training Systems — Training Courses That Are Built Around You

Dear Friend and Fellow Training Expert,

Now you can train your employees faster and more effectively than you ever thought possible.

eLearn Training Systems can transform your training materials into a web-based training (WBT) program — you stay in complete control of everything and host the training system on your intranet.

As a result of eLearn Training Systems, you will easily:

  • Put your training materials online, for any department
  • Turn your current classroom style training into an interactive, web-based training system
  • Transform your “paper and ink” training materials into an online learning system
  • Turn your existing PowerPoint, PDF, Word, Excel, and other digital files into SCORM compliant eLearning
  • Develop blended learning programs mixing face to face training with eLearning
  • Update your current computer-based training programs

eLearn Training Systems DesignTM — Standardizing the Online Training Industry
eLearn Training Systems is dedicated to be the best training systems designer in the eLearning industry. That’s why we have trademarked our cutting-edge learning methods. It’s called the eLearn Training Systems DesignTM protocol and it is standardizing the way employee training systems serve the marketplace. And as a result of these rock-solid training systems techniques, you will have the confidence in knowing your employees are gaining the best eLearning training techniques in the industry.

To help you understand how good we really are, I have listed eight questions which compose a portion of our eLearn Training Systems DesignTMprotocol. To make sure each course is in line with the standard procedures, every training course we design is carefully reviewed in a Live Review, with you. This is done, of course, to help you help your organization:

1. Is the course following the BLOOMS Taxonomy method of learning?
2. Using our 9-point checklist, is the information delivered in a professional manner?
3. Is the course following the brand standards?
4. Are there multiple senses involved in the training?
5. Is the course good at providing feedback to the user?
6. Does the course provide feedback to the management/HR?
7. Are there mechanisms in place to ensure a) Comprehension and b) Retention?
8. Are courses tailored to the learners level of proficiency?

It’s systems like these that make eLearn Training Systems the best in the training systems design business.

…Makes me wonder how organizations can compete, let alone survive against our clients.

I invite you to call me today and discover how we can help your organization become more efficient when it counts most.

Kind regards,
Samuel F. Hirschberg, Vice President of Business Development
eLearn Training Systems
Ph: 805-220-7800

P.S. Please tell us about your training by filling out the brief form found here. I will get back to you within 24 hours.

eLearn Training Systems Designs Three Options for Best eLearning

eLearn Training Systems (www.elearntrainingsystems.com) announced today the release of three eLearning training systems design options that can help employers, trainers and subject matter experts with web-based training options.

eLearning is a method of interactive training using a combination of experiences similar to an “IMAX” movie. This form of training has sprouted a service being provided by eLearn Training Systems, a southern-California based online design firm who transforms paper and ink employee training into interactive, web-based learning programs.

The term eLearning, coined in the early 1990’s is used extensively in the business sector where it generally refers to cost effective online training. The team of professionals that make up eLearn Training Systems, designs three basic options for the organizations they work with. Each program contains a clear Scope of Work (SoW) and a timeline, managed for their clients by a personal eLearn Training Systems design project manager. The three eLearn training systems design platforms are:

1. eLearn Experience – The eLearn Experience training systems is designed to contains the "whole nine yards". This is a high-end, custom-tailored program developed any way you want it. Fully customized and branded, this eLearning training program contains all the bells and whistles, with options for flash, audio, video; fully intuitive and intelligent – if you can imagine it, the talented eLearn training systems design programmers and staff members can make it happen for you!
2. eLearn Excellence – A semi-customized eLearning program, this training systems is designed with some company customization. The eLearn Excellence is the next best thing to the eLearn Experience.
3. eLearn Express – When you need a professional online training system designed, without a lot of extras, the eLearn Express lets you puts your eLearn training system design online effectively and efficiently.

Web based training systems are known by a wide variety of contexts. Also known as TSL, or technology supported learning (or education), web based training systems, in many cases require little to no face- to- face interaction — many times empowering staff members to get more done, faster.

“Many companies without any experience in computer based training or web-based learning, choose the eLearn Express as their first choice,” reports Sam Hirschberg, Vice President of Business Development, who also is the author of over a dozen computer-based training programs. “Once they realize the benefits of computer based training (CBT), they come back for more and usually choose to add more tools for their next training systems design.”

