All the best from the HOZ team DownUnder! Missing you already! Anne BB ;-)

Yeah - the marking time management is an issue for me - I do prefer to do them all at once - but often end up in the dislocated feeling of doing what I can with what's been submitted...! And I dislike penalties - it's negative reinforcement - and like in dog training, it's not an effective method for learning - just changing a behaviour, but not encouraging learning... Oh - and as someone that hates being late for anything, and someone that works well to deadlines (meaning I meet them).. I have to admit being hopeless at paying bills on time... now - what does that say about my personality type?? hehehe! ABB ;-)

Great points Benjamin - thanks for this..! You're absolutely right... use of powerful visual imagery can certainly enhance the message. So - I'll amend my argument to: Ditch PowerPoint if you're going to; 1) talking with your back to the audience cos you're reading the slides, 2) using inappropriate sound effects with bullet points, 3) overuse of "flashy" bullet points, 4) too much information on a single slide, 5) too many words on a slide, 6) reading all the words on the slide to the audience (they can read too), 7) bad colour choices, 8) too many figures, graphs etc (that are impossible to read), 9)any gif images that continue to bounce around the slide while you're talking - and that will do for starters! ABB ;-)

Hey Jess! I think I was pretty good - I even turned off the frig for 1 hour! So I'm feeling rather virtuous! The RSS feed is down the right hand column... under archives... it says Subscribe to this blog's feed. ABB

I know, I know Sean - but I've rationalised it by ensuring that I have no appliances drawing energy from the mains... which is what they're measuring.. the impact on the grid! But it does kind of feel a little like cheating.. ;-(

Hi Karen! We won't be recording the webinars - we decided as they were more workshop based.. it would be like having to sit through someone's home videos... However, we are looking at turning them into shorter vodcasts - available at a later date after the sessions. Thanks for the enquiry! ABB :-)

hehe - how long did that take you to write Hrlado? BAB ;-)

Thanks Shanel! I owe you an email too - will be in contact soon! ABB

Thanks Deb.... ! ABB ;-)

Yeah - it's a risk, I know... but I've never been one to shy away from stating a position... And the writing process - yes, perhaps it's a timely bit of comic relief... ;-) ABB PS. Do you really think Santa might be influenced?

aaaah Brenda! You must have been reading these reports too!!! There is extensive evidence, case studies and examples of extraordinary learning experiences enhanced by technologies! Not only that we are empowering and enriching the learners experience beyond the boundaries of classrooms and institutions and connecting them to people around the globe - surely that has to be an improvement on sitting in a classroom or lecture hall listening to some "expert" blab on about something or other... We are creating self-directed learners, enabling them to become lifelong learners and providing them with opportunities to follow their own directions - not just a curriculum dictated by government policy. I'm wondering where all the evidence is that classroom / didactic teaching improves learning?? ABB ;-)

I don't share your concerns. Before we added the "e" we didn't need to define people as "c-learning designers"! Those who worked in distance education simply explained that... But to separate the "e" from the others is deluding ourselves that incorporating technology into everything we do is not essential... I'm an educator - I specialise in organisational learning - and learning technologies. I'm not an "e"-educator - the learning is foremost, the chosen practices and methods are secondary. ABB :-)

Great point - thanks for highlighting that Harold! The multimedia principles based on the research by Richard E. Mayer is directly connected to the Cognitive Load Theory. And the reference: e-Learning and the Science of Instruction by Ruth Clark & Richard E. Mayer is a must for non-graphic/multimedia learning designers! I give that one a 5 star rating!