January 20, 2011

Staying true to my promise to share resources for reviving your course(s), I want to remind you about a GEN resource that – while it is no stranger to this blog and was actually a hot topic last week (flashback to the numerous emails about student password changes) – has tremendous potential for adding energy and depth to online course content: Skillsoft

Many of you are likely familiar with this web-based portal that, besides being home to Books 24x7, is overflowing with simulations, training courses, speeches, audio lectures, videos, job aids, and Skillbriefs. There truly is something in Skillsoft for everyone…

To explore all Skillsoft has to offer, click here to access the SkillPort log-in page. Your username and password should be the same: firstinitiallastname (i.e. jdoe). If you have any trouble logging in, contact the GEN Helpdesk.

Once logged in, you can search for resources on a specific topic, skill, or concept. Or, browse the Catalog/Learning Programs to explore the various curriculum tools available in the world of Business, Management, Leadership, IT, Software, HR and Legal Issues, Marketing, Project Management, Communications, Team Building, Finance…the list goes on and on.

Watch this screencast to learn more about two particularly useful pieces of Skillsoft: The Leadership Channel (leadership videos by high profile speakers) and The Business Exploration Series (management/leadership interactive Simulations).

If none of the topics above strike you as applicable to your redevelopment project, consider the “soft skills” resources that are available to help students master skills for facilitating meetings, working in groups, writing, planning, researching, public speaking, and presenting.

Once you identify a Skillsoft resource for your course(s), simply determine how you would like it incorporated into the unit content. Skillsoft items are great as discussion board topics or assignment activities, as well as supplemental exercises, resources, or lectures. If you need some guidance on effectively incorporating an item into your course content, contact me – I can provide you with good examples that work well in other courses. Regardless of your approach, be sure you direct students to the Skillsoft Instructions on the GEN Helpdesk FAQ webpage so they have the information they need to log in and access the resources.

If you have any questions or would like some specific suggestions on ways Skillsoft can benefit your course content, please let me know! I am happy to do the research in Skillsoft or work with you individually on using this resource as a way to REVIVE your redevelopment project!

January 10, 2011

Hello Developers,

Well, it’s January…the time for new beginnings, fresh starts, resolutions…right?

My work-related New Year’s Resolution: Revive the Online Development Blog! This blog has been my demise and I owe it to all of you to get it revitalized…so here goes…

With only one brand new course development this cycle, my blog topics for the next 5 weeks will focus on revival – basic techniques and realistic resources you can use to REVIVE the courses you are redeveloping!

As many of you know, we are looking for ways to enhance the interactive nature of our courses. One of the easiest ways to do this is to ensure we are using resources that are readily available to us…so, I want to take a few moments to remind you to explore and utilize the publisher resources that accompany the textbook for the course(s) you are redeveloping.

Once you receive a copy of the new book, be sure to visit the textbook website and check out any companion resources. If there are practice quizzes, interactive exercises, chapter presentations, or audio lectures, look for ways to incorporate these items into the Blackboard content. In addition, textbook websites usually include useful web links selected to match the course material – these can be excellent Additional Resources for the course units.

If you are unsure how to access instructor materials that require a login, you can usually create an instructor account on the website. Otherwise, contact me for help in gaining access from the publisher.

Bonus! If you are working with a Cengage or Pearson text, GEN has Single-Sign-On accounts that will help you access any online content associated with the textbooks we use. Contact me for the login information: kschmidt@msbcollege.edu.

Tech Tip! Click here for a quick demo on uploading a Document Package to Blackboard – this could be a timesaver for you when it comes to adding chapter PowerPoint presentations from a  Zip file to Blackboard.

Have a great week!