When developed properly, the eLearn training process alone can quickly help increase training efficiency and job performance—exactly where eLearn Training Systems specializes. eLearn Training Systems designs strategic eLearning systems used interchangeably with additional components, such as audio, video, flash productions, interactive features, testing protocols, and the latest methods to ensure long term retention. Strategies such as these help companies deliver proper training over their network – exactly where the eLearn Training Systems design firm can help.

Do you have a Training System that needs to be transformed into a web-based learning program? If so, please tell us more about your program here.

About the eLearn Training Systems design firm
eLearn Training Systems (ETS) design online training systems for companies, schools and organizations. ETS specializes in re-designing “paper and ink” training materials into an automated and user-friendly online training system, integrating current teaching modalities to heighten the trainee’s performance. For more information about eLearning and online education, visit: www.elearntrainingsystems.com

To schedule an interview or for more information call Sam at 805-220-7800 or support @ elearntrainingsystems.com

Thursday, July 23, 2009

“C’mon, Does eLearning Training Really Increase Retention?”

“Industry Insider” answers the BIG question about eLearn training systems design

“C’mon, Does eLearning Training Really Increase Retention?”

This is a reprint of the conversation that Torri Ellman, long-time eLearning training systems designer and eLearning project manager had with a client who asked some penetrating question about eLearning, eLearn Training Systems and the design of eLearn storyboards.

CLIENT QUESTION: Do you create the questions and answers for the quizzes?

ANSWER: Yes, we can certainly do that. Since each client has specific needs and concerns we always keep them involved and are always happy to have our Instructional Designers work with them. If you would like questions and answers used from your specific materials used that would be no problem at all to do.

CLIENT QUESTION: Are there any stats to ensure the number of questions associated with the material is adequate for assessing learners’ retention?

ANSWER: That is a great question. I will check with our team of Instructional Designers to see if they have more that specific question, but here are some great testimonies to the effectiveness of eLearning:

  1. “…learners…can better understand the material, leading to a 60 per cent faster learning curve, compared to instructor-led training. Whereas the average content retention rate for an instructor led class is only 58 per cent, the more intensive eLearning experience enhances the retention rate by 25-60 per cent. Higher retention of the material puts a higher value on every dollar spent on training.”
    – WR Hambrecht + Co on e-learning
  2. Millbank studied the effectiveness of a mix of audio plus video in corporate training. When he introduced real-time interactivity, the retention rate of the trainees was raised from about 20 percent (using ordinary classroom methods) to about 75 percent (Millbank, 1994). However, this mixture takes bandwidth, which is not plentiful in some organizations.
  3. Millbank, G. 1994. Writing multimedia training with integrated simulation. Paper presented at the Writers Retreat on Interactive Technology and Equipment.
    Vancouver, BC: The University of British Columbia Continuing Studies (p. 75).
  4. Higher retention of content through personalized learning — Technology-based solutions allow more room for individual differences in learning styles. They also provide a high level of simulation that can be tailored to the learner’s level of proficiency. With 24 x 7 access, people can learn at their own pace and review course material as often as needed. Since they can customize the learning material to their own needs, students have more control over their learning process and can better understand the material, leading to a 60% faster learning curve, compared to instructor-led training. The delivery of content in smaller units, called “chunks,” contributes further to a more lasting learning effect. Whereas the average content retention rate for an instructor-led class is only 58%, the more intensive eLearning experience enhances the retention rate by 25 – 60%. Higher retention of the material puts a higher value on every dollar spent on training.

– Jack E. Bowsher, “Revolutionizing Workforce Performance: A Systems Approach to Mastery,” 1998; D. Peoples, Presentations Plus, 1992; Training Magazine, 1998.

I can say this about eLearning; it works well because it can be much less intimidating than instructor-led training, in many instances. Learners have the option of going at their own pace and have the wonderful benefit of being able to go over the material as much as they need to without the fear of anyone knowing that they didn’t fully get it the first time around.

CLIENT QUESTION: I have heard I need to develop an eLearn storyboard. I am not quite sure how to do build eLearn storyboards. Is this necessary?

ANSWER: Designing your elearning program is a complex process which requires you to manage many parts, simultaneously. Much more than simply throwing ideas on your elearn storyboards, a system must be followed in order to manage the entire elearning education training program.

