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Many times when talking on the phone with TTN users I will reference the “LMS” they are trying to log into, only to be met by a quizzical pause on the other end. “An LM-What?” they ask. “…I thought I was just on a website.”

Yes you are…sorta.  However logging into a LMS is so much more then a simple url address.

According to PC Mag’s encyclopedia, a LMS (Learning Management System)  is “…an information system that administers instructor-led and e-learning courses and keeps track of student progress. Used internally by large enterprises for their employees, an LMS can be used to monitor the effectiveness of the organization’s education and training. It is also beneficial in ensuring state- and federal-mandated courses are delivered in a timely manner.”

For other training definitions, take a look at the “Talking the Talk” archive under the blog categories.

Social media….friend or foe?

Some of us spend 8 hours or more in front of a computer or laptop each day doing homework, business work, purchasing items, managing tasks etc.  Throw social media into the mix and you are connected to technology all day!  Yikes….no wonder you feel stressed!

Close your eyes, take a deep breath, and think about how you can slow down in this fast paced world.

Here are some suggestions:

1. Get up and move. Take a brisk walk or stretch throughout the day.  You are forcing yourself to step away from all the chaos and rejuvenate.  And try not to update your Facebook page or twitter that this is what you are doing….just do it!
2. Enjoy your meals. Have you ever tackled a burger and fries while surfing the web only to find yourself tired or having a belly ache by mid afternoon?  ( I am guilty )  Try not to get sucked into your monitor…eat a well balanced meal and take time to enjoy it….away from your computer or phone.  By cutting out some of your web surfing you will have some extra time to carve out to eat with family. According to a recent article on Parents.com, “… researchers at Syracuse University, family routines such as eating dinner together nightly are associated with happier marriages, improved children’s health, and stronger family ties.”
3. Don’t feel you have to respond. You are getting ready to hit the hay and only have 15 minutes to unwind and do any last minute preparations for your big meeting in the morning…your phone buzzes.  It is your BFF texting you something very important, “hey”.  If you respond you are giving that person permission to interrupt you and you may carry on a meaningless conversation of one word texts back and forth for more then the 15 minutes that you have.  If you don’t answer, my guess is that he/she will go to the next person in their contact list and see if they are on the edge of their seat waiting for their text.
4. Don’t let social media become your social life. Nothing takes the place of face to face communication.  One of the most annoying things for me is when I am out with my friends or family in the middle of a conversation and one of two things happens.  Either the person that I am talking with receives a text message and starts to type while I am still talking…RUDE!….or another patron receives a call and starts talking so loud that everyone around them hears their conversation.

We will always be connected to technology.  In fact, more gadgets are created all the time, but you won’t be able to get back the time that was lost with your friends or family.

In every company, or at least every industry, there is a certain amount of jargon or verbiage that when used makes perfect sense to any insider but would force anyone new to the group to give a quizzical “huh?”

 For example, when I first began with TTN I thought I would go crazy with the amount acronyms used, like LMS, NVS, IBS, ACT, and SCORM. Now I find myself spouting off these words in conversation without a second thought.

I’ve decide to start posting the occasional entry that defines and explains some of the words that the e-Learning community uses. Hopefully, whether you are new to training or have been a member of ASTD for 20 years, these posts can provide some new knowledge and insight for you to use at your next training meeting.

Let’s start with SCORM (Sharable Content Object Reference Model)

SCORM is a set of technical standards, requirements, and specifications set by ADL (Advanced Distributed Learning) a group that is sponsored by the by the United States Department of Defense (who knew e-Learning could be so dangerous).

By having these standards, courses are ensured to play, and can be shared across systems (the courses you create and buy will all have the same abilities).

To provide an analogy, having SCORM is like having the euro. Much of Europe has accepted the Euro as a standard of currency. You can go across borders and still have a consistent standard to pay for your gelato, baguettes, and schnitzel. If you went there with the American dollar you would not be following the current standards and would end up a little hungry.