5 Reasons Why Anyone Associated to eLearning Should be on Twitter

https://www.flickr.com/photos/jurgenappelo/7749081714

One of my all time favorite places to chat is on Twitter.  Sure you're restricted to 120 characters and so many follows but the benefits definitely outweigh the drawbacks.  Here is 5 reasons why I think you should be on Twitter:

1. Friends

I find it easier to make friends on Twitter.  People seem to communicate and respond a lot more positively.  I might just be lucky enough to have super nice people in my feed but most conversations are meet with enthusiasm and encouragement.  It opens a global meeting place to talk about like minded hashtags (more about that later) and funny images or videos.  You always seem to have that one friend (or crazy aunt) that likes and retweets everything you do.  My favorite way of making friends is by sharing someone's content.  It shows that you support them and aren't afraid to broadcast their written word and opinion.

We should be friends!  Please tweet me, follow or add me to your list :)

2. Twitter Chats

Twitter chats are a nice offspring of twitter.  It allows for like minded people to gather around their twitter feed to have a healthy conversation about that week's topic.  I'm horrible at remembering to attend them regularly but I at least like to check and see what the topic is.  It feels like people are off put about the process because items flash before your eyes and are gone quickly.  I try to always attend using a laptop or PC (for more screen space) and dedicate my time solely to contributing to the conversation. Be sure to check out some of chats available or be a daredevil and manage your own (hump days open)!

#GuildChat (Friday at 11am PT / 2pm ET)
#lrnchat (Thursdays at 8:30-9:30pm ET/5:30-6:30pm PT)
#edchat (Tuesdays from 12 to 1 and 7 to 8 pm Eastern Time)
#edtech (Mondays from 8-9 pm EST)

3. Lists

With the restriction of people you can follow comes the ability to compensate by creating lists. These lists can help you view content from specific people. This is also something I'm trying to get better at but others are using it to the fullest.

4. Hashtags

Twitter can be your own form of Google. With the abundant use of hashtags in posts you can now find curated content by simply searching for it. Find posts and thoughts from companies and individuals. Be sure to include them when you post so others can see it as well. Some of my favorites are:

#elearning
#instructionaldesign
#projectmanagement
#lms
#mlearning

5. Analytics

Twitter provides each user with the unlimited use of their analytics tool.  Check to see what your impression rate is, your monthly summary and highlights, and interesting demographic information.

P.S. Sorry I haven't been around lately.  I moved to Kentucky a couple weeks ago and was without WiFi for wayyyy to long.

My Road to Becoming an Accidental ID

Have you watched, read or heard about a new book "The Accidental Instructional Designer: Learning Design for the Digital Age"? Written by Cammy Bean the book talks about getting started in eLearning.  I was moved by the title and relevance of the story so I figured I would share my Accidental Instructional Designer story with you....

In 2006 I gave up on my lifelong dream of teaching. In between the crappy economy, an unplanned pregnancy and general dissatisfaction in the University and their program provided  I choose to stop going. I found myself with a useless Associate degree, a beautiful child and feeling like I was trapped in a never ending tunnel of employment and schooling options. I went back and forth from being a stay at home mom and working jobs that I found unsatisfying.

After three years, a job assignment ending and with another baby on the way, I decided that if I was going to back to college now was the time. I started a Business Administration Associates degree after loving an accounting position I took through a temporary employment agency.  I used many of the credits I had previously received to complete nine courses in two semesters. I had to sign a waiver that said I was limited in time, money and the courses I could take.  The whole time wondering if I made the right decision. I struggled with the idea of going back reminding myself how it felt to leave education behind. I would have to remind myself every so often that Business Administration is stable, there are so many avenues to choose and the success latter is pretty straight forward. I was almost done when I found out that my financial aid ran out and I was forced to walk away with only one course remaining.

After having my second child, I took a part time job as a receptionist at an Educational Center. During this time, I worked closely with HR to get teachers and therapists ready for the school year, maintaining safety for children and staff, creating documentation on processes and policies and setting up professional development opportunities. It was at that moment when I realized that Education and Business could intersect.  That I could combine Education, which I loved the most, with Business, the one that I felt stable.

I started seeking employment hoping to go from part time to full time when I came across a job opening from a local college. The title was listed as a Content Assembler and I was stumped.  I tried googling the title and looking up information on what that meant or how it worked but came up with nothing. The posting was cryptic and had foreign words to me like course authoring, Lecotra and SCORM. Something on the page was screaming at me. Something felt right. I decided that this is where I needed to go next and submitted my resume hoping that I wasn’t packing boxing or stapling papers all day long.

