iMIS Community blogs

Efficient technique for converting instructor-led training to e-course

Mary Connor — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 10:28:43 -0400

I'm working my way through an e-learning course through DSA (the Course Developer Workshop), which is giving me the opportunity to analyze how they're delivering e-learning. What I'm finding rather surprised me:

They use reference-based training: the reference material to be used on the job is delivered in a binder, along with the course elements (objectives, examples, exercises, summaries).
The course is advanced by a slideshow, which the instructor drives throughout the multi-day course.
The course was delivered as instructor-led training, which was audio-recorded.
The 3-day course was divided into 6 lessons with 4 video segments, all hosted on their site (no CDs or downloads).
The live-course audio was edited down, stripping out all student questions, discussion periods, and dead time for students to complete tasks.
The trimmed audio was laid on top of the slideshow, as if the instructor were narrating it in real time. (This was probably the trickiest part.)
The slideshow was enhanced with circles, markup, and highlighting, such as the instructor would do.
The slideshow added pauses, with "Click to continue" buttons, when exercises were to be completed first.

So, the experience is that the e-learning student follows along very much like a classroom student, glancing between binder and slideshow, completing exercises, and following the instructor's voice. At the end of each lesson, e-learning students complete and email homework to a designated instructor. Instead of 3 days, students have 30 days of server access, during which to finish the course. The video segments must be completed or else homework assignments will be missed. Course completion includes testing some of the output with a volunteer subject; when I get that far, I'll know how well that works, compared to a live class.

using nav designer for left hand items

jon guenther — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 12:18:49 -0400

after I make changes via the nav designer, what do i have to do to have the changes take affect?
I am attempting to use the nav designer to control who gets to use some of the items in system setup. I have assigned a role to the items of sys admin if i don't want the user to see it and I have added a product manager role to the user and assigned it to item I want them to see. It doesn't seem to lock the user out of the sys admin items.

ADO.NET Entity Framework

John Mann — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 07:07:08 -0400

I attended a Microsoft presentation last night on the new ADO.NET Entity Framework which was released on Monday (11 Aug 08) as part of VS 2008 SP1 and .NET Framework 3.5 SP1.

The essential idea is to allow developers to use LINQ to work against a conceptual model of the database instead of the physical model.

The Entity Framework uses two XML mappings

SSDL - Store Schema Definition Language (the physical schema)

SXSWi 2009: conference panel picker shows trends

Mary Connor — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 09:09:47 -0400

They've opened voting on proposed SXSW Interactive panels, so folks can influence the conference. It's a cool way read the tea leaves.

panelpicker.sxsw.com (use the categories at right to run the picker)

Some things I noticed:

A theme of last year was the growing cry for a nonprofit track; so far, there are 16 panels proposed for the category Nonprofit.
Enterprise has 37 hits, Cloud has 19, Javascript has 21, and Programming and .NET both have 23 each.
RIA (rich internet applications) has 147. Yes, really.

Save the date! March 13-17, 2009, Austin Convention Center; easy access to "The Brightest Minds in Emerging Technology".

User Credentials Button Not Working

ericf@far.org — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 15:56:12 -0400

We have upgraded to iMIS 15.0.3. All user information from 10.6 came over ok but when trying to provide other users with an iMIS logins and clicking on the "User Credentials" button on the Customers page an error occurs after about a minute saying "Error - Page Unavailable". this happens to Customers with and without exisitng iMIS logins alike. If anyone has any ideas it would be appreciated.

Thanks,

iMIS 15.03 - sa password change

ericf@far.org — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 23:58:28 -0400

We have changed our SQL Server sa password in our iMIS 15.0.3 database. User logins to the back office and web\public view components no longer worked. Found and changed the sa password embedded in the IIS Virtual Driectories \iMIS15 and \iMISPublic in the .NET configuration. Also changed in the ODBC connections to test out the connection, though appears that it would be the user's invidual credentials that would be used to authenticate through ODBC . The web\public views logins now work. The back office login still does not, still invalid sa password error. Is there somewhere else that the sa password is embedded that needs to be changed?

New Member registeration?

tkim — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 12:20:45 -0400

We are on iMis15 and need to be able to have “new members” join through the web. Once the non-member pays membership fees then be able to register to our conference as members. Has anyone done that ?

Free tool for diagrams and GUI prototyping

Mary Connor — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 10:04:03 -0400

Built on the Gecko engine, "Pencil" is a Firefox 3 plug-in that has a light, 400 KB installation. Its goal is to be a forever free and open source tool for making diagrams and doing GUI prototyping, yet also easy enough that everyone can use it. For mock-ups, Pencil makes it easy to spin the look you want, then output PNG for record-keeping and distribution:

http://www.evolus.vn/Pencil

Webinar notes: Delivering Customized Technical Content

Mary Connor — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 13:25:25 -0400

A webinar given jointly by MarkLogic, Aberdeen Group (research), and empolis summarized where the industry stands on the move toward offering users dynamic technical content -- dynamic in the sense of filtered for their needs and assembled into useful printables. The dimensions for filtering are the usual suspects: user skill/type, context (such as a specific product), and task type (setup vs. operation vs. troubleshooting). Aberdeen's research on current industry practices (albeit focused on the needs of manufacturers) showed they are being driven by these factors (most to least): speed to market, market segmentation, customizability, precision (need to cut irrelevant doc), and globalization (localization needs). Those organizations found to be "best in class" are pursuing these types of initiatives:

e-community and eCM for .net

jon guenther — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 18:24:38 -0400

the customer is using i15, eCM and .net template with web components. they would like to use e-community as well. has anyone installed e-community in this environment yet?

