Learning Management System: eLeaP eLearning, Training Platform for Easy ELearning,Training Tool

a learning management system web 2.0 elearning platform, learning & content management system, LMS/LCMS

With the economy in flux, its tempting to think you can get away with not training employees or maintaining proper compliance records. This would be a disaster.

But its expensive – I hear you say .. but eLeaP is affordable and it contains all the tools you will need to create, launch, manage and track all your employee training.

From free course creation services to realtime results and tracking to instant certificates of completion, eLeaP LMS and e-Learning solutions provides you an easy pain free way to do employee training.

Don’t believe me? Spend 2 minutes and see for yourself (www.eleapsoftware.com).

Vendor selection is akin to a virtual minefield: One wrong step and you are a goner. Nevertheless, an organized, comprehensive selection process is exactly what is required. You can do this best if you develop a checklist so that you are certain that you have asked each potential vendor the same questions and are comparing oranges to oranges.

Download the e-learning systems vendor selection checklist free at www.eleapsoftware.com.

Merit Medical selects eLeaP & Google for single sign-on sales training e-learning application – http://tinyurl.com/23fkn9w

Lincoln Cannon, director of Web systems at Merit, which makes and sells medical devices, was brought in 10 months ago to help the company adopt new technologies. When Google and Telania | eLeaP were selected as the first cloud-based applications to try out, there was some pushback from the IT department which raised concerns about how it would be possible to maintain control of applications, Cannon says.

Read the full story at Computerworld.

We are debuting the eLeaP Learning Channel on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/eleapdon

What prevents success in the creation and implementation of an e-learning system?  While there are numerous obstacles preventing the success of any endeavor, the e-learning systems, because they are relatively new and somewhat unknown, certainly create their share of pitfalls, and then some.  Obstacles can often be found in every aspect of e-learning…from content development through delivery to effectiveness.

Let’s examine the issue, then, as a body of mistakes:

1. Wrong approach to content development:  Although desired outcomes are the same for traditional training and e-learning, instructional design methods often fail to account for this. In simple terms, to be effective, e-learning must find new ways to involve the student in the learning process. The material will be ineffective if delivered simply as a textbook. It must become totally interactive so that we can replace (to some extent) the classroom instructor with increased student involvement. This means relying more heavily on exercises, quizzes, simulations and assignments than we would in a traditional environment; we need to duplicate to the extent possible the “see, do” method of training, allowing the student an opportunity to practice the new learning. And we need to do this frequently throughout the course.
2. Wrong authoring tools: The tools you use to create e-learning must align with your training objectives. Authoring tools enable instructors or designers to build courses and supporting materials such as quizzes and simulations. Consider: Do you really want to propose training your current instructors in the use of Captivate? How about Flash?

   Remember, too, that today virtually all software packages that are used to create
   e-learning courseware require licensing. A relatively simple program that converts PowerPoint to a SCORM compliant Flash package, such as Articulate Presenter, can cost upward of $1,400. And that’s  per seat!  This feature is built into the eLeaP system and is free.

Authoring programs that are platform specific (e.g., Windows XP) will require maintenance in order to keep them current with new technology. This, of course, is generally not free; unless, that is, you are using a hosted e-learning platform that is essentially “rented” (such as eLeaP), and includes upgrades and maintenance. Programs such as these are often known today as Software as a Service, or SAAS (and sometimes simply SAS).

However, there are going to be occasions where you may require specialized training tools, for example if you are training students in the use of a particular software package. In this case, you can use programs such as Captivate or Camtasia that simulate the actual working environment and allow users to develop skills without affecting “live” data. If you lack the resources in house for doing this, a third party contractor might be a good choice. Or even better, if you are using a system such as eLeaP, you can find specific expertise through its customization capabilities.

1. Wrong system employed for training: The systems you use for courseware development, delivery, learning management and assessment must integrate with one another. Think of them as tools. But remember, to a hammer, everything is a nail.

