My first attempt at searching blogs

Welcome to my very first blog attempt.  I stumbled across a great blog site titled http://www.elearninglearning.com/.  One of the things that I was impressed about was that you could select topics to get a daily feed from, and there were hundreds to choose from.  So, if you were looking for particular topics from eLearning to technology to theories and everything in between, it was listed there.  You could simply select the topic you wanted and any new blogs would be delivered via RSS right to you either daily or weekly.  You chose the frequency.  The only drawback I see for some is that because there is so much information available, it can be a little overwhelming unless you know exactly what you are looking for.  I think that it will be an invaluable resource in my coursework and beyond since the range of topics is so vast.  This will allow me to collaborate with colleagues both in and out of a classroom and to share ideas and thoughts, and learn real life examples that may not be taught in the classroom environment.  There was an interesting blog that peaked my interest.  The title lead the reader to believe that the writer would prove a substantive list with colors and their effect on behavior.  http://www.saffroninteractive.com/does-magenta-make-me-mellow-the-truth-about-how-colours-affect-behaviour/.  I have always been intrigued how colors could affect one’s behavior or mood, or that certain colors would evoke certain responses.  As I read through the article, no list was ever provided and there was very little in the way of explanation.  I had hoped for more context.

Another site I looked at, http://theelearningcoach.com/ was a good site, but not as comprehensive as the first site I found.  It was more technology based, which will come in handy later on when we design coursework.  One of the articles that I found interesting was a blog by Connie Malamed, in which she lists her top 10 qualities that are ideal for an instructional designer to have. http://theelearningcoach.com/elearning_design/10-qualities-of-the-ideal-instructional-designer/#comment-6171  She has the following list-

1.      Conceptually and intuitively understand how people learn.

2.      Know how to connect with an audience on an emotional level.

3.      Be capable of imagining oneself as the learner/audience member.

4.      Be obsessed with learning everything.

5.      Brainstorm creative treatments and innovative instructional strategies.

6.      Visualize instructional graphics, the user interface, interactions and the finished product.

7.      Write effective copy, instructional text, audio scripts and video scripts.

8.      Meld minds with Subject Matter Experts and team members.

9.      Know the capabilities of eLearning development tools and software.

10.  Understand related fields—usability and experience design, information design, communications and new technologies.

She also sites a survey which indicated that 60% of instructional designers did not have a degree in ID.  As I looked down her list, I thought of only a few that would fall under the category of, “I don’t need a degree for that.”  Numbers 2, 3, and 4 on the list above are safe bets that you won’t learn that in a classroom setting.  You either have those skills or you don’t.  The rest of the items on the list benefit from having a degree in Instructional Design.  Whether it is understanding the culture of an organization, how to effectively implement design strategies or use the newest software tools to disseminate information, a degree in ID would prove valuable.

One other blog that I came across was http://www.articulate.com/rapid-elearning/.  This site had a list of resources that branched off into their own blogs.  Topics included, Rapid E-Learning 101 Designing the Right Course Instructional Design Building Scenarios for E-learning Managing E-Learning Projects PowerPoint for E-learning Visual & Graphic Design Audio & Video Tips.  I like this site because it goes beyond the theoretical and into practical application which is great.  You get great information.  I particularly like the layout of the page.  It has little cartoon figures and site is very easy to navigate around in.  Since I tend to be more of a visual learning, the little characters appeal to me. 
One thing I gathered from these blogs was that there is so much more to being a trainer than just presenting information.  There is a very methodical approach to developing training that caters to the learner’s style rather than the teacher’s style.  I learned long ago that telling someone something isn’t the same thing as training them.  These blogs are loaded with great information that I will be able to use not only the theoretical development of courses, but also in the technical aspect as well.  There are many posters on each of these blog sites, which ensures that the thoughts and ideas that are presented are fresh and up to date with the latest technology and trends in instructional design.