This is a collection of resources, readings and connections from #HumanMOOC course.
investigating Zoom - presented by one of the course participants, this tool was worth taking a closer look. Here is an intro video to ZOOM which is an online meeting space.
Here is an example of a VOKI I created to model this tool for others.
As discussed in the opening weeks of the #HumanMOOC course, getting things started at the beginning of any online course sets the stage for further work, participation and engagement. Here are some ideas on how to structure the initial week of an online course.
How to find your narrative voice for your learning course: These include
  1. choose your vocabulary, tone and pace beforehand - suits the subject matter, relates to the intended audience, fosters emotional connection
  2. highlight your key ideas and emphasize on the real world benefits - connect to personal & professional lives, link to outside the virtual space
  3. use relevant transitions - seamless flow, creative way to bridge a gap, connecting the bonds between topics
  4. remember that you are a guide through their learning process - encourage and motivate, understand cognitive overload
  5. don't try to mimic the narration voice of others - integrate into your own style but be yourself

How to create engaging and effective elearning voice overs 
  1. map out your elearning voice over - script, outline, goals, flow, tone, keep images in mind
  2. keep the script natural and conversational
  3. watch the clock - 100 words=1minute
  4. always do a test round
  5. silence is golden
  6. don't let the audio steel the show - aids the effective absorption of content, avoid distracting sound effects
  7. ambient noise is not your friend - keep it quiet, edit it out if possible

Effective branching scenarios in elearning: 5 tips for elearning professionals 
This article includes tips that focus on behaviours rather than ideas, create an outline that features the challenges and outcomes, the characters should be relatable and relevant, don't go overboard when developing decision points, remember that branching scenarios are all about the 'domino effect'.
Adam Croom shared some insights into creating a course blog feed site to collate and collect blog posts from course participants. This is an interesting way to build community since everyone is sharing in the same space while still maintaining their individual blog sites. I will take some time later to investigate this option so students can follow each other's blogs with ease from one location. More HERE.
Cindy Wallace shared her excitement for information about Visual rubrics and shared a resource that she was reading - Picture This by Rick Smith, Grace Dearborn and Mary Lambert. 
Picture
Click on image to see more
image of multilayered video production
Kendra Grant shared a video to model and demonstrate how she creates an 'app smashing' multi-layered video to provide information to students. She included the link to the video transcript. 

This link on the 6 steps to add voice comments to Google Docs will provide an additional mechanism to engaging students with effective feedback.