Tech4Training

Greetings, Before I get into this week's post on Quizlet, I want to acknowledge that this will likely be my last post on the Tech4Training Blog for a while, and I just want to thank my classmates for reading my posts all semester and sharing your feedback. It's been a fun ride. Alright... Now on to Quizlet. This is another tool that I'm planning to implement right away at work. It can easily be used to create study sets that can transformed into games and other learning tools. For my test run, I tried the Match and Gravity games. Gravity was a little tricky, but Match was simple, and has a lot of potential for learning applications. In a nutshell, you match a term with a definition. Although these are games, they're great for adult learners because they can help keep the adult learner engaged, while reinforcing key terms and volcabulary. One great perk of Quizlet-- they already have a huge database of created study sets you can use. I searched for lending study ...

Image editing is not one of my strong suits. In fact, I rarely even try, since I really have no idea what I'm doing. Today, I tried a new image editing site- FotoFlexer. FotoFlexer is perfect for the image editing novice. First, I did not have to create an account to get started, which is a big plus. They even offer a few sample photos to get started with, which I really appreciated. Here's a look at what I was able to do with FotoFlexer in less than 20 minutes: Original photo- Edited for "comic" look- Edited to be a little artistic- It's incredible how quickly I was able to edit the photos. I don't consider myself a very artistic person, but FotoFlexer allows me to really add a personal touch to stock images. This has potential in a lot of training programs to make my training materials more personalized and engaging.  I can't wait to keep editing and find even more ways to incorporate FotoFlexer into my training toolbelt. ...

Check out this quick video of my reflection on what I've learned so far in this class:

PowerPoint is a staple of training and business presentations in today's world. However, PowerPoint should be an engaging, dynamic addition to your presentation, not just slides to read verbatim.  How do your presentations measure up?  Consider the following: Limit the amount of text. More images, less text is the way to go! Words and pictures used should be engaging. PowerPoint should supplement or accent the presentation. It should not dominate it.  Limit reading off slides. DO NOT READ WORD FOR WORD. Interested in learning more tips to improve your PowerPoint? Check out this video!

For the last ten weeks, I've discussed ways to enhance your training using technology. But… how much technology is too much? There are many varying schools of thought on how much technology should be used in training, ranging from tech minimalist to all tech all the time . I find myself somewhere in the middle; I prefer a training program that is supported and accented by technology, but does not overwhelm the training. Here are few things to consider, as you determine how much tech is right for you: Does the technology add value to the training? Will the technology help me achieve my training objectives? Have I been successful with this tech before, or observed someone who has? Does the technology improve trainee retention of the material? Does the technology assist the trainer in presenting the material?  Do all students have the access to use the technology (i.e. smart device, wifi or internet service, etc)? If the tech fails or does not work, can I still comple...

As I've mentioned recently, quiz games, including  Kahoot , are a great way to make learning fun, engaging, and to ensure your learners are retaining the information from your training. Kahoot! is my new favorite quiz game, for several reasons: It's so easy. You can create your first game in less than 10 minutes. It's user friendly, too! Even the technical un-inclined can use it.  It's fun! That's the point, right?!  It's interactive- which keeps your learners engaged.  It's easily customizable. Customizing your Kahoot! only takes seconds.  It moves at a quick pace and only take a minute to launch.  It's a great low-pressure learning check. It doesn't feel like the students are being tested, but you'll be able to quickly gage their retention.  Starting to sound like Kahoot! might be the right fit for you? Take a look and see what it's like below: What do you think-- is Kahoot! going to be included in your next traini...

I've previosuly mentioned one of my new favorite tools, Piktochart , but I promised there would be more to come! Now, it's time to deliver.  Piktochart helps you make eye-catching infographics for FREE! These infographics are simple to create, but have a very professional, polished quality. The free version of Piktochart includes several template choices, but you also have the option to upgrade to a paid version for 600+ templates.  Whether you're a student or professional trainer, Piktochart can create stunning infographics to make your work stand out above the crowd.  In my workplace, e-mail is the main method of communication. On any given day, I might send and receive 100+ messages. I'm constantly using e-mail to communicate important guidance to our staff, but sometimes those communications can be drowned out by all the spam, busywork, and less relevant e-mails that are received each day.  Piktochart allows me to ensure that my message is heard. ...

If you're reading this, you already know a thing or two about tech, training, and HRD. Feeling ready to step up your game? Try these three tips to turn your current run-of-the-mill training into a standout session.  #1 A picture is worth a thousand words, literally. (Well, almost literally.) It's going to be hard, but it's time to let go of wordy PowerPoint presenations. You can still provide detailed handouts (or save a tree and go digital!), but if you're presenting on-screen, try replacing text with images, screenshots, infographics, charts, or videos. By making your presentation more graphic, your students will be more engaged, and more apt to pay attention to what you say.  You may have heard of the 1x6x6 rule; one idea per slide, comprised of six bullet points or less, with six words or less for each bullet point. While that rule may have worked in the past, it just doesn't cut it now. To start, try for three bullets per slide, but don't stop there....

