Elearning Online Tools for Teachers

Searching for innovative tools and resources could be a daunting task for teachers. The number of new resources available can be quite overwhelming as there are probably more software and applications coming out than what the market needs. I’ve compiled this list of tools that I think are quite helpful especially for elearning online classes.

Online Presentations
Camtasia – Camtasia is a screencasting application where you can record audio while also recording the activities happening on your monitor. This is a great screencasting program because after you’ve finished the presentation, you can actually edit the recording. You can use the application’s tools to focus on specific areas on the screen where the attention should be. You can even clean up the audio to make your presentation more professional sounding.

Edmodo – Edmodo is an online platform where teachers and students can meet virtually. It’s a free learning management system (LMS) but it’s simpler and more user-friendly that the average LMS.

Online Interactivity
Buzzword – This is a cloud-based or Software as a Service application wherein students can collaborate online. The application is like any desktop publishing software but the great part is, you can access your projects, spreadsheets, documents anywhere in the world.

Peer Review
Mindomo – Mindomo is another application using cloud computing. The program aims to link your peers together to brainstorm. The service has a free basic package and the premium package can be access for a small fee every month.

Fix8 – Teens would love this free application. Students can talk to each other through avatars that they can customize. This would certainly be a very engaging interaction because of the fun element. All you’ll need is a webcam for this.

Feedback Tools
Turnitin.com – Students can check their papers against the website’s archived database. They could check for authenticity and creativity of their work.

Elearning online solutions like these are great in improving interactions between students and teachers. There are free versions too so you don’t really have to spend additional money to get quality applications on the web.

How to Ensure a Successful Elearning Online Webinars?

Webinars that I’ve attended have increasingly been enjoyable and highly educational. I think the difference is in the techniques employed by the speaker as well as the technology they use. I’ve set out to outline the factors that contribute to a well rounded elearning online webinar experience.

Technology
The most annoying thing about a webinar is when you can’t even log in. Technical difficulties are not uncommon but when the webinar is live and you can’t get in, you’re bound to miss the first part.

These webinars are mostly offered for free. In most cases they are promoting a product or are short versions of the paid web seminars. In these events, technical issues can be forgiven but when webinars are paid, there is high level of expectations to be met.


elearning development

One technology used in a webinar is a screencast. This is a helpful tool especially if the webinar is for introducing new software or a class on how to use a certain application. The speaker also uses a webcam sparingly to connect with the audience online.

Content
For content, there is really no significant difference in content for webinars and the traditional seminars. Generally, using screencasting, you can upload slides you’d normally use in a usual seminar.

Like the traditional seminar, the one thing you must do is to always engage the audience. Experts say that an hour on the webinar is all the audience can take so you might want to break down your webinar into parts to prevent the audience from being bored or distracted.

Style
The webinar’s success is ultimately up to you. Every speaker is different in terms of style. One thing, I would say is keep your audience engaged by giving variety. In asking questions for example, why not take a poll? Be sparse with this as the audience might get bored. Adding live video might be tricky as not all the audience have fast internet connection. It might break their feed or worse, cause their computer to hang.

Elearning online webinar experiences can be quite fun as well as educational. It just depends on the speaker’s strategy and style.

Do You Have a Channel Steward?

Ensuring successful channel management solutions actually depends on more important things. Its success is not just reliant on how you implement it and what kind solution you choose to use. A big portion of its success is dependent on how you manage and lead the channel and oversee the use of the solutions and strategies through an effective channel stewardship. But what is channel stewardship?

Channel stewardship may seem unfamiliar at first, but think about it. It has in fact been around for a long time—even longer than the channel management solutions that you see and hear about online. A steward is defined as an entity that gets things done on his own volition which creates a condition that coaxes others to accomplish tasks as a group for the best interest of the group. It involves a lot of subtle actions such as arranging, influencing, informing, measuring, compensating, exemplifying, influencing and so many others that lead down to the alignment of the whole channel distribution network toward the end consumer. In a way, you can perceive this concept as governance—one that is executed with the consent of all members concerned for the enjoyment of mutual benefits. Channel stewards are in fact leaders in an industry. They are the ones who are willing to think out of the box and take risks by breaking free from old paradigms and embracing fresher and newer paths and ideas. So who should be the channel steward?