Social networks and nonprofits

Anne Gentle — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 13:35:21 -0400

Here’s an interesting project to keep an eye on – a collection of case studies of "how nonprofits and social change makers are using social networks to get the word out and inspire action."

socialmedia4change.pbwiki.com

It's a wiki, so anyone can contribute their examples to the pages. The Frozen Pea Fund is there, as well as a Second Life scavenger hunt for the Multiple Sclerosis Society.

Microsoft and other vendor Software Release Schedules

John Mann — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 05:48:28 -0400

I’ve added a page to IC for recording details of release schedules for software used by iMIS – for example the next versions of Microsoft SQL Server or Microsoft Office.

http://www.imiscommunity.com/microsoft_and_other_vendor_software_release...

If you come across any information on release schedules for products that we use or integrate with can you update it here.

influence search output

jon guenther — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 16:48:03 -0400

customer would like to change the sort order of the display when doing a product search. we are using i15.0.3 and eCM. the current sequence looks random.

left nav bar in desktop for system setup

jon guenther — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 14:44:55 -0400

i would like to change the left nav bar for the system setup tab on the desktop. i can't find the html file which has it. does anyone know where it might be or is it hidden so it can't be changed.

STC2008 notes: Surviving agile as a floating writer

Mary Connor — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 17:52:04 -0400

This STC 2008 session shared the processes and tips used by NetIQ writers, who straddle multiple sprints and products.

Terms:

Scrum = agile development approach that emphasizes close communication through daily stand-up meetings.
Scrum master = team member who facilitates scrum meetings, communicates outside the team, and works to solve blocks.
Iteration = 1-4 week stretch during which a full software development cycle occurs; begins with planning and ends with a demo.
Backlog = repository for all requirements and wish list items. (tool to manage tasks = Xplanner)
Capacity = maximum amount of hours a team member can work during one iteration.

No more specs:

STC2008 notes: Writing API documentation

Mary Connor — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 15:40:01 -0400

This STC 2008 session by Daniel Wroblewski of SAP Israel introduced writers to API documentation, and he offered this minimalist approach to structuring it:

Introduction (1 page)

Who needs this
What can I do with this API (main use cases)
How guide is organized

Quick Tutorial (1-2 pages)

“I want to see it working”
How to install or reference

Concepts (2-3 pages, more if needed)
Reference

List of all APIs (e.g., Document! X, Javadocs)
Other lists (syntax, types of windows, packages …)

Common goals of API users:

STC2008 notes: Instructional design for the real world

Mary Connor — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 15:01:28 -0400

This STC 2008 session by Jane Bozarth offered alternatives to the methods taught in academic settings and techniques for persuading stakeholders to reconsider their demands and assumptions. Here are my key take-aways:

Needs analysis on a napkin: assign performance problems to four quadrants, axis "wants to" versus axis "knows how to", low and high:

doesn't want to + doesn't know how to = change job position or fire
doesn't want to + knows how to = motivation issue
wants to + knows how to = remove obstacles (bad process, bad management, etc.)
wants to + doesn't know how to = TRAINING will help here, and nowhere else!

Task analysis on a napkin: to find the critical 20%, draw a set of 4 concentric rings:

Outer ring: call it "Everything about the domain"
Next ring: call it "What we have time to teach"
Next ring: call it "What learners will be able to recall"
Inner ring: call it "What learners will be able to use"
Mark the inner ring as 20% of all possible content, and ask the SME what few things should go in that inner ring.

read more

STC2008 notes: Improving distance education

Mary Connor — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 13:07:29 -0400

This STC 2008 session reported findings of an STC-funded study of distance education and a case study for producing online courses from nothing (no materials or experience). The first study (by Rensselaer Polytechnic and New York Life) offered concrete tips for improving distance learning:

Tag team: Use a course host/MC for every class, to set up, manage chat channels, direct group exercises, and record/archive, offloading the instructor.
Plan for pain: Expect a third of the problems to be technical (media technology) and another third to be poor use of interactive channels.
Control eyeballs: Best results come from 100% participation, by preventing/discouraging multi-tasking.
Be fair: Use round-robin technique to ensure onsite and remote participants are equally involved (fear also heightens attention).
Use the best: Use media in this order of effectiveness (ease and reliability): conference call (best), video conference, chat, whiteboard.
Avoid all-in-1: Tools that bundle teleconferencing with video and more prove unreliable; move voice to Skype or similar, and push video to YouTube or similar services.
Peer power: Seek technology that makes it easy for learners to help each other and interact -- it's effective and they want it.

The case study shows how Credence System jumped into remote learning, to meet customer demands for training when and where they need it. They tackled it with risk-management in the driver's seat:

Moving agile processes electronic and virtual

Mary Connor — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 17:06:34 -0400

Mike Wethington posted Martin Fowler's article on lessons learned in doing agile with overseas teams. Many of the points struck me as relevant for the problem of telecommuting teams as well:

Bring distributed developers onsite for critical first iterations of new projects, to get going
Expect to need more documents than with a collocated team: it's the price of being virtual
Extend conference calls with video, especially for project background lectures
Extend instant messaging to group-based messaging, such as with Campfire

How to right click on a folder in Windows Explorer and select “Open as Visual Studio Website”

John Mann — Fri, 30 May 2008 12:26:54 -0400

I found this here - it is pretty useful

http://weblogs.asp.net/bradleyb/archive/2005/12/09/432802.aspx

This is how to add a command to the shell to open a folder as a web site in Visual Studio 2005 or 2008.

Visual Studio 2005/2008 does not support this by default but you can enable the scenario by writing a macro.

To do this, create a new macro either in an existing module or in a new module. For this example I’m going to add a module call Website to the MyMacros project.