First, let me start this post with a moment of honesty.  I did not want to start a Twitter account.  In fact, I've felt a sense of pride for avoiding one all these years. I have my Facebook and Instagram, but I've always considered Twitter to be the preferred social media platform of celebrities and teenagers.  But, hold your breath for this announcement…. I was wrong.  In fact, I was dead wrong. I've only been on Twitter for a short time, but I can already see that I vastly underestimated it's value. In fact, I believe Twitter may be the ultimate PLN , and here's why: It's more than just Twitter. Twitter does limit posts to 140 characters, which can be a challenge. But, of course, you can link to websites, blogs, or other media, which essentially makes your posting ability limitless. Within Twitter, you can actually easily search for and access several different aspects of your PLN.  Hashtags- the ultimate searching and categorizing tool.  S...

Quick tip!  I tried Piktochart  for the first time this week, and it was amazing , easy , and free ! Even a creatively-challenged person like me can make fun , eye-catching infographics. More to come later! 

I realized something this week. Up until now, I've been very  greedy with the internet. It's all take, take, take, and never give anything back. I didn't even think I needed to give back; the thought never crossed my mind.  What have you contributed of value to the internet? Anything? Ever?  (I'm not counting your 900 selflies, 13,000 pictures of your dog, and the occasional picture of your feet in the sand.)  Is it really fair to take from the internet and never give back? Someone has to create new, innovative content, so why not me, or you? If not us, then who? After this class ends, will you keep expanding your PLN and writing comment-worthy blogs?   Or, will you shut down your Twitter and Feedly on the day class ends? I challenge you to consider giving back just fraction of what you take, even though you won't always be graded on doing so. 

Let's face it-- as great a technology can be to assist with delivering training, it can be disastrous when the tech doesn't work. Picture this:  Your employer is sending you to a conference in another state. You’re scheduled to attend several important training sessions. You're eager and ready to learn, planning to take notes and report back to your teammates when you return to work in a few days. It’s your first session, and you make it to the conference room, find your seat, and it's time to start! The speaker makes their way to the podium, begins their introduction, turns on the projector, and…. Well, they’re trying again to turn on the projector, and…. They cannot get the projector on, but they’re calling for reinforcements. Meanwhile, you're tuning out. Half the room is checking e-mail, the other half is on Facebook. By the time the session starts, it's too late. The presenter has already lost the audience, and it's going to be an up...

In the last few weeks, I've been reading up on Professional ( or Personal ) Learning Networks , or PLN s. Essentially, a PLN is your digital network of professional colleagues with whom you can share information. PLNs can be made of blogs, social media like Facebook and Twitter, chat rooms, or other digital communities. But, here's the best part… your PLN is personal . Your PLN can be whatever you want it to be. Love Twitter, but hate blogs? Start your PLN on Twitter. Love Instagram, but can't stand Twitter's restrictions? Go with Instagram. Prefer to send Snaps instead of e-mail? You can even start your PLN on Snapchat! You get to pick who you want to learn from, and equally importantly, those with whom you'll share your knowledge.  I understand that at first it sounds daunting. Go! Read! Build your PLN!  (Ok, Dr. Robin didn't exactly say it like that.)  But, really, it's not daunting at all. Read some blogs. Get some ideas. Hop on Facebook or Tw...

Let's be honest, not all blogs are created equal. Some are filled with tons of material, but lack in personality. Some are really well-written, but lack in substance. On occasion, they're a perfect mix of wit, personality, style, and content. Alas, the perfect mix for me might not be the perfect mix for you. I'm going to write this blog in the style that appeals to me, and hopefully, that style appeals to you, too. (And... if doesn't and you're forced to read this because Dr. Robin assigned you to my group, my apologies in advance!)  You might already be starting to figure out the blogging style the appeals to me. I prefer a light, conversational tone, like we're old friends or colleagues, and we're just having a chat. This is actually quite a contrast to how I usually write professionally, but, in my opinion, a blog is meant to be much more casual than other professional settings. I'll try, on occasion, to be humorous, although I don't make any pr...

Greetings! Welcome to the inaugural post of my Tech4Training blog! Today, I'll start with a little about me and my blog. I'm Kayla. I like long walks on the beach and… kidding! I'm a supermom, career woman, college student. I love to train and instruct others, but I also love to learn! Hopefully this blog will be a little of each.  This is actually my first real blog. Back in the day, long before Facebook and even before MySpace, I had a Xanga page, which was kind of like a Facebook-MySpace-blog hybrid, but without all the selfies. But alas, I've never actually written a "real" blog, even though I've considered starting one many times. So, here goes nothing! This blog is created for use in a college course, Instructional Tech in HRD. Most readers will likely be other students in the class, but if you happen to come across this blog and are not part of our class, I'm optimistic you'll still find something useful. This semester I'll be us...