Learning Tool: PowerPoint

PowerPoint is most often used for presentations due to its linear formatting and flexible styles. PowerPoint 2010, however, is gaining some popularity as both a design manipulation and rapid eLearning development tool. While the level of interactivity possible with PowerPoint is no match for Captivate or Lectora, PowerPoint is a great tool to use on a tight budget. Below is a collection of resources and tutorials in which you can use to design elearning using PowerPoint.

PowerPoint Help and How-To: Microsoft
Why You Need PowerPoint 2010 for Rapid E-Learning: Rapid E-Learning Blog
Rapid e-Learning storyboarding with PowerPoint: Free Download
6 Alternatives to Bullet Lists: eLearning Coach
Convert PowerPoint Presentations into Movies: Atrixware E-Learning Solutions
Insight into PowerPoint: IconLogic Blog
More Than 30 PowerPoint Tips from the Pros! via the Rapid E-Learning Blog
Transfer PPt into Online and Mobile Video Presentations with Brainshark

Plug Ins for PowerPoint to increase customization and interactivity include:
Snap by Lectora
Articulate Presenter

Check back often for aditional resources!

Learning Evaluation: Summative Assessments

Summative evaluations represent the final evaluative judgment of the merit, worth, or value of a program. They are often conducted for the benefit of external audiences and/or decision makers to determine the efficacy of the evaluand. Summative evaluations are often conducted by external evaluators, due to the potential for a Conflict of Interest among internal evaluators.

According to Russ-Eft & Preskill, the 4 main purposes of conducting summative evaluations are:

Monitoring + Auditing - To determine if a program was administered in ethical or legal ways, and to gauge if resources and funding were used appropriately
Example: Were the project results worth the project costs?

Outcome Evaluation - Assessment of the result of a program, based on changes in knowledge, attitude, and practices of the participants.
Example: To what extent did the program meet its goals?

Impact Evaluation - A form of outcome evaluation that assesses the net effect of a program as compared to the absence of the program
Example: To what extent has the program improved employee productivity?

Performance Measurement - Documentation of results based on either program process, product, or services delivered.
Example: In what ways did the participants benefit from the program?

Reference:
Russ-Eft, Darlene, & Preskill, Hallie (2001). Evaluation In Organizations: A Systematic Approach To Enhancing Learning, Performance, and Change (1st ed.) Perseus Publishing.

Learning Research: Graduate Level Capstone Project

I am currently pursuing my M.Ed. in Human Resources Education with a concentration in eLearning from the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana. One of the really great features of this 2 year online degree program is the flexibility and support offered to me for my Capstone Project. I am tasked to find an area in which I desire more experience, and then I propose, implement, and deliver a project fulfilling both my project goals and the needs of an organization that could benefit from my work.

To that end, I am seeking an opportunity to complete a short-term eLearning/ Instructional Design Project within an organization. The project would be proposed, implemented, and delivered along the following timeline:

August - Project Plan
September - Onsite/Remote Work
October - Onsite/Remote Work
November - Deliverables

It is my hope that this project would be a continuation of work completed in my Learning Technologies course, in which I collaborated with my colleagues to design and deliver an online introductory course in utilizing Social Media. That said, I have no industry/ content preference, and welcome the opportunity to have as rich of a learning experience as is possible. I would ideally like to expand upon my experience in the following areas:

Working with SME’s
Writing/ repurposing content for online delivery
Storyboarding
Designing custom graphics/ multi-media
Utilizing eLearning authoring tools

Please contact me if you, your organization, or a member of your PLN may be interested in working with me on this project. Resume, Transcripts, Coursework, and References available upon request.