This blog post is by Articulate Community Manager David Anderson.

Happy Monday, E-learning Heroes! Last week was another big week of tips & insights from the Articulate community. Below are the highlights from last week.

Tom, Jeanette and David are headed to TechKnowledge this week. If you’re in Vegas, please stop by our booth (204) and say “Hi.” Tom and David will host a couple Creation Station workshops on Studio ’09 and Judy Unrein is giving a Getting Started with Storyline session. Can’t make one or more sessions? No sweat, just swing by our the booth—we’ll be happy to give you a replay!

Notable tutorials:

• Creating a vertical menu in PowerPoint & Articulate Presenter (see http://bit.ly/xFZ4Byfor discussion thread)
• Adding an app to Tom Kuhlmann’s list of free desktop image editors for e-Learning

Conversations in the community:

• Best practices for writing scripts for narration
• What makes the Articulate community great?
• How can you help learners get the most out of their courses?
• Compliance training and meeting required time limits
• Converting a clinical PowerPoint to e-learning course
• Rebekah shares her Emergency Response demo
• Customizing feedback in Quizmaker ’09
• Awesome free mind mapping software
• Where do you get sound effects?
• Substance abuse and intoxication course demos
• Special considerations for designing a classroom instructor-led course
• Gina shares a peeled tab graphic she created in PowerPoint

New blog posts:

• 5 Free Desktop Image Editors for E-Learning

Seen on Twitter:

• @Aneesh_Bhat shares a link to 9 essential elements for fun in games
• @Tracy_Parish shares a link to 21 free PSD files for design projects
• @tmiket shares a link to using the 3-slide rule to design better photo slides

This blog post is by Articulate Community Manager David Anderson.

Yep. It’s Monday and that means another big week of practical e-learning tips and insights from the Articulate community.

Tom hosted a webinar last week on using PowerPoint for more than Boring Presentations. If you missed it, or experienced any technical issues, be sure to check out the updated recording.

Here are some of the cool ideas your fellow community members shared last week:

Notable tutorials:

• Icons to stickers: How to customize and get more from simple icons and clipart (Download the free starter pack!)
• Add interactive timelines to your course
• How to add a wall and baseboard to your e-learning slides

Conversations in the community:

• Getting started with needs analysis – share your best practices
• How to create a sliding menu effect in Presenter ‘09
• Video camera recommendations
• How are you curating and re-using e-learning content?
• Is it okay to use dark backgrounds in e-learning courses?
• Are you an Australian Articulate user?
• Are you in the UK and attending Learning Technologies Exhibition?
• Google Webfont Awesomeness
• Examples of hands writing with chalk and users share their favorite chalk fonts
• Users share ideas for building courses without audio
• Donna shares her website she created with Presenter ’09

New blog posts:

• Need to Combine E-Learning with Mentoring? Here’s a Simple Solution

Seen on Twitter:

• @reedyreedles shares a link to 26 places to find free multimedia for your blog
• @IWantToELearn shares a link to 5 reasons to join Articulate e-learning community
• @tmiket shares his Slideshare presentation full of inspiring design ideas

This blog post is by Articulate Community Manager David Anderson.

Like most e-learning developers, you probably spend more time using learned skills than you do learning new skills. But I’m guessing you have a list of things you really want to learn—things you know you should learn. The good thing is there are lots of folks who share the same goals.

One of the things that’s so cool about E-learning Heroes—besides all the free stuff—is the community-driven sharing that goes on. It’s really neat to see so many folks with different backgrounds and experience sharing with each other.

What’s the easiest way to dive in? Ask a question or two—you know you have some. And if you don’t have a question, try answering a couple questions—your expertise is welcome!

To help you get started, here are some community highlights from the past two weeks that you won’t want to miss:

Notable tutorials:

• How to capture an “In Course” Articulate template
• Easily identify fonts used on websites and blogs
• How to launch WordPress-hosted courses in a lightbox
• How to extract audio from a published course .swf file
• How to insert YouTube videos into Presenter ’09
• How to create a question in Quizmaker ‘09 that gives customized feedback

Conversations in the community:

• Users share ways for selling their courses
• I need inspiration! Any template ideas for displaying tips?
• Ditch the “Duhs” in Compliance Training
• Users share free chalkboard fonts
• Using recording boxes for e-learning audio
• Looking for your opinion on a graphic
• Questions about image licensing
• Open University – E-Learning
• “CSI” type of templates
• Creating a file cabinet
• Why are you good at e-learning?

