Encyclopedia, eLearning, coherence, Media, & Training

Encyclopedia Britannica Now Free For Bloggers - TechCrunch
You can get access to the online version for free through a new program called Britannica Webshare - provided that you are a "web publisher."The definition of a web publisher is rather squishy: "This program is intended for people who publish with some regularity on the Internet, be they bloggers, webmasters, or writers. We reserve the right to deny participation to anyone who in our judgment doesn't qualify."

Elearning: Is it time to party? - training zone
Although the general trend in usage in elearning is up, the composition of what makes up the figures is changing - less protracted periods of self-study; elearning is more real time, more rapid and more collaborative.

Coherence or Interest: Which is most important in online multimedia learning? - Australasian Journal of Educational Technology
Adding approximately 50% extra interesting but irrelevant information to a multimedia treatment did not result in lower achievement on a post-test as would bepredicted by the coherence principle (cognitive load). In authentic learning settings, interest may mitigate the effects of the coherence principle. Via Stephen Downes.

Research: the differences between media and technology - Rob Wright
Technology is more than just the media appliances used to deliver content. Technology also includes the pedagogy guiding that use of the media; it includes the teaching strategies driven by stated objectives; it drives toward desired outcomes, using a healthy mix of experiences, activities, and tasks. It mingles collaboration with reflection.

Best Methods for Product-Based Training - Chief Learning Officer
Training can be categorized into the following levels:

• Awareness - need to know that an aspect of a product has changed, such as an e-mail or a letter.
• Knowledge - speak about the basic features of a product, such as a blend of an e-mail and Web interaction.
• Understanding - talk about the product and relate it to the needs that they're hearing from a client, such as a classroom.
• Skill - coaching and mentoring in an actual sales situation, as the classroom is still an artificial, simulated environment.