Narrowing the Distance

I am becoming more and more of a Skype fan every day.  At first I just used it for the occasional instant message or video call.  Then I started using it in place of my office phone.  And just recently my colleague and I used Skype to conduct a full day training session in another state.  So if you haven’t taken full advantage of Skype here are some things to consider:

• The new beta version of Skype allows for up to 5 people to be in a video chat at a time (it is beta though, so don’t be surprised if an issue pops up from time to time).  My organization is starting to use this for shorter more frequent meetings instead of scheduling full day staff meetings once a month.
• Skype offers screen sharing.  In the past I used GoToMeeting ($50/month) for most of the trainings I conducted online.  Now using Skype I can easily switch between a video feed from my webcam and my computer screen if I am showing a PowerPoint (or if I just want people to stop looking at me).
• Skype is now available on your TV!  That’s right, you now have a legitimate business expense if you want to upgrade to a new flat panel (that’s a joke, I’m not a tax person, so don’t complain if you get audited).  It’s still early on and only applies to a few internet connected widescreen TVs (Panasonic and Samsung), but it’s promising none the less.  In addition to the TV, you will also need a special web cam that runs approximately $150.  Check here for more information from Skype.

What other uses are there for Skype?  Looking forward to hearing your thoughts…

One of the most used technologies to increase my effiency is desktop sharing.  In case you are not familiar with the term, desktop sharing simply allows you to share your desktop with one or more people.  I use it often for training people far away or in different locations, collaborating with colleagues or to troubleshoot technology problems.

If you are interested in giving desktop sharing a try, there are no shortage of available applications.  Among them include:

• GoToMeeting
• Windows Live Meeting
• Vyew
• ShowMYPC
• WebEx
• TeamViewer

There are plenty more options out there, but this is a start.  A few things to note:

• Not all options are free.  GoToMeeting, Windows Live Meeting, and WebEX may offer free trials, but do cost money to keep.  Others, like TeamViewer may offer a free version for non-commercial use.
• Know what you are looking for.  Some options only allow one user to view your computer.  That may work for simple collaboration or technical support, but will hardly work for trainings.

What do I recommend?  Although free is great, I like GoToMeeting.  The cost is low enough and it offers several features that are great for training small groups.  If you need to train a larger group, you can upgrade or purchase GoToWebinar, which allows you to have hundreds of participants and provides advanced features like polling, access levels and more.

I’ve tried many of the other options out there, and while they usually work fine, I find most slow to load and react.  This may work for collaborating with a colleague, but if you are working with a client I recommend spending the $400 or $500 extra a year and use GoToMeeting.  Their newest version has integrated voice capabilities, which is a huge advantage over using a land or mobile line to call a long distance number to communicate (I always just used skype).  Finally, GoToMeeting does allow those you are connecting with to show their screen.  You can take control of their mouse and keyboard or vice versa as well.  Others may offer this same feature, but it’s worth mentioning either way.

Through working with groups and agencies who are solely supported by grant funds to create e-learning solutions, we have discovered the existence of a graveyard full of incredible processes, products, and tools that are wasting away in boxes and on bookshelves. As e -learning tools have become more effective and cost efficient, there are significant benefits for your grant funded work.

1. “Fundability” is essential when applying for a highly competitive grant, because you can not accomplish your next great adventure without financial support. One attractive feature to set your project apart from the rest is to incorporate e-learning solutions. It is no longer cost prohibitive to develop and disseminate your findings and products on the web. The ability to do this well allows funding sources to see that your project has the potential to impact a large geographic area long after the funding is complete.

2. “Accessibility” to the benefits from the grant outcomes have typically been limited by how close you were to where the work was done or your connection with the people who did it. With e-learning solutions, people all across the globe can benefit from the efforts of your organization at anytime and at anyplace.

3. “Timelessness” is essential because once the funding is spent, projects are typically over and never seen again. However with e-learning solutions, the work accomplished through your project can be made available through web-based tools even after the funding is over. Extend the life of your project by finding a partner up front that will commit to hosting your work for you once the project is complete. Consider approaching colleges, universities, businesses, and other non-profit agencies as potential partners. The cost of hosting is relatively insignificant and the benefits for everyone are endless. If you are having trouble finding those partners, there are many no-cost solutions on the web that can accomplish this. Take time to dig through our blog to investigate a few that we have highlighted.

The possibilities are endless with the tools available to all of us. If you have a success story incorporating e-learning solutions in your grant funded work, take a minute to comment on this post.

The landscape of e-learning today is eerily similar to the European Middle Ages that we all were forced to learn about in high school social studies. There were royalty who had access to everything and the peasants who could only have as their “lords” would allow. E-learning has been developing along with this separation between the “have’s” and “have not’s”, or maybe more appropriately titled the “people who know how” (or have the enormous amount of money to pay someone who does) and those “who don’t”. So for those who have been considering e-learning solutions, it is time for the working class to revolt! Technological skill and budget constraints are no longer barriers that separate you and your organization from e-learning that will maximize your productivity and effectiveness. The gap between the professional programmer and the working professional is narrowing and is currently at the point where learners will not perceive the difference. Recognizing that effective e-learning is within everyone’s reach, there are 3 reasons to consider this as a tool to enhance your organization, business, or classroom outcomes.

1. Effective. For those who are unsure, the efficacy question regarding e-learning as compared to face to face training has been answered time and time again (for those interested in the research behind this, send us a note and we will email you references). The argument that it is not as good as face to face doesn’t hold up to the data. It may not “feel” the same, but that’s okay. Experienced professionals should be past the focus on “feelings” in training. It is about results. Ensuring that your participants gain the material and are able to use it in their practice.

2. Efficient. E-learning removes time, cost, and distance barriers and equalizes the playing field between small business and major corporations. You do not need a company jet to meet your client face to face when there is free video conferencing software that allows you to connect with them in less then a second. The goal of your organization is not to spend hours traveling to reach your client or for your clients to spend hours (and money) to reach you. We developed e-solutions for an educational support agency that had a small number of staff and a large geographic region to cover. E-learning solutions allow their services to be available around the clock and for them to instantly be where they are needed as long as there is internet access.

3. Encompassing. Anything that can be done face to face has a digital solution counterpart. Where we have made the most dramatic assistance for organization is when we have looked at a product that was developed for a particular application and reconfigured it for a new use. One such example is when we were providing consultation support to a client using a free videoconferencing software (www.skype.com). To maximize our support we needed to be able to talk directly to the client during the consultation without anyone else listening. We switched a few plugs on a wireless lapel microphone, plugged in earbuds, and were able to give immediate and private feedback.

As you consider e-learning or are looking for a way to do it better, don’t just look at the big companies. Those expensive systems are paying for the large executive salaries and office buildings. When your organization invests tens of thousands of dollars in a program, it is similar to having an in-law that will never leave. You dare not suggest that you get rid of this person for fear of retribution, but they do get in the way of progress. This issue of significant monetary investment is that your company or school has spent so much money on a particular system that switching to something new is not even a consideration. This is painful because there are better and more efficient solutions that cost thousands less (dare I say free with an internet connection!?!). Find something that you like, then dig deep to find it at no cost or low-cost. The solutions are there; use this blog as the springboard for your journey.