Revision Cards by London Home Tutors

London Home Tutors offers high quality tuition with expert tutors

This is an article for London Home Tutors and offers great advice for parents.

Revision cards are an incredibly versatile tool to use for any child in need of retaining knowledge picked up across the year. The cards have information on one side followed by a question on the other side.

Learners read the information and use what they have just learnt to answer the question. Some revision cards have a question on one side and the answer, with an accompanying explanation, on the other side.

These sorts of cards are commonly used as a revision tool to consolidate learning. They can be used in the classroom as part of a planned activity or during independent study.

The process of active recall is promoted using flash cards and the Leitner system for scheduling them is an invaluable tool in the learning process. The cards that the learner is confident with are placed at the bottom of the pack which promotes the lesser known cards to the top so that they can be more frequently reviewed.

Revision cards are adaptable and can also be directly made by the learners. They can be colour coded to coincide with different topics, key words can be highlighted and multiple choice answers can be included to further enhance the learning experience.

Advantages	Disadvantages
Exercises the mental process of active recall	Time consuming to make
Engages learners easily	Lost or damaged cards need to be replaced
Appeals to kinaesthetic learners	Cards may need laminating for longevity
Can be easily differentiated and reused
Cross curricular

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6 Techniques for Growing your Facebook Page Likes

Out of all the different types of social media, Facebook is perhaps the hardest one to conquer, but with a few tips and tricks, we can help you grow your Facebook Page likes in no time:

1. Post twice a day
You’ve got loads of great content, and lots of things to share with your followers, but when do you share this information to make the biggest impact? Try using Facebook’s inbuilt analytics to see when your current followers are likely to be online and make sure you post at least twice a day. Not just for Twitter, hashtags can also help you to reach a wider audience and boost those likes.

2. Be our guest
Facebook Pages have a great feature that allows you to invite any of your friends to ‘like’ your page, make sure you make the most of this feature by regularly inviting anyone and everyone.

3. Give as much information as possible
There’s nothing worse than going to a Facebook page, only to find that there’s no useful information on it. Things like opening hours, mission statements and a fully fleshed out ‘About’ section are a great way to keep your followers and fans in the loop, thus increasing their likelihood of ‘liking’ your page and regularly coming back for updates.

4. Videos are the future
According to Facebook, videos are the future, and because of this their internal algorithm prioritises videos, showing them much more frequently and much higher up on people’s newsfeeds. By posting at least one video a day, you can reach a lot more people online.

5. Engage with your fans
It’s all very well and good posting great content, timing your posts and keeping everything on your page up to date, but if you’re not constantly interacting and engaging with your followers, then you’re just not doing it right. If someone comments on your post, reply to them, be friendly and create a relationship.

6. Use the tools that Facebook gives you
Using Facebook’s own graph search, you can really narrow down your target audience and then work on specifically targeting that subset of people. In this blog post, Facebook marketing expert Jon Loomer details just how exactly to use this tool to full effect.


You can have a great product, a great website, and great online content, but none of that matters if no one ever sees it. It is for this reason that Facebook is so important as a marketing tool these days. In a 2013 study by Syncapse, it was found that the most popular reason why people ‘like’ a Facebook Page is to show support and allegiance to the brand, proving that people are willing to align themselves with your business if they like what they see. So get out there, try these tips and give them something to ‘like’.

What is Mastery Learning?

You may have heard the phrase Mastery Learning being used more frequently in relation to learning and education recently but what exactly does it mean?

An intriguing term, Mastery is actually quite a simple concept that relies on teaching children about a particular topic one section at a time and not moving on to the next section until the child has fully grasped it. In a classroom setting, all children are taught the same thing in the same way with increasingly more difficult problems being solved to ensure that the children have a deep understanding of the topic before they move on. Each subject matter is broken up into individual pieces that have to be understood and this is usually demonstrated by the child receiving a pre-determined percentage on a test before they can move on from that subject matter.

