What is shared between Compliance eLearning and Captain America and Anime Comics?

Synthesis
Cartoons and caricatures are affordable and easy to use graphical elements to enhance eLearning. However, they are only as good as the story you are trying to tell. Without stories, they are as weak as any other medium.

Comic-Con just ended this week in San Diego with over 120,000 attendees. Stephen Spielberg and Peter Jackson attracted much attention with the release of The Adventures of Tintin. In theaters, Captain America has now surpassed the last Harry Potter franchise in gross revenues.
Comics, cartoons, caricatures and illustrations have always been successful in engaging learners.
Below are examples of how I use simple cartoons, illustrations and animations in eLearning development.

Compliance Course on Bullying Manager

This is an example of a situation showing a bullying manager. (Click here)

This is an example of how to deal with a bullying manager.

"Stand up" (Click here)

"Who made you queen?" (click here)

Bad Hair Day

This is an example of using simple analogies and asking learners to comment and interact.
(Click here)

 Crisis Management

This animated character is used to stress a point that to follow-up clients in crisis incidents is important in crisis management. (Click here)
 

Benefits of using cartoons, caricatures, illustrations and animation

1. You can control the characters, events and conversations in exactly the right way to meet your needs.
2. They can be created into almost photo-real appearances.
3. They are easy to modify and update since you control the source files.
4. Style can be made consistent.
5. Compared to taking custom photography, cartoons are cheaper to produce.

Some objections
Objections to cartoons are often due to the culture of the organization and the nature of the message and content. There are content that may not fit well with illustrations, and photos work better - for example, when there is human pain, a human face can show it better than an illustration.

Another objection is the perception that caricatures are too much fun and game-like and that leaders often frown on the suggestion that learners are having too much fun (dah!).

Cartoons and caricatures are only mediums to stories

Cartoons and caricatures, however, are only means to an end. They have no added value if they do not show or illustrate a story.

_________________________________
FREE Cartoon Graphical Resources
Send message and request access to the following:
Over 200 free cartoons for learning

PowerPoint templates using cartoons showing topics on:
leadership and coaching

Complete the form and type in the subject “Cartoon”. Write a note on where you plan to use the caricatures.
http://vignetteslearning.com/vignettes/contactus.php

References and Links

Comic-Con
http://theweek.com/article/index/217596/comic-con-6-things-people-are-talking-about

The Adventures of Tintin
http://www.tintin.com/

Captain America
http://captainamerica.marvel.com/

Contact form
http://vignetteslearning.com/vignettes/contactus.php

 

Ray Jimenez, PhD
Vignettes Learning
"Helping Learners Learn Their Way"

My Encounter with the Galactic Minds: Feynman TEDX Caltech and Stephen Hawkings

This week is very exciting for me. I will be attending Caltech's TEDx event on January 14, 2011 "Feynman's Vision: The Next 50 Years". I am also attending a Caltech lecture by Stephen Hawking.

TEDx CALTECH



This will be a galactic week and encounters with the warped minds. What a fantastic event this will be. Please see the list of speakers for the event. I understand the sessions will be shown live.

"Here's what to expect: Using the fast-paced and engaging format of TED talks, distinguished scientists, business leaders, bold entrepreneurs and a few extraordinary Caltech student speakers will explore broad themes in three thought provoking sessions. The day will be punctuated with generous breaks for conversation, connections and . . . food! From breakfast to a post-event reception, registration includes all meals and snacks, including a complimentary espresso and siphon coffee bar provided by the gourmet coffee company, Intelligentsia. It promises to be an exciting and entertaining intellectual adventure—a time to unplug from the day-to-day routine."

The CaltechTEDx is a dedication to the vision of Richard Feynman.  Here are quotations from Feynman:

"Nature uses only the longest threads to weave her patterns, so each small piece of her fabric reveals the organization of the entire tapestry.

"I learned very early the difference between knowing the name of something and knowing something."

 "Study hard what interests you the most in the most undisciplined, irreverent and original manner possible."

I can live with doubt and uncertainty and not knowing. I think it is much more interesting to live not knowing than to have answers that might be wrong. If we will only allow that, as we progress, we remain unsure, we will leave opportunities for alternatives. We will not become enthusiastic for the fact, the knowledge, the absolute truth of the day, but remain always uncertain … In order to make progress, one must leave the door to the unknown ajar."