So, it is not necessary for you to develop your own elearn storyboard as that is part of our standard operating procedure as outlined on the link below. I think you will get a lot out of reviewing our 11-Step process for designing user-friendly, highly efficient web-based training systems.

CLIENT QUESTION: Are there typically a certain number of pages you do?

ANSWER: There is not a certain number of pages that we do as we tailor a course to fit the needs of the user and the client. We have produced courses that had a seat-time as short as 11 minutes to ones lasting over 7 hours. Please be assured that if you would like to show Sam and I some of your course material for an online course it would be kept confidential and would never be used for anything.

CLIENT QUESTION: Sam indicated an effective strategy for increasing retention and creating added-value for my customers is to distribute eLearning courses approximately 10 minutes in length prior to and/or after the training that I deliver. Approximately how many pages equals 10 minutes?

ANSWER: It is hard to say exactly how many pages would be the equivalent of 10 minutes without seeing a sample because depending on the topic and how in-depth the training needs to be, it can vary greatly. To give you an idea of how many pages are used in some computer-based training courses, the sample we have online for the Mortgage Fraud course came from just about four (4) pages of content that was provided. As a general guideline we like to put a mastery test within every 10 minutes of seat-time to ensure the learners are retaining the material. Tests and quizzes can be scored and set up so the learner cannot continue with the course until they receive a passing score which further serves to ensure retention of the materials. Mixed in with that we often put matching games or fill in the blank games to reinforce the course materials which help keep the learner interested.

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Do you have a Training System that needs to be transformed into a web-based learning program? If so, please tell us more about your program here.

About eLearn Training Systems
eLearn Training Systems (ETS) develops online training systems for companies, schools and organizations. ETS specializes in re-designing “paper and ink” training materials into an automated and user-friendly online training system, integrating current teaching modalities to heighten the trainee’s performance. For more information about eLearning and online education, visit: www.elearntrainingsystems.com

Friday, July 17, 2009

11-Step Process for Your eLearn Training Systems Design

Designing your elearning program is a complex process which requires you to manage many parts, simultaneously. Much more than simply throwing ideas on your elearn storyboards, a system must be followed in order to manage an elearning education training program.

Here is the process we follow for turning “paper and ink” training materials into a user-friendly, highly efficient web-based training platform.

1. Clarify the Goal
The first and most important step is to define the ideal outcome. By starting with the end in mind, we work backwards and create the roadmap.

2. Educational Needs Assessment
Our team will takes robust investigation into the available tools and skillset of the trainee. By discovering what the user needs to know to perform and matching that with their average educational level we can construct the online training program to best meet their needs.

3. Systems and Technical Needs Assessment
The primary purpose of identifying the systems and technical assessment is to define the capabilities of software, hardware and information technology available for the training programs. Once defined, we can build the course to best match the existing technical requirements.

4. Platform Design, Phase 1
The first phase of the design is to create the beginnings of a user-friendly home page for the online training program – a.k.a. the user interface. This is a critical component of the process as it sets the tone for the ease of use and the effectiveness of the learning process. By combining the needs of the user with the needs of the company, our eLearning educational experts and programmers can design an interactive “smart user interface”. Once complete with the first phase we will gain some user-feedback testing.

5. User-Feedback
User-feedback is typically done by undergoing a short “beta” test with a team of your staff members, which best represent your trainee. After studying the feedback, the eLearn Training Systems team will develop the interactive user interface and begin building the online educational materials.

6. Education and Learning Design
The eLearn Training Systems programmers, education experts and design team develop the skeletal structure to house the content, as a result of the qualitative feedback. This skeleton consists of navigation elements, placeholders for flash, video and audio learning devices and educational enhancements such as exams and interactive tools.

To view items 7 thru 11, go to www.elearntrainingsystems.com

Let eLearn Training Systems Design Your Web-Based Training Program
We invite you to hire our team of experienced training systems designers to for your training system design. Dedicated to heighten the learning experience for your staff, customers or trainees, we put all the pieces together by developing engaging audio and visual components, using a full video crew when needed, flash design experts, content experts and professional programmers. eLearn Training Systems can help your company train more people faster and more efficiently than you ever thought possible!

About eLearn Training Systems
eLearn Training Systems (ETS) develops online training systems for companies, schools and organizations. ETS specializes in re-designing “paper and ink” training materials into an automated and user-friendly online training system, integrating current teaching modalities to heighten the trainee’s performance. For more information about eLearning and online education, visit: www.elearntrainingsystems.com

To schedule an interview or for more information call 805-220-7800.