You must, therefore, choose a Learning Management System with the flexibility to host a variety of courseware types…from interactive simulations to Flash video to real-time problem solving. For example, have a look at eLeaP’s Learning Management System (www.eleapsoftware.com). It has the flexibility to host virtually any type of courseware that is SCORM compliant. A lack of this flexibility will severely limit the materials that can be delivered to the student.

You must also consider the system’s ease of use. As with the eLeaP system, students must be able to gain easy access and find an intuitive interface that requires little or no training. The system must work on virtually all platforms using any standard web browser. It must operate flawlessly so that, from the learners’ perspective, the fact that the content is being delivered electronically is secondary to the learning process.

1. Wrong level of investment: There are many systems available today that require virtually no startup funding and that can be deployed in practically no time at all, e.g., the eLeaP LCMS. Why, then, would you want to consider a system that costs upward of $250,000 to start and requires a significant amount of resources to implement?  After all, these are not full-blown ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) systems that must integrate all organizational functions.

Avoid the heavy sales pitch that uses the scare tactics of systems integration capabilities. Generally speaking, a simple Application Programming Interface (API) can be developed at minimal cost to integrate any LMS into the organization’s Learning and Development recording system. Also keep in mind that many of these complex Learning Management Systems  require a good deal of expensive, specialized technical support and training just to create courseware that is compatible with the delivery system. Again, the fact is that systems such as eLeaP require no programming or startup costs at all, deployment support is free, implementation and online training is free and 24/7 customer support is free.

To download free valuable e-learning white papers, go to http://www.eleapsoftware.com/free-training-resources/. Contact eLeaP LMS & Training software for e-learning and business training questions.

You can now easily create beautiful and professional certificates in your eLeaP LMS account. Simply use the [Custom Certificate Builder] to add certificates.

See a short video tutorial on how to create your own professional certificate.

As usual eLeaP is continuing to innovate and you benefit.

* The key challenges preventing e-learning success
* How e-learning benefits organizations (hint: your compensation might depend on it)
* What not to do when it comes to choosing a vendor – cost does not equal quality.
* Simple strategies for implementing eLearning in your organization

Download now, click here.

LOUISVILLE, KY 06/02/2009. eLeaP LMS’ newest web interface upgrade went live at 0600 hours on 06-02-2009. We are excited about this latest upgrade and look forward to continuing to service your e-learning and business training needs with the best LMS system and outstanding customer service.

Sincerely,
Don Weobong
President, Telania | eLeaP

NOTICE: Important news regarding your eLeaP LMS account

In the coming weeks, we’ll upgrade your eLeaP account to a new web
interface designed to make e-learning and web-based training
management faster and easier. You can try it now; visit the special update page now

http://www.eleapsoftware.com/alert/

Part 1:

Business training encompasses a wide variety of topics, from specific technical training to more general business practices such as customer relations, sales procedures and operational procedures. Training programs are designed to enable employees to deliver a more efficient and effective range of services, and for companies to keep pace in a cut throat corporate world. With businesses’ recent dependency on computer software and email, it is essential that all employees are computer literate.

The Internet has allowed for such training programs to be accessed and utilized with ease. Information Technology training, Management Training and a host of other subjects are all available online to help develop an individual’s skill set. Such interactive online learning programs are the perfect Corporate Training Software for organizations; one of the most advanced ones is the eLeaP™ Learning Management System. Pioneered by Don Weobong, President of eLeaP™, an increasing number of companies now rely on this e-learning platform for all of their corporate training needs.

What’s astonishing is the low cost of online e-learning systems compared with traditional corporate training programs. Traditionally, when a company wants to train its employees in a certain skill or trade, experts would need to be consulted, often at very high compensation rates; rates at $10,000 or more for a week of consultation are not uncommon. With new online Learning Management Systems such as eLeaP™, however, a company can easily start training its employees at as low as $125.

>> We will continue part 2 on our next posting.