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10 Free (or Cheap) Tools to Make Your eLearning Amazing with Jackie Zahn - Event Recap | ATDChi News | Scoop.it

November 24, 2015 10:15 AM

10 Free (or Cheap) Tools to Make Your eLearning Amazing - Event Recap
By Joie Marshall, Editor/Curator, Training Today

Event Date: November 19, 2015

Organization: ATDChi

As usual, Jackie Zahn impressed the room with her robust list of free and cheap tools we can use when design and developing eLearning courses. To keep things simple, the list is below.

1. Prezi

Jackie used Prezi to display her “slides.”

2. Piktochart

Free (or low cost for premium features) tool to create infographics.

Jackie recommended we use this for eLearning course templates as well. Cool idea!

3. SnagIt / Jing / Camtasia

Many of us are already familiar with SnagIt. Jing is the free version.

Camtasia was the tool of the night (in my opinion). Jackie frequently mentioned how Camtasia can be used to capture anything to then use or add to eLearning. She even recommended using Camtasia to record short demos of your work to use as a portfolio. Another awesome idea!

4. Webcam

Jackie showed the group an inexpensive webcam (about $50).

5. YouTube

Jackie raved about YouTube, stating that more and more organizations are loosening their restrictions on this site. You can upload videos and set the viewing to private allowing only select people to access the video.

6. Audacity / Snowball microphone

Audacity is a tool that helps edit audio files.

Jackie showed us her blue snowball microphone. She shared that this microphone has been the best one she’s used. It has settings on the back for different types of recording (no background noise, background included, etc.).

7. Wondershare

This tool allows you to convert video files (I believe audio too) into other formats. This is needed due to certain eLearning development tools will not allow certain video files to import. Inexpensive at $40.

8. EasyPrompter

When working with a client that needs to read a script for a recorded video, EasyPrompter is a free tool that eases the process. Simply enter in the words that will be spoken and the application shows the text like a prompter for the speaker.

9. PowToon

Animation tool. Jackie shared it’s a little challenging to use.

10. VideoScribe

Another animation tool demonstrated at the session.

Jackie recommended to watch this application’s company – Sparkol. She has seen some cool products from them.

Jackie is the ever-giving L&D professional, always providing valuable information on how we can do our work better, and cheaper too. Check out Jackie’s website at: www.jackiezahn.com

January 19, 2015 9:49 AM

Recap by Lauren Ford, ATDChi V.P. of Communications, and Joie Marshall, ATDChi Training Today Editor

Organization: ATDChi

Event: Networking Dinner & Panel Discussion: Earning L&D a Seat at the Decision-Making Table

Date: Thursday, January 15, 2015

To kick-off the event, Greg Own-Boger, ATDChi 2015 President, provided us a brief State-of-the-Chapter report. This report gave us a quick synopsis of ATDChi in relation to the rebranding, membership numbers (>452), our healthy financial status, and the exciting things planned for 2015. The path for 2015 is all about making ATDChi a "best in class" organization.

Greg then introduced the panel participants for the evening:

>> Pamela Meyer, Ph.D., Director of the Center to Advance Education for Adults and DePaul University School for New Learning. Pamela is also a speaker, consultant and author of "From Workplace to Playspace: Innovating, Learning and Changing Through Dynamic Engagement."

>> Barry Altland, Author and thought leader at Head and Hands Engagement Collective, and Past President of ATD, Central Florida Chapter.

>> Terri Pearce, SPHR, Executive V.P. Human Resources at HSBC North America and board member of ATD National.

>> Deb Pastors, MS, MOB, President of Education Development Growth Enterprises, and Past President of CCASTD.

What an impressive group of L&D professionals to gain insight from!

Greg then handed the microphone over to the moderator for the evening, Dale Ludwig, Ph.D., President of Turpin Communication. Dale led a robust discussion on the all-too-familiar topic of "How do we as L&D professionals gain a seat at the decision-making table?" Below is a recap of a few of the questions posed, and the responses from the panel.

>> What does "seat at the table" mean?

TP: Getting a seat at the table means a seat at every table, not just the "C" level table. Training needs to be a strategic partner and understand the business.

PM: Pay attention to WIIFM with stakeholders. Always determine: "How will we know when we're successful?"

DP: You get a seat at the table by building credibility.

BA: If your phone is ringing, you have a seat at the table.

>> Why are we still asking this question?

DP: This question isn't limited to training, but is a common thread among all support functions. Training groups need to understand the business.

TP: The table changes - CEOs change, economics change...need to be resilient and relevant.

BA: We get in our own way...those at the "table" don't talk about the "table."

The panelists then agreed that the key is to align training with strategic goals.

It was a lively discussion with input from the audience as well.

Did you attend yourself? If so, what element rang true for you?

10 Free (or Cheap) Tools to Make Your eLearning Amazing with Jackie Zahn - Event Recap

ATDChi January 15, 2015 Event Recap