As I read Feynman's book, specially his book on, Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman!, I can not help but be reminded that our quest for learning is always about “leaving doors ajar.” There is so much to learn and to know and having excitement of the unknown only adds to the fun.

STEPHEN HAWKING Lecture at Caltech

Hawking belongs to the third kind. I see him often at Caltech's Athenaeum Club and this will be my first to see him in a live lecture.

Play the Hawking's TED.com video presentation. 

Stephen Hawking asks big questions about the universe



These are warpped quotes from Hawking:

“I have noticed even people who claim everything is predestined, and that we can do nothing to change it, look before they cross the road.”

“We are just an advanced breed of monkeys on a minor planet of a very average star. But we can understand the Universe. That makes us something very special.”

“When one's expectations are reduced to zero, one really appreciates everything one does have”

“The whole history of science has been the gradual realization that events do not happen in an arbitrary manner, but that they reflect a certain underlying order, which may or may not be divinely inspired.”

“To confine our attention to terrestrial matters would be to limit the human spirit.”

“It matters if you just don't give up”

“Intelligence is the ability to adapt to change.”

“I think computer viruses should count as life. I think it says something about human nature that the only form of life we have created so far is purely destructive. We've created life in our own image.”

“Even if there is only one possible unified theory, it is just a set of rules and equations. What is it that breathes fire into the equations and makes a universe for them to describe?”

I will update you daily on the two events. This is the week I will probably be in techie heaven, if there is such a thing.
_____________________________________________________

Attend my workshops and get a $150 discount.

Register 30 days before the start of any of my courses and you’ll automatically save $150. Use discount code tctrj when registering and you’ll save an additional 10%. Discounts are valid on new orders only. No other discounts apply. For more details and to register visit www.TrainingLiveAndOnline.com.

Ray Jimenez, PhD
"Helping Learners Learn Their Way"

BP Gulf Oil Spills – a case of “be a manager, go to jail”

The news suggest that there has been early signs of the oil spill disaster. Oil rig contractors have detected earlier problems but failed to take the needed steps to avert the catastrophe.

Many years ago in my one of my first business endeavors I produced seminars on employment and safety compliance. It seems to me that one of the key issues in the BP Gulf Oil Spills goes back to the failure of companies to provide complaint systems to ensure that whistle blowers’ rights are protected. And hopefully avoid crisis like oil spills.

I am no legal expert, but I recall that some of our safety laws cover “be a manager, go to jail” requirements. These are laws that impose personal liability on managers and executives if it is proven that they failed to take necessary measures to avoid safety violations resulting to catastrophe events.

What would you do if you are the manager in an potentially disastrous environmental accident? How do you avoid going to jail?

I prepared a small exercise "Whistle Blower Rights." Your CEO wants a plan. What do would you do. Please the exercise, click here.



Ray Jimenez, PhD
3Minute Worlds - Learning Community
Social Learning, Work and Performance
3Minute eLearning Games
"Helping Learners Learn Their Way"

Microlearning Design Las Vegas ASTDTECH

I presented at ASTD TechKnowledge Conference in Las Vegas, January 28, 2010.

The topic I spoke of: Using Micro-eLearning Design for Learning 2.0 and Traditional eLearning.

Gist:

5 Step Process

• Be succinct
• Relate
• Interpret
• Apply
• Micro-Applications

Microlearning instructional design is based on storytelling.

Use Microlearning in operational areas where managers don't want to waste time in lengthy training.

You may download handouts at www.3minuteworlds.com.

-----------------
Questions from the audience:

Attendee: How long should a Microlearning be?
Ray: Depends on what your audience, content and tool and other considerations.
If for doctors, micro-might mean 5 minutes for each topic in video observation of a surgical procedure. For technician using a PDA or phone to check newest part, it may be only 30 seconds because he is on the job trouble-shooting an equipment. For an orientation training, micro might be 3 minutes.

Attendee: What is micro-instructional design?
Ray: Story-based Design

Attendee: How to implement Microlearning in enterprises?
Ray: The micro-ways. Find operational areas that can save time, reduce costs, increase profits with Microlearning. Usually line management understand this language. No one wants to waste time in operations.

If you have questions, reply here or email me at rayvft@gmail.com

Ray Jimenez, PhD
Join us at 3MinuteWorlds Microlearning Community http://3minuteworld.trainingpayback.com
http://www.vignettestraining.com/
http://www.simplifyelearning.com/

"Helping Learners Learn Their Way"