Comic Books Become Learning Delivery Superpower

The popularity of comic books at the movies has made the medium hotter than ever, and now this phenomenon is crossing over into business content delivery. SmarterComics has published more than a dozen titles on business and self-improvement in the comic book format. Some of these books are original content and others are adaptations of popular business books like The Long Tail by Chris Anderson and The 80/20 Principle by Richard Koch

Read more about using comic books to deliver training in Chief Learning Officer Magizine

Facebook Adds Link Previews to Comments

I've been waiting for this feature.  Now when you add a link to a comment in Facebook, you see the same preview you see when you add a link AS a comment. I likey!



http://thenextweb.com/facebook/2011/07/21/facebook-adds-link-previews-to-facebook-comments/

Turn a Photo into a Painting in Illustrator

Follow an artist as she walks you through the process of creating an illustration using a composite photo as a guide.

by Sharon Steuer on July 6, 2011

This before-and-after shows the evolution of a photo into an ink and paint illustration of the "invisible" restaurants at the corner of San Francisco's Mission and 18th streets.
http://www.creativepro.com/article/turn-photo-painting-illustrator

Using ADDIE (Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, and Evaluation) to Get a Date

We all know about ADDIE (The generic process traditionally used by instructional designers and training developers. The five phases—Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, and Evaluation—represent a dynamic, flexible guideline for building effective training and performance support tools), but someone has made a video showing how the model can be used to get a date.



The video is funny, clever and clearly explains the concept.  Enjoy!

How to Download Video From Blogger

My son is with a language group in Tajikistan, and they posted a video of him doing a "traditional" dance.  I HAVE to have it (share it on Facebook, download it, etc.), but can't figure out how, so I am researching the problem and will share my discoveries with you.  Then I'll see if I can make them work!


The first solution I found was to download it in FoxFire, and since my hubby has that installed on our laptop at home, I'll try it there.  Here's the link to the instructions.

If you're comfortable working in html code, try these instructions. They worked for me.  I can view the video now and include a link here and on Facebook, but I still need to work on downloading it.
Click here to see my son dancing in Tajikistan

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Google Plus

I just got Google Plus today . . .

Google Plus For Dummies: Setting it Up For The First Time

How to use Google +  

28 Google+ Tips to Enhance Your Google Plus Experience http://webtrickz.com/20-google-tips-to-enhance-your-google-plus-experience/

The One Google Plus Feature Facebook Should Fear

http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/how_to_start_with_google_plus.php



Google Plus vs. Facebook: 6 Things Google+ Has That Facebook Doesn't 

An Adobe Captivate Advanced Actions Interaction Example

One of the cool things about Adobe Captivate is that you can actually develop more complex interactions using the Advanced Actions feature. This post is for users with a fair amount of experience in Captivate and it presumes you have some experience using most of Captivate’s features.

Acces the tutorial here.

The Beginner’s Guide to Facebook Commerce

I've told you before that a big reason why I post to this blog is so I can come back and use this information later . . .  Here's one that is definitively for ME!

"First off, Facebook users have better things to be doing. The average Facebook user is connected to 130 Friends and 80 interest groups and makes his or her preferences known through rich profiles and by posting 90 pieces of content per month. Facebook users spend 700 billion minutes per month in an active, relaxed environment where word-of-mouth is built into every turn. The traffic, of course, also matters. Compete found that large brands like Coca-Cola are getting about 11% of their unique visits through Facebook Pages.Selling on or through Facebook now has a name: F-commerce. As with most aspects of social media, it does not yet live up to the potential that many foresee and it has no problem finding both strong advocates and cynical detractors. In this post, we’ll break down the ins and outs of this digital buzzword. "

Here's your guide to start making money on Facebook.

The Face of the Internet

The Internet is a strange, huge beast. It is getting bigger, faster and more mobile each day. Ferocious social networks fight each other to be on top and gain more of our attention and personal information. An entire economy is generated from our browsing habits.

Click here to watch the face of the Internet now.  

How To Market Your Personal Brand Like Kim Kardashian

I have only heard about Kim Kardashian from entertainers, and I don't watch reality TV, but I still think this advice, received today in my email from The Undercover Recruiter is worth passing on.





Have you ever wondered how Kim Kardashian became famous? While some might refer to her as a “television personality” or “socialite,” Kim Kardashian is an archetypical personal brand. From her start in a reality television series to subsequent guest appearances on television shows and in movies, her efforts both on and offline have somehow made many people believe that she is not only valuable, but deserving of her fame.

Whatever your opinion is of the Kardashians, their story is a lesson about the power of marketing yourself. In this job market, a resume isn’t enough to make you stand out, even if it’s done by the best professional resume writing service. But even if you're not actively looking for a job, when it comes to increasing your exposure to future employers and experts in your industry, it's important to find appropriate ways to define and project your personal brand. 