The responsibility is open to everyone in the channel. Manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers—everyone! Any member can become the channel steward. Big players usually have an easier time making a go for it, but keep in mind that size isn’t really that essential. What truly matters it stepping up, setting aside corporate ego, defining the role, and assuming the responsibility before anyone else does.

If you’re gunning for a successful channel distribution network, then rethink your battle strategy. In fact, find out if you have a leader—a steward—because if you don’t have one, then you will most likely fail. Will you step up to be your channel’s steward?

Enhance Skills and Career and Retain Employment with Elearning Training Solutions

The IT industry can be very competitive especially since technology continues to advance and evolve. This means that professionals must continuously brush-up their existing skills and acquire new ones with regards to the new updates or software versions released in the market. Moreover, there is increased pressure to retain employment especially since the economic situation has been forcing corporations to lay off massive numbers of employees. An IT professional’s best chance of keeping his or her job is to avoid being outdated. It is a great idea to make use of elearning training solutions and take online elearning courses to enhance skills and other capabilities.

The flexible schedules of learning modules and the inexpensive elearning training solutions make these online computer based learning experiences extremely popular amongst the corporate training community. However, the most important benefit of elearning is the fact that learning can be customized according to individual needs, level and pacing. In addition to that, learners are solely responsible for their learning experience which increases their sense of responsibility. These electronic learning courses are designed and created by expert professionals. The courses prepared via assessment mechanisms and offered to users through various means such as online books, videos and so on.

IT professionals can further their education, enhance their careers and increase the likelihood of retaining their jobs by using elearning training solutions and benefiting from online courses. The high quality content, assessment tools and exams in combination with features of efficiency, convenience and ease make electronic learning a welcome alternative to training and learning. It is definitely the ideal option for those who wish to go further up the career ladder without having to sacrifice time and effort in the process. For today’s turbulent economic climate, it is imperative that people take the initiative to do everything that they can to stay employed to weather the tougher financial times.

Getting to Know the Channel for Effective Partner Portals

It is important to understand and familiarize oneself with the parts of a channel before delving into the details of partner portals. Comprehending the true essence of the role of partner portals and keeping it streamlined depends on the knowledge and understanding of the parts and nature of channels. Here are the some of the basic components of a good channel distribution network for optimum management:


channel management solutions

• Big box reseller – Intermediaries that are interested in moving bulk volume instead of special services.
• Master Distributor – The kind of distributors that buy adequate amount of supplies from small-scale dealers.
• Buying Group – Loosely affiliated companies that buy products by the bulk from a distributor or manufacturer to benefit from discounts.
• Channel – A general term that refers to companies that are focused with sales and transporting goods and services down to end consumers. Often referred to as marketing or distributing partners and are alternatively known as sales network, sales channel, and channel clouds.
• Broker – Super intermediaries that are full of network contacts and negotiate deals, business relationships and sales between companies.
• Independent Representatives- Companies that provide sales services so that distributors will gain access to the local market. They also headline competing goods and services.
• Dealers – These are resellers that are authorized by vendors to provide customer support as well. Usually, dealers are independent companies involved in heavy equipment and machinery.
• Export Management Company – Independent sales brokers who work internationally and are dependent on the support from partner portals.
• Franchisee – They are provided with the license to sell another company’s products in a specified region.
• Catalog House – Groups that buy a specific line of goods that they specifically purchase from online and printed catalogs/
• General Line Distributor- Organization that buys and resells a wide range of different products.
• Hybrid Channel – A kind of channel that combines the different types of functions.
• Specifiers – They have specific influence on the product flow and specify opportunities. Examples are designers and engineers.
• Integrators – Provide consultation services to customers.
• Jobbers – Wholesalers that offer limited services