Sample
Subscribe at: http://www.tagoras.com/resources/newsletters
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ASSOCIATION E-LEARNING NEWSLETTER
from Jeff Cobb | Tagoras
December 2009
Volume 1, Issue 10
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IN THIS ISSUE
1. A Brief Note from the Editor
2. Webinar Marketing Survey – Win a Kindle!
3. Upcoming Events
4. Links of Value
5. Industry News
6. Contact Information
7. Administrivia
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1. A Brief Note from the Editor
—————————————————-
This newsletter is pretty packed with valuable items, so I thought
I should be sure to highlight a few here:
- Survey on Webinar marketing: See the next item below.
Participants will get a copy of the summary data and have the
chance to enter a drawing for an Amazon Kindle
- Upcoming ASAE Technology Conference – with an e-learning
education track added for this year. Be sure to see the Events
section below, and also see my note about potentially putting
together an association e-learning gathering/event beforehand.
- A new Industry News section. A round-up of news from various
companies doing e-learning related business in the association
sector.
If you feel this newsletter is of value, I’d be grateful if you
would forward it on to a colleague who may also find it of interest.
This will be the last newsletter of 2009. So, Happy Holidays!
Best regards,
Jeff Cobb
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2. Webinar Marketing
——————————————————————–
We’re moving ahead with more Learning 2.0 research at Tagoras, but
are also cranking up our research on Webinars. I hope you or
another appropriate person from your organization will participate in
the survey at the following link:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/8X6R9M3
A bit more information:
This survey is intended for organizations that are already offering
Webinars or Webcasts to members or customers (it covers both
nonprofit and commercial organizations).
It should be completed by the person in your organization who knows
the most about your Webinars. If at all possible, only one person
in your organization should submit a survey.
It is a relatively substantial survey designed to collect
substantive information. So, don’t expect to find just 3 or 4
questions when you go to the link. That said, we have designed it
so that it should not take more than 8 to 12 minutes to complete.
As an incentive for participation we are offering (a) a copy of
summary data from the submissions – this should be quite valuable
to any organization serious about Webinars, and (b) the opportunity
to win an Amazon Kindle.
Tentatively, I expect the survey to be open until next Friday,
December 11. The link, again is:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/8X6R9M3
——————————————
3. Upcoming Events
——————————————
We’ve received word of the following upcoming events. If you have
any e-learning-related events coming up from late January through
February, be sure to drop me a line so I can
get them into the next newsletter.
***
ASAE Professional Development Section Council Virtual Lunch:
“Effectively Engaging Members at Learning Experiences”
Unfortunately I don’t have the dial-in information for this one
yet. It will be sent out to the ASAE PD lisserv later this week. If
you are not on the ASAE PD listserv and want to be sure to get the
dial-in info, e-mail me at jcobb@tagoras.com
Date: Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Time: 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. Eastern (11a C, 10a M, 9a P)
Cost: Your ideas and willingness to engage in the conversation –
plus the cost of a long distance call.
PD Virtual Lunch Dates are free conference call discussion programs
facilitated by the ASAE PD Section Council. Bring your ideas,
experiences, and enthusiasm to this organic and evolving
conversation.
***
A Demonstration of the TopClass LMS for Associations and
Professional Bodies
Date: Monday 14th Dec, 10am EST
Time: 10am EST
Cost: Free to attend
Registration:
http://www.wbtsystems.com/news/webinars/associationsdemo
As noted in the previous newsletter, LMS provider WBT Systems has
launched a Webinar series focused on association e-learning. The
company says that “These monthly webinars are for associations and
professional bodies that are considering implementing e-Learning
and would like to know more about the value of a Learning
Management System.” Based on having participated in the last one,
the “sales pitch” element in these is very light, and they do offer
some good information.
***
ASAE Technology Conference
February 10-12, Washington, DC
http://www.technologyconference.org/
I wouldn’t normally highlight the Technology Conference in this
newsletter, but this year ASAE has decided to add an e-learning
education track to it. If you can find some funds in your
professional development budget, I think it will be worth
attending.
