Adv Tech - Module 10

Articulate Storyline is an eLearning tool that can be utilized by online education content developers. The software tool allows you to create courses using a single program. One of the neat things about Storyline is that it is easy to use for those with little to no programming skills and it has numerous tools to help content developers create engaging courses. Although there are numerous capabilities within Storyline this review will only focus on a few of the cooler capabilities.

The interface for Storyline is setup to make it easy for the user to navigate. There are a number of tutorials at the front when Storyline is launched so that the user can quickly review a video to understand how to use the various capabilities of the software. Storyline comes with options for using existing PowerPoint charts, videos, or even record your screen as you create something that you can then edit. You can also use existing templates in Storyline to create new content or use Quizmaker to insert quizzes into the course.

One aspect of Storyline that is interesting is that the editing interface is a lot like PowerPoint which makes it very easy to navigate because most users will have had some exposure to PowerPoint. The toolbar in Storyline allows the user to set numerous preferences and also has the key Undo and Redo buttons. The user will create scenes using PowerPoint slides, images, videos and so on to provide a cool visual experience to the student. One key aspect of Storyline is that it enables the developer to create complex branches within the scenes so that the student can go down various paths depending on their selections.

Content developers can create layers on the PowerPoint slides that will then appear or disappear based on triggers. The Triggers in Storyline are basic and their behaviors are pre-programmed, however, developers with the skills to add JavaScript can actually define the behaviors of the triggers themselves. Another interesting tool within Storyline is the ability to add characters to the course. The content developer is able to insert an illustrated character, choose the character's pose and expression and insert it as needed.

Content developed using Articulate Storyline is extremely mobile, and can be output to HTML5 and Flash, or view in Safari or the Articulate Mobile player app for iPad users. One of the downsides to the Articulate Mobile app is that SCORM can't be tracked.

The bottom line for Storyline is that it is very easy to use and allows the content developer a lot of flexibility in experimenting with the organization and flow of a course. Content can be divided into scenes and allows for complex branching ultimately resulting in engaging course content for eLearning. Unfortunately Storyline is only compatible with Windows users. There is a workaround for Mac users if they setup a virtual Windows machine but this is the biggest drawback to Articulate Storyline.

Please take a few moments to fill out this survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2KR76LT

Using Audio Boom

I found AudioBoom was fairly easy to use. I downloaded the application on my phone rather than using my PC.  As described in my audio recording, I think there is some utility in using this tool but I think it is limited.

I must be crazy...

Today during my long run I was thinking to myself, I must be crazy.  I haven't had a weekend where I can sleep in for 14 weeks now. I'm up at 0300 (or earlier) in order to get ready, eat, and be out the door for my long runs. Today was a 20-miler. As I was jogging along I kept hearing this song in my head, "They're coming to take me away", it's an oldy but goody.

I think using podcasts (such as a music clip) to introduce a particular topic in an educational setting could be a good thing, if to do nothing else but get the student's attention and get them interested, at least initially. The key would be to follow-up the introduction with engaging dialogue. 

So far...so good...

I have been trying to become a "runner" for years. I've always been more of a sprinter, with the distance between bases in softball or the distance an outfielder must run to track down a ball being the IDEAL for me. In high school I ran the 100 meter sprints and 400 meter hurdles, the idea of running anything longer than 400 meters never occurred to me. Fast forward a few years and here I am, training for my 4th marathon.

This time around I'm trying new things with my training regimen to see if I can finally finish in a decent time, for me. My goal is to finish in 4 hours, 30 minutes, which is about 40 minutes faster than I've ever run a marathon. YIKES. When you think about it 40 minutes is a lot to shave off, but I'm determined.

Enter the beach body workout team. I've been using the T25 and InsanityMax30 videos to really focus on strengthening my core and my legs in addition to putting in the miles for my marathon training program. And I've been very happy with the results. In fact, I don't think I can remember a time when I was in better shape, despite the bad knees.


I've also happened upon a new workout that allows me to run without putting the strain on my joints. Enter aqua jogging. I purchased a water belt and luckily I have access to a pool anytime I want because the house I'm renting has one. Getting the hang of the workout took some time but I think I've finally mastered it, for the most part. For those new to aqua jogging, competitor.com offers a great article on the finer points of aqua jogging  and some sample workouts. 

My next goal is to incorporate more yoga into my routine. I've been very inconsistent with my efforts to do yoga, partly due to time and partly because I've just never been flexible. A friend at work introduced me to some yoga exercises on YouTube called Yoga with Adriene. The exercises range from 15-30 minutes and are really designed for the inexperienced Yoga person, which suits me perfectly.

So, I'm seven weeks out from my next marathon, and so far I think I'm on track. I still have some long runs to get in before the big day, hopefully my knees and legs will hold up until then. In the mean time, I've decided to utilize the time I spend running to ponder the new ideas and skills I will be learning as part of this class. The title of my blog, run to live, could also have been learn to live. My goal at the end of the course is to have added tools to the bag, as Chris mentioned, so that I can be a more effective guide for our students on their lifelong educational experience.