Find your niche


It's not flattering to think of yourself as a commodity, but when it comes to getting recognized by employers and influencers, you're only as good as the value you bring to the table. Most people tend to buy products that are very good at accomplishing one or two tasks. Products that can do many things in a mediocre way are generally not as popular. 
   
Think of your brand the same way. You may know five languages, program in C++, like different types of artisan breads, and occasionally work out. That might make you interesting to your friends, but when you push out too many messages about yourself to your audience, it's not only confusing, but makes you look unfocused.
   
Pinpoint one or two strengths that you feel comfortable being the go-to person for. Make sure you're always up to date on the newest information and trends about whatever you choose as your specialty. For instance, if you decide to promote yourself as a graphic designer, it would be embarrassing if you didn't know about new Photoshop features and releases. Set up a simple Google Alert to capture information about your specialty from a wide variety of sources. 


Promote yourself in the right venues


Online social profiles are certainly nothing new. Sites like KnowEm and NameChk make it easy to claim hundreds of profiles across multiple social networking sites. Claiming your online profiles is a great way to prevent someone from snatching up your identity, but dedicating yourself to maintaining all of these profiles can be daunting.
   
Rather than spreading yourself thin, use top social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn for a more focused reach. You can link updates from all of these accounts rather than posting separate updates on each. To reach a focused audience, pick one or two niche social networks. For graphic designers, deviantART and MyArtInfo are appropriate communities to actively participate in. If you're actively looking for a job, make sure the language in your profile reflects your availability without seeming too desperate. 
  
Look for opportunities to network in person via sites like Meetup where you can meet other industry professionals and employers. Most major office supply shops offer business card printing services. Have them printed with addresses of your social profiles to maximize your exposure. 


Contribute to the discourse


Employers and recruiters won't notice you if you simply sit back and read discussion forums. Participate! You don't have to offer the most groundbreaking view on a topic, but sharing an informed opinion will showcase your expertise. If you're really stumped on what to add to a discussion, ask the questions no one else is asking. 
   
Remember to keep discussions polite, both online and offline. Once you've refined your prowess, it might be easier for you to pick out the flaws in others’ opinions. Employers and influencers don't like bullies. Politely share your knowledge, and show that you're someone who can help others with their professional development. 
   
The majority of us won't be able to market ourselves like the Kardashians. While frantic outbursts, self-indulgence, and vanity work for a small percentage of the population, the rest of us will get further by becoming informed industry experts, sharing our expertise, and demonstrating our value.
   
Leslie Williams is a writer for Jobfox Resumes, the largest  resume writing service online. She specializes in using social media to connect to the right job.

I'm learning HTML5 and brushing up on CSS

I just downloaded Dreamweaver CS5.5 and I'm building a website using this tutorial.  I'll post it when I'm finished!  I'm on to part 2 soon . . . 

HTML5 and CSS3 in Dreamweaver CS5.5 – Part 1: Building the web page

Create a Beautiful ‘Fileteado’ Lettering Design in Photoshop

Enrique Flouret, an Argentina based Architect and Web Designer with 10 years of web experience, presents this advanced tutorial on Photoshop Roadmap.  Cool.

The Fileteado is a popular culture decorative art typically used in Buenos Aires, Argentina, at the beginning of the 20th century. It was, and still is, usually applied to almost anything from signs, leaderboards, objects, trucks and buses to mention a few. It is mainly composed of a text element, sometimes an image, and lots of natural decorative elements such as flowers, leaves and wood. It has sort of a baroque expression and what’s more important, the use of Tromp l’oeil techniques, resulting in a fake 3D look that’s both pleasant and amusing in some way.

Of course, to create this type of art you have to be not only a skilled artist, but also get to know the culture behind this type of expression.

I strongly suggest that you take a look at some images before doing this tutorial. This way you will be able to understand what I’m talking about: Images from the “fileteado Porteño” Flickr Pool

This Photoshop tutorial will show you a some of techniques that you can apply to create your fileteado artwork, such as layer styles and the new awesome 3D Repoussee Photoshop tool.

5 Innovative Ways to Teach Your Skills Online

Mashable just created a list of 5 Innovative Ways to Teach Your Skills Online




Through projects like Khan Academy, MIT OpenCourseWare and University of the People, the Internet has made it easier for anyone to be a student. Now it’s also making it easier for anyone to become a teacher.

Several platforms have launched within the last two years that democratize teaching. It’s now possible for anyone to teach anything — whether it’s how to play the Irish whistle or master investing basics — without a teaching contract, special software or a brick-and-mortar classroom.

Here are five ways to get started.

They list some that will work great for someone just wanting to share some tips or to use as a free tool in the classroom.  Others listed will allow you to make money from your tutorials.

One of the most interesting to me is Sophia.