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

5 Tips for Creating Effective Visual Design for eLearning Courses

Let’s face it. It isn’t just what you say in your eLearning training courses, but it’s also how you say it. It’s about the colors, even about what people are wearing in the pictures in your employee training that tell the entire story. In fact, the days of the HR director and the subject matter experts (SME's) talking for hours on end are over, that is, if you aim is to help your trainee get the most out of the important training materials.

Written by Torri Ellman, Vice President of Operations for eLearn Training Systems, a southern California-based training systems design firm, here are five important tips for creating an effective web-based training program. These five tips will help your team create the most visually appealing, on brand computer based training course that will get educational materials delivered effectively to your audience, with a focus on comprehension, retention and better performance when it counts.

  1. Branding – It is important to follow the brand standards guide. If there is not a branding guide in place then you must view several samples of their marketing collateral to get a good feel for the type of preferred design, such as, where is the organization emphasis? Is it on colors, photos or typography?
  2. Photos – Are you using stock photography or your own photos? If you are using stock then make sure the people in the photos are dressed in a way that fits the dress code. Also make sure to have enough diversity in gender and ethnicity.
  3. Matching – Always make sure that your graphics convey the same message as the text. Photos, graphics and animations in eLearning are there to keep the learner engaged and to lend visual cues to enhance the learning process.
  4. Keep It Simple – Keep the look interesting but uncluttered by not using unnecessary graphics. If there is too much for the learner to look at, it will take away from what they should be learning and retaining.
  5. Keep the Executive Team in the Loop – Check in with the management team in charge of the training program from time to time with samples. This helps to ensure that the project remains on track because it’s always better to know sooner rather than later if the management team wants to change directions on the look of the course.

Let eLearn Training Systems Design Your Web-Based Training Program
Another option is to hire our team of experienced training systems designers to design your training system for you. Dedicated to heighten the learning experience for your staff, we put all the pieces together by developing engaging audio and visual components, using a full video crew when needed, flash design experts, content experts and professional programmers. eLearn Training Systems can help your company train more people to be better, more competent employees faster than you ever thought possible!

About eLearn Training Systems
eLearn Training Systems (ETS) develops online training systems for companies, schools and organizations. ETS specializes in re-designing “paper and ink” training materials into an automated and user-friendly online or computer based training (CBT) system, integrating current teaching modalities to heighten the trainee’s performance. For more information about eLearning and online education, visit: www.elearntrainingsystems.com

To schedule an interview or for more information call 805-220-7800.

Monday, July 6, 2009

What Training Courses Do You Need Online?

eLearn Training Systems (ETS), Online Education and Web-based training systems are known by a wide variety of contexts. Also known as TSL, or technology supported learning (or education), web based training systems, in many cases require little to no face- to- face interaction — empowering more of your staff to get more done, faster.

When developed properly, the eLearn training process alone can almost immediately help you decrease costs and increase training efficiency—exactly where ETS specializes. ETS focuses on strategic eLearning systems used interchangeably with additional components, such as audio, video, flash productions, interactive features, testing protocols, and the latest methods to ensure long term retention. Strategies such as these help companies deliver proper training over their employee network.

These are the Types of Training Programs eLearn Training Systems Transforms into Web Based Training Programs for You:

* Ethics + Compliance
* Safety
* Sales Training
* New Employee Orientation
* Product Training
* Fraud and Abuse
* New Policies and Procedures
* Procurement

Tell Us About Your Training Needs Here


Our Team Can Help You, Starting Today

Dedicated to heighten the learning experience for your staff, we put all the pieces together by developing engaging audio and visual components, using a full video crew when needed, flash design experts, content experts and professional programmers. The eLearn Training Systems can help your company train more people to be better, more competent employees faster than you ever thought possible!

About eLearn Training Systems

eLearn Training Systems (ETS) develops online training systems for companies, schools and organizations. ETS specializes in re-designing “paper and ink” training materials into an automated and user-friendly online training system, integrating current teaching modalities to heighten the trainee’s performance. For more information about eLearning and online education, visit: www.elearntrainingsystems.com

To schedule an interview or for more information call 805-220-7800.