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4. Links of Value
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Here are a few items I have come across recently that I thought
might be of interest to readers:
How to Present with Twitter (and other backchannels)
Via Jeff Hurt, a great free eBook with tips on using Twitter during
presentations.
If you haven’t already seen it, you should also check out a recent post
from a speaker who’s presentation was hijacked by the Twitter
backchannel
***
5 Deadly Sins of Social Media for Meetings and Events
Colleague David Gammel offers up this podcast as part of Avectra
Academy. In addition to this specific podcast, Avectra Academy
itself is a great resource and great example of a using education
effectively as a marketing tool.
***
New Tools for Personal Learning
If you aren’t already familiar with Stephen Downes’
thinking, this presentation may be somewhat challenging as a
jumping in point. But jump you must, I’d argue. I don’t think the
fundamentals of how human beings learn has changed that much over
time, but the means have changed dramatically – and a huge
percentage of that change has occurred in the past ten years. It’s
already impacting how associations interact with their prospective
learners, and I’m betting we ain’t seen nothin’ yet.
Along these lines, you will also want to have a look at a new
initiative from the Open University:
http://www.open.ac.uk/sociallearn/
***
How to Save the World with E-learning Scenarios
To bring things back to a more nuts and bolts level, I’ll highlight
another presentation – this one by Cathy Moore on why you should
use scenarios in your e-learning. Aside from the presentation
itself, I also want to make sure that readers are aware of Cathy’s
blog, Making Change – it’s a great resource to refer to on an
ongoing basis.
——————————————
5. Industry News
——————————————
This is the first time I’ve included this section in the
newsletter. I plan for it to be a regular item from now on. In
addition to hearing from product and service providers, it would be
great to share news from any associations that are launching new
e-learning initiatives. Please send any news you’ve got.
***
Avilar (http://www.avilar.com) has introduced a new “Rapid Skills
Inventory” service. A company representative says, “This could be
beneficial to associations who need to know what skills their
leaders and/or members posses and to what degree. No software to
install or learn, no long-term commitments to sign, just the skills
data needed when it’s needed most.” Find out more at at
http://www.avilar.com/solutions/skills_inventory.html
***
Blackboard (http://www.blackboard.com) has formed a partnership with the
Imagine American Foundation, an associated foundation of the Career
College Association, to bring online education opportunities to
military veterans. Read the press release.
***
CommPartners (http://www.commpartners.com) has introduced Virtual
Board Room, a new service that enables meetings “to be held any
time, from any location, with convenient online access for all your
members.” According to the company, “VBR provides all the
requirements of meeting processes that range from simple to formal,
following Robert’s Rules of Order and accommodating Parliamentary
procedure.” Learn more at www.commpartners.com/virtualboardroom.
Watch a 6-minute demonstration at:
http://commpart.vo.llnwd.net/o28/CP/VBR_Tour/player.html.
***
Digitec Interactive (http://www.digitecinteractive.com/) reports
that the Association of Professionals in Infection Control and
Epidemiology (APIC) has selected its Knowledge Direct® Learning
Management System to provide infection control courses online for
their more than 12,000 members. The Digitec platform will integrate
with APIC’s association management systems, iMIS.
***
Omnipress (http://www.omnipress.com/) has launched Engage365
(http://engage365.org/) which the company describes as “a
time-savin’, game-changin’, peer-engagin’, FREE community dedicated
to helping its members learn all they need to know about using
social media for events.”
***
Peach New Media (http://www.peachnewmedia.com) CEO Dave Will
provides some quick tips for producing better Webinars in the
latest edition of Entrepreneur Magazine
***
Meanwhile, back on the Tagoras blog, I have started a series of
interviews with representatives of the companies that participated
in the Association Learning Management Systems report. The first
one, with Jon Aleckson from Web CourseWorks, is now available. Look
for more soon.