New blog posts:

• Want a Great Looking E-Learning Course? Here’s a Simple Way to Get It
• Check Out This Free PowerPoint Template & Tutorial
• 7 Easy Ways to Emphasize Important Text or Key Words in Articulate Presenter
• A Year’s Worth of Free E-Learning Assets

Seen on Twitter:

• @rjacquez shares 5 Reasons why you should join the Articulate Community if you are in elearning
• @IWantToELearn shares a link to Want Your Audience’s Attention? Talk to the Elephant
• @Tracy_Parish shares a link to A Collection of High Quality Free Comic Fonts
• @tmiket shares a link to What People Look At On a Picture Or Screen Depends On What You Say To Them
• @ZaraLynnKing shares a link to Fonts of all shapes and sizes
• @LindaLor shares a link to 50 posts that made me think in 2011
• @MayraAixaVillar shares a link to her first Screenr: Data visualization tools and elearning

This blog post is by Articulate Community Manager David Anderson.

Ever feel like your e-learning projects need a makeover? Something to liven up tired designs and interactions? The Articulate community can help with any creative or technical challenges you’re facing. They’re even good at poetry.

Check out some of the cool things users shared during the past week:

Notable tutorials:

• How to save and reuse a quiz theme from the slide masters of a Quizmaker ’09 quiz
• How to customize the pass and fail results slides in Quizmaker ’09
• A version of Tom’s neat rollovers and animations

Conversations in the community:

• Editing breaths out of e-learning narration
• Ideas on getting rid of bullet points to state course objectives
• User requests feedback on her digital photography course
• User shares a magazine-style course design
• What skill sets would your dream e-learning team have?
• Users brainstorm ideas for designing legislative courses
• Creating infographics to demonstrate compliance standards
• Creating a video narrator
• Users share innovative ideas for a compliance course

New blog posts:

• Here’s a Way to Make Your E-Learning Course Objectives Interesting

Seen on Twitter:

• @SashaScottLtd shares a link to Are learners idiots?
• @lfrancisco shares a link to Avoiding eLearning that Oversimplifies
• @ethanwaldman shares a link to The Power of Asking for Help

This blog post is by Articulate Community Manager David Anderson.

“You can’t skate what you haven’t ate.” That phrase describes the learning moment that follows a gnarly wipe-out. It’s used humorously to celebrate mistakes and motivate skaters to get back on their boards.

In many ways, the same could be said for building e-learning courses. There’s always risk in learning something new or in asking for help. With a supportive community, you won’t have to go at it alone!

This week, spend some time with branching, sidebar videos, blank slides, using Engage differently or sharing feedback on other users’ projects. Because like skating, so much of what’s learned is through experience and interacting with others and that’s why the Articulate community is so valuable.

To get you started, we highlighted some cool tricks community members shared over the last week:

Notable tutorials:

• Flash pop-ups for e-learning!
• Working with multiple videos, syncing and timeline order in Quizmaker ’09
• Setting up branching so learners only see specific quizzes (Source files: download)
• How to produce a button with fake relief shadow effect in PowerPoint for your e-learning courses

Conversations in the community:

• Insert Flash video
• Adding sound effects to animations in Presenter ’09
• What industry sector do you work in?
• Possible to provide more than two options for feedback to a quiz?
• Using Web Objects to manage multiple movies
• Community members give a user feedback on her e-learning portfolio
• Modifying the rollover colors in Quizmaker ‘09
• Setting Up Conditional Branching in Quizmaker ’09

New blog posts:

• Here’s an Inexpensive Way to Build a Library of E-Learning Assets

Seen on Twitter:

• @tmiket shares a link to What Every Designer Should Consider About Fonts
• @cliveshepherd shares a link to a couple of free Articulate skins
• @JeffHolton shares a link to free U.S. map PowerPoint slides

This blog post is by Articulate Community Manager David Anderson.