After clarifying the tasks in the interviews, I was ecstatic.  This is what I was looking for! The position ended up being an eLearning developer contract position for a Fortune 50 company. I learned course development software, techniques and theories, graphic design and honed my professional skills. I dove in deep learning anything and everything I could: self-teaching myself to teach others.  I soon branched into the concept of translating material volunteering for a new service to be provided. I learned process life cycle and the importance of documentation while building relationships with other employees. Finally, through hard work and dedication I rose to a half time Instructional Designer position that opened up the opportunity for me to work with SMEs, review courses and implement Instructional Design best practices and theories into every day development and process.

I knew that I wanted to continue my skills and unfortunately, the position did not offer any more advancement or professional development opportunities. So I began looking locally.  After a conversation with my sister about her considering moving to Denver, I turned to my husband and asked why we couldn’t move out of state.  The pros outweighed the cons and we decided to open up the search to include the whole United States. I started researching companies and softwares and reading reviews and doing geographical research and checking into school districts and creating spreadsheets, and overall becoming way to over whelmed with finding a company and location we liked. 

Finally, I started submitted resumes over the course of months until one day I received an email.  I’ll never forget what it said….”You do realize this job is in South Dakota, right?”. “Yes”, I replied eagerly.  “I’m looking to relocate and came across your company.” We set up an over the phone interview and then an in person before I finally got the call.  “We’d like to offer you an Instructional Designer position. Let me know if you’re interested.” My hard work had paid off.  Within a month, we moved 900 miles. The company I’m at encourages my growth, offers a new business sector and a developing Learning team.

By accidentally stumbling into ID I have opened up opportunities, the globe and most importantly my confidence. I feel committed and ready; as if I finally have a professional purpose. Now I just need to talk myself into getting a Bachelor’s degree…..

How did you get here?  Do you have an Associates, Bachelors or Masters Degree?  Are you an accidental ID?

What is eLearning?

"What do you doing for a living?"

"I am an Instructional Designer."

"What is that?"

Have you ever had to introduction yourself to someone and when you tell him or her what you do for a living, they look confused? I find myself constantly trying to explain what eLearning is or what an Instructional Designer does so I decided to write a post about what eLearning means to me.

eLearning is the application, by an Instructional Designer, of learning and design theory and principals onto source material to create educational and multimedia content in a virtual environment, which serves a purpose.

If you are not familiar with eLearning, that statement may seem complex so let's break it down piece by piece.

“the application of…….learning and design theories and principals”

This statement is heavy; laden with theorists, psychologists, behaviorists and nut jobs guidelines, which help shape learning. Each one can create something formal, informal, ongoing, classical, active, sustainable, transferable or evolutionary. You will determine which theory or principal should be applied and to what degree. There are common workflows, which help to guide people through this process like ADDIE or SAM.

“onto source material”

Source material is content which shows the current and future state of the issue. It usually comes in the form of operating disciplines, best practices, company guidelines, objectives and safety concerns. The format for which it is delivered to you may vary such as PowerPoint, Word, word of mouth and Excel. You will need to weed through this material with an expert (usually called a Subject Matter Expert) to determine it's relevance with the project.

“to create”

The physical, mental and emotional process of prototyping what you received and theorized into a physical example.  Prototypes may be written, typed or programmed.  Common eLearning authoring tools include Articulate, Lectora and Capitvate.

“educational and multimedia content”

Your content must serve a purpose (discussed later).  Depending on the purpose selected, it will be your job to figure out the method and delivery where content will be absorbs and retained.  Delivery methods include audio, video and/or scenarios.

“in an virtual environment”

Content is distributed in varying forms but by definition should be done electronically. A common set up will include placing a course into a Learning Management System (LMS). You must understand the requirements and limitations that may be set and a constant understanding of the evolving technology is necessary. Some other examples of virtual environments include desktop, mobile and Massive Open Online Course (MOOC).

“which serves a purpose”

By far THE most important part of the sentence. A purpose for your material which brings light to it’s need, application and improvement.  Will your training solve problems? Help a company reach a better bottom line? Teach a new skill? Save lives? Your purpose should always be kept in mind and trump any other decisions that could be made.