What Is a Learning Management System (LMS)?

Jeffrey Dalto Leave a comment
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Many people in learning and development are quite familiar with learning management systems (LMSs). Maybe you use one now, or maybe you’ve used one for years.

On the other hand, there are plenty of people who aren’t familiar with an LMS, haven’t used one, or don’t know what an LMS is. Maybe you’re new to training. Maybe your role in training has never involved using an LMS. Or maybe your company still hasn’t adopted an LMS, and you’re still administering your training through an excruciating series of databases, network folders, SharePoint, Excel spreadsheets, and paper-based training records in manila envelopes stored in metal filing cabinets in various rooms though out the office. 🙁

If the paragraph above describes your situation, here’s a 100-level primer explaining what an LMS is. We’ve also included some additional links to other LMS-related articles. Hope this helps get you up to speed quickly.

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Meet Us at National Safety Council Congress in Chicago, September 30-October 2: Win Free Contractor Orientation and/or Kindle Fire HD

Convergence Training Leave a comment

We’ll be at the National Safety Council’s 2013 Congress in Chicago, IL, this September 30-October 2. Come by and meet us at Booth 1502.

While you’re there, you can see in-person demos of our learning management systems (LMSs) and our animated, narrated, SCORM-compliant safety training modules.

If that’s not enough, we’ve also got some good swag for you. How about a free, animated and narrated contractor orientation module that includes your own site-specific policies and procedures? We’re giving one away, and even better, it comes with our Contractor LMS free for one year. Or how about something a little more tangible–like a Kindle Fire HD tablet. Yep, we’ve giving one of those away too.

Lookin’ forward to seeing you there!

Need some help keeping up with the NSC Congress news? Here’s a link to the NSC 2013 Congress website and here’s a link with their various social media sites (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc.).

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MSHA Guidance Explains that OSHA’s New HazCom 2012/GHS Standard Meets Requirements of MSHA’s HazCom Standard

Jeffrey Dalto Leave a comment

In case you missed it, MSHA recently issued a guidance stating that “mine operators compliant with OSHA’s Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) are also in compliance with MSHA’s Hazard Communication (HazCom) standards.”

Want to see it for yourself? You can read the MSHA HazCom Guidance here.

But MSHA’s gone one step further, providing several additional helpful documents. If you’re still reading and aren’t “HazCommed” out, check out this MSHA/OSHA HazCom PowerPoint created by MSHA and this press release on the same topic.

Convergence Training provides online safety training courses, learning management systems, incident investigation software, and contractor orientation solutions for mining safety and general safety. Explore the links below to learn more about what we do. Download our FREE Guide to Online MSHA Training Solutions

Looking for some online MSHA training solutions? Just click below!


 

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Book Review: Design for How People Learn by Julie Dirksen

Jeffrey Dalto Leave a comment

If you’ve poked around in the field of instructional design and/or learning and development for even a short while, the chances are pretty good that you’ve heard of Julie Dirksen’s book Design for How People Learn. And, the chances that you’ve heard nice things about Dirksen’s book are equally good. Design for How People Learn is very well regarded and seems to be becoming a bit of a modern classic in the field. I was a little behind the times in reading it, but I’m happy to say I’ve now finished it and am ready to join the people saying nice things about it.

First, a little about Julie Dirksen. She’s an instructional designer with a really nice blog called Usable Learning (www.usablelearning.com). The blog has lots of helpful information, and Dirksen frequently responds to reader comments there. She’s been kind enough to respond to mine in the past, for example.

Convergence Training is a training solutions provider that makes many libraries of off-the-shelf e-learning courses, several different learning management systems (LMSs) for companies of different sizes, industries, and training needs, and more. Contact us to learn more and set up a demo.

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When a Job Aid Is Better than Job Training

Jeffrey Dalto 2 Comments
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Have you ever read an article that discusses job aids, workforce training, mobile training, parenting, and pumping gas into a car? If not, grab a seat, because you’re about to.

By way of background, companies sometimes create training that their employees don’t need, that won’t fix the problem, or that isn’t worth the cost. For example, you can spend a lot of time and money trying to train your employees to memorize 50 codes—which your employees probably won’t successfully memorize despite your best efforts—or you can create a document that lists all the codes, put that document where your employees need it at work, and give them a very short training session about how to use that list.

That document with the codes on it is an example of a job aid. Have you got a Post-It note by your computer telling you how to do something? That’s a job aid too. And with the ease of recording short, instructional videos at work, and the fact that so many people have mobile devices and smart phones they can use to watch those videos as needed at work as well, you can easily imagine using videos as job aids as well.

Sometimes, a job aid is all a person needs. And they can be much more effective than training. Let’s look at an example from my real life outside the office.
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New Papermaking Courses Available: Black Liquor Evaporators-Principles; Box Plant Basics-Corrugators; and Carrier Ropes-Safety

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Here are the new training courses created by our busy Production department in July. They’re all additions to our Pulp, Paper, Tissue, and Box 3D animated training libraries. Scroll down to see short samples of each.

If you’d like to learn more about these courses or view them in a demo, click here.

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OJT and the Training Needs Analysis

Jeffrey Dalto 2 Comments
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Before you begin any OJT program, you should perform a training needs analysis. Actually, that’s true no matter what kind of training you’re considering. But what is a training needs analysis, and why should you do one? Glad you asked, because that’s what we’re about to explain.

Before we begin, let’s cover some basics. First, you’ll sometimes hear this called a training needs analysis, and other times you’ll hear this called a training needs assessment. They’re basically the same thing, or at least have similar steps intended to lead to the same result.

Second, know that this “analysis” or “assessment” comes before you begin creating training materials (perhaps by using the traditional ADDIE instructional design model or a similar method for creating training materials).