The number one thing e-learning developers can learn from musicians: improvisation.

Clients, technology, and even content changes can cause projects to lose tempo without notice. That’s why having access to resources—project plans, templates and inspiration—can help get a project back in key.

So, whether you’re remixing some oldies or looking for a new sound, the Articulate community is the perfect arena to jam with today’s legends and tomorrow’s rising stars.

Check out last week’s set list for some classic tips & ideas you might have missed.

Notable tutorials:

• Here’s a way to add a Finish button to an Articulate Engage Timeline interaction
• Switching to a different quiz player template

Conversations in the community:

• What kind of style guides do you use to create your courses?
• How can I create a multiple answer or brainstorming type slide?
• Ideas for including video narrators over transparent backgrounds
• A user seeks feedback on a screencasting infographic
• How do you host your e-learning portfolio online?
• Users offer feedback on another user’s first course

New blog posts:

• Are These the Three E-Learning Books You Would Recommend?

Seen on Twitter:

• @nicole_legault shares a link How To Write Learning Objectives
• @tmiket shares a link: How Many Slides Should You Have? How Many Slides Do You Need?
• @LearnNuggets shares a link: 20 "eLearnings" From Two Months on the Road(trip)

This blog post is by Articulate Community Manager David Anderson.

If your e-learning courses need some fine tuning, you’ve found the right channel. Each week, the Articulate community serves up practical ideas to help you build better e-learning courses. If you missed an episode, or you’re looking for reruns, check out last week’s highlights below.

Notable tutorials:

• Multiple videos on a slide in Articulate Quizmaker ’09
• Quick overview of basic branching, slide properties and hidden slides in Articulate Presenter ’09
• Interactive graphics using Articulate Engage ’09 Labeled Graphic interaction
• Auto-advancing slides and animation options in PowerPoint and Articulate Presenter ’09
• Creating interactive audio conversations using the Labeled Graphic interaction

Conversations in the community:

• Techniques for animating and synchronizing bullet points
• Users share ideas for new hire orientation courses
• Options for developing student workbooks
• How are you including practice opportunities in your e-learning courses?
• Tips for creating creating and editing screenshots
• Users share ideas for getting learners to view and interact with course content
• What problems are your e-learning courses addressing?

New blog posts:

• 3 E-Learning Lessons Learned on the Road

Seen on Twitter:

• @eTrainToday shares thoughts on the state of online learning
• @tmiket shares a link to Mark Schwartz’s interview on ElearningTV

This blog post is by Articulate Community Manager David Anderson.

Any way you slice it, the Articulate community always comes up with sweet tips to help you build better e-learning. Want proof? Take a look at some of the highlights your community members shared over the past week. And be sure to check out E-learning Heroes for even more tips & tricks, tutorials and free downloads!

Notable tutorials:

• How to change the theme for YouTube videos in Articulate Presenter
• Using Dropbox to share your published Articulate projects
• Here’s a way to require learners to listen to all audio on a content slide in Articulate Quizmaker
• How to change the theme for YouTube videos in Articulate Presenter

Conversations in the community:

• Users exchange ideas for using Dropbox to share portfolio projects
• Using hidden slides and branching to provide learners optional information
• When should you share source files with internal SMEs and customers?
• How many courses can one developer can create per quarter?
• Users share tips for conducting pilot progams

New blog posts:

• Are You Asking These Questions to Build Effective E-Learning?
• Rapid Course: Best Off-the-Shelf & Customized E-learning, Powered by Articulate

Seen on Twitter:

• @articulatedf shares a link to 7 free tools for creating your own fonts
• @jenisecook a link for 15 UI design patterns web designers should keep handy
• @nicole_legault shares a post 6 tips on course design from an instructional designer

This blog entry is by Mark Schwartz, EVP Sales.

Thanks to the introduction of simple, yet powerful, rapid e-learning authoring tools like Articulate Studio ’09, organizations are now empowered to create professional looking online courses.

But what do you do when you don’t have subject matter experts (SMEs) or expertise in a topic that you need to deliver? Companies have traditionally turned to “off-the-shelf” content. This approach works when the information provided or branding meets your needs. That probably doesn’t happen too often. Then you need to consider custom course development that leverages existing subject matter expertise. That can often prove to be expensive and time-consuming.

What if you could have the best of all worlds? Expert content, created by top SMEs in their field, in a format that can be easily customized by your organization. Well, now you can, thanks to Rapid Course™.

Created and developed by Articulate strategic training partner, Yukon Learning (Yukon), Rapid Course delivers an online library of popular course titles, with expert content provided by SMEs and delivered in source Articulate Studio ’09 format so you can modify and brand the course to your exacting needs.

With Rapid Course, you can “Buy the Course and Get the Source,” says Yukon President and CEO, Chris Ayers. He adds, “What really makes Rapid Course unique is that when a course is purchased, the download not only includes the polished and published course files, but also the Articulate Presenter ’09, Quizmaker ’09, and Engage ’09 source files. Now customers can customize the courses to their unique needs. We even provide the contact information for the course narrator, should audio edits or additions need to be made.”

Unlike traditional off-the-shelf courses, Rapid Course titles can be used by an unlimited number of learners within an organization for an unlimited amount of time. Say goodbye to per-seat licensing and annual fees with Rapid Course.

Currently, more than 25 titles are available, encompassing topics such as Sales, Communications, Negotiation Skills, Personal Development, Management, Teamwork, and Coaching. Within the next year, Yukon intends to introduce at least 100 new courses, including content in popular areas like Project Management, Safety, Finance, Compliance, and Managed Care.

Brooke Schepker, Senior VP of Yukon adds, “The launch of Articulate’s Storyline product will also trigger some exciting new developments for Rapid Course. Developers will be able to choose the Storyline format for their course files, and we will offer a new series of scenario-based learning courses built using the power of Storyline.”

Tom Kuhlmann, VP of Community for Articulate and author of the Rapid E-Learning Blog enthusiastically endorses Rapid Course: “I believe Yukon Learning’s introduction of Rapid Course — built on popular and proven Articulate authoring tools – is yet another milestone in the evolution of rapid e-learning – providing customers a high value, customized, expert solution.”

For more information on Rapid Course, please visit http://www.rapidcourse.com/.

Rapid Course is a trademark of Yukon Group, Inc.

This blog post is by Articulate Community Manager David Anderson.

Have you ever noticed how many different ways there are to build e-learning courses? There’s a lot, right? It’s really cool to work in an industry where we have so many creative options for delivering training.

Options empower us to find new and better ways to design our training. But those same options can also seem overwhelming—especially to folks just getting started.

That’s where having a nest of trusted resources like E-learning Heroes is important. If you’re looking to grow your skills or just find some technical help, the Articulate community is a great place to start. To give you an idea of all the great tips & ideas that folks share, check out last week’s community highlights.

Notable tutorials:

• Adding text to a shape
• Using PowerPoint’s quick-access toolbar
• Distributing items on a PowerPoint slide
• Cropping images in PowerPoint
• How to show just the points or just the percentage on an Articulate Quizmaker result slide
• Create a custom spotlight effect on your Articulate Presenter slide

Conversations in the community:

• What LMS do you use, and why?
• Advice for building e-learning for non-English speaking audiences
• “So, what do you do?”
• Here’s a way to let learners print a certificate at the end of your quiz
• Creative uses for web objects in your Articulate Presenter courses
• An Articulate user shares how he adapted an E-Learning Heroes template for his course

New blog posts:

• Here’s a Free PowerPoint Template & Font

Seen on Twitter:

• @SashaScottLtd shares an article about projected growth in the e-learning industry
• @tmiket shares a post on 11 rules for better presentation typography
• @slhice shares a site that allows you to see sites using your images (legal or not)
• @YukonLearning shares @RonPrice’s microphone demo/comparisons
• @cre8iveii shares a tool for calculating the readability of a text passage