And finally, note that there are entire books written about performing a training needs analysis. We’ve given only a quick-and-dirty, brief overview below. This should get you headed in the right direction and in many cases may be all you need. But watch our blog for further posts with more details, and check the links at the bottom of this post for even more helpful information.

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New Spanish-Language Safety Training Courses Available (Nuevos Cursos Adicionales en Nuestra Libreria de Entrenamiento de Seguridad y Salud en Español)

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Need help providing safety training to a Spanish-speaking workforce? If so, we’ve got just what you need. We’ve been creating Spanish-language versions of our popular, 3D-animated safety training courses, and we’ve got a new collection of courses that are available now.

If you’d like to learn more about these courses or view them in a demo, click here.

Crane and Hoist Rigging Safety

This training module gives an overview of the primary rigging issues that affect crane and hoist safety. Workers will learn about the materials used for rigging and slings, the various sling hitches used, and basic safety precautions. It is based on OSHA General Industry and Construction regulations, as well as recognized best rigging practices.

Hazard Communication

Covers the 1994 version of OSHA’s Hazard Communication Standard, which is designed to inform workers of the hazards of the chemicals they work with and associated protective measures. The HazCom 1994 Standard is in the process of being phased out by OSHA in favor of the HazCom 2012 standard, with transition periods that end in 2015 and 2016.

Hydraulic Fluid Safety

From bottle jacks to forklifts and shop equipment, this course provides important information on the principles of hydraulics and the hazards that hydraulic systems can present. Based on OSHA documents and industry experience, this course is designed to help workers understand how to recognize common hydraulic hazards and avoid serious injuries.

Machine Guarding

This course covers the importance of protecting workers from industrial hazards with proper machine guarding. This course is aligned with OSHA General Industry standards and industry best practices. It is meant to be used as an introductory or refresher course for general industry workers who will be operating or working near industrial machinery.

Electrical Safety General Awareness

Spark discussion with your team on effective ways to recognize, evaluate, and avoid electrical hazards. Topics covered include personal protective equipment related to electrical safety, OSHA requirements for working on equipment, and electrical injuries such as shocks, burns, electrocutions, and falls.

Hand and Power Tools

The power to recognize and avoid injury is right at your fingertips. This module includes information on hand tools and power tools, including electrical, pneumatic, hydraulic, liquid fuel, and powder-actuated power tools. Topics covered include general tool safety, maintenance, guards, best practices, and operating guidelines.

Ladder Safety

With this course, you get the step-by-step basics of ladder safety. Topics discussed on this computer-based training module include information on the types of ladders you may find in your workplace as well as ladder construction, ladder selection, height requirements, weight capacity, hazardous conditions, inspections, ladder setup, use, storage, and maintenance.

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New Safety and Operations Courses Created in June: Wire Rope Safety and Operations; Ergonomics for Industrial Environments

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Here’s another update on the new training courses created by our busy Production department in June. These courses are additions to our Safety/EHS library and our Operations and Maintenance library.

If you’d like to learn more about these courses or view them in a demo, click here.

Wire Rope Safety and Operation

Wire ropes are used on machines that lift and move heavy loads. Because of the potentially high loading on wire ropes, they can be one of the most dangerous pieces of equipment at a worksite. In this course, you will learn which personal protective equipment to wear while using wire ropes, safety guidelines for working with wire ropes, and how to recognize potential wire rope hazards. Because of the potential for accidents, knowing how to properly use and safely work around wire ropes is crucial to your safety and the safety of your co-workers.

Ergonomics for Industrial Environments

Understand how to recognize and reduce the stress on your body from your daily work environment. This computer-based training module discusses musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) and prevention techniques, including engineering and administrative controls. Motion-based, physical, environmental, and psychological risk factors are also covered.

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New Courses Added to our Papermaking Training Library: Lime Kiln Fundamentals, Wet End Chemistry, Black Liquor Evaporators, Box Plant Equipment Basics, Corrugating Adhesives, and Box Plant Raw Materials

Convergence Training Leave a comment

Here’s another update on the new training courses created by our busy Production department in June. They’re all additions to our Pulp, Paper, Tissue, and Box 3D animated training libraries. Scroll down to see short samples of each.

If you’d like to learn more about these courses or view them in a demo, click here.

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Sharknado Safety Training

Jeffrey Dalto 1 Comment
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Here’s another important post from Convergence Training, the people who brought you Zombie Safety Training,  Safety Training for the Mayan Apocalypse, and more humor-based safety training articles for a fun break from the average work day.

And, if you finish this Sharknado article and you’re in the mood for some more safety laughs, check out any of the following articles:

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Improving Employee Productivity With More Informed Management: Dan Ariely’s “The Upside of Irrationality”

Jeffrey Dalto Leave a comment

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Dan Ariely has one PhD in cognitive psychology and another in business administration. He’s the James. B. Duke Professor of Psychology and Behavioral Economics at Duke University. He’s also got appointments at the Fuqua School for Business, the Center for Cognitive Neuroscience, the Department of Economics, and the School of Medicine. In short, if you’re interested in improving the performance at your work place, he’s a good guy to listen to.

And that’s why we’re interested in Ariely and other writers like him (such as Daniel Kahneman). We’re a training company, but we’re the first to admit that training isn’t the solution for every issue at the workforce, and that you can get workers to improve their performance in ways other than providing training. Ariely’s insights into how people think and how those thoughts affect their choices and behaviors can be applied directly to workforce performance improvement.

If that sounds intriguing to you, we’ve got a little summary for you below, and then we encourage you to buy the book and check out Dan Ariely’s website. We also have some articles dealing with behavioral economics related to Daniel Kahneman’s book Thinking, Fast and Slow and thoughts on innovation from the folks behind Freakonomics.

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