Inspired by techniques from Asian countries such as China and Singapore, Mastery is not a new teaching and learning technique by any means. However, its recent introduction into everyday learning at UK schools means that we’ll be hearing more about this style of learning in the near future. In fact, the method is so popular that the government has announced that it is providing £41 million of funding over the next four years to help schools adopt a Mastery approach to teaching maths.

The technique is in contrast to more traditional learning styles where pupils are expected to understand a particular concept within a certain amount of time, before automatically moving on to the next concept whether they fully comprehend it or not. For example, when learning times tables in maths, the class may work on this topic for two months before moving on regardless of the children’s individual progress. Mastery works in a way that means each child develops a definitive understanding of a topic such as times tables before they are required to move on to the next topic, and those who don’t catch on as quickly will receive homework, group work, support and additional tuition to help them along the way. This approach not only helps each student’s understanding of the topic, but it has also been proven to be a much more enjoyable form of learning for the student.

As far as the effectiveness of Mastery goes, only time will tell but, for now, this technique seems to be one that reflects both common sense and really good, intuitive teaching and, with that combination, you can’t go far wrong.

By Laura Caldwell

The Advantages & Disadvantages Of 'Mastery Teaching'

Mastery is a concept through which children are all taught the same syllabus or skills simultaneously, but are only moved on individually once they have become secure with the subject matter through support and guidance. This type of teaching exists to encourage learners to attain a greater level of appreciation and understanding of the teaching material as they cannot progress until they can demonstrate their learning and understanding. On paper, it is the perfect way for people of all ages to learn at their own pace and through the methods and modes that facilitate them best – however, the way in which mastery is conducted can impact upon how effective it is in practice. Here are a few ways in which the concept can be broken down into advantages and disadvantages.

The Advantages of Mastery

• As Rachel Jackson discusses, the main benefits of Mastery lie in its innate ability to enable learners to gain greater appreciation of their subject material by looking at it from different angles, as opposed to rushing through modules – it is a misconception that children who are quicker at subjects such as mathematics are necessarily more skilled than those who take their time.
• Mastery focuses on allowing all pupils and students to progress at their own pace and to take their time to focus on problem solving and various outcomes of a scenario, thus avoiding hurried glossing-over of skills and knowledge. Hurrying learning along can impact negatively upon individual skillsets and knowledge recall in later life, making Mastery all the more appealing.
• Mastery ensures that everyone receives the same level and scope of teaching without the risk of pupils being left behind – it exists to enable all children on one particular syllabus to receive equal knowledge.

The Disadvantages of Mastery

• Managing Mastery in large groups can be complex – Bill Bennett discusses that, as learners all progress at different rates, there will be a necessity for more advanced students to be kept occupied while slower learners reach the same level of appreciation. This may lead to more advanced pupils having to be held back from progressing until their peers all reach the same level.
• Lowell Horton discusses that mastery is a fairly optimistic model for learning which will require wide-scale agreement upon what specific goals should be attained – after all, how does one define a ‘master’ within a subject unless such goals are clearly defined? This, Horton argues, will require the profession to come together to agree to such specificity if the model is to work in practice.
• Horton further establishes that employing mastery may be particularly difficult in practice from a teacher’s perspective – indicating that a tutor will need to be invested in the concept wholly in order for such a method to work. This is due to an increase in time and effort on the part of an educator that mastery can take to implement effectively.

The divisions are clear – Mastery may work well in practice as well as in theory, but it will require extensive effort and time on the part of a school or educator in order for it to be particularly effective. If a school or organisation is interested in employing mastery as a learning method, thorough planning must be employed in order for both the education board and any teachers involved to be prepared to exercise it.

The launch of 'Success In Exams' – a new book that helps students!

Hexis Plus is publishing the brilliant new eBook, ‘Success In Exams’ by Dr Indira Ghatak and it is being made freely available for pupils and parents alike!

Dr Ghatak noticed that those pupils who are C/D borderline, those who benefit from pupil premium or those who are generally of a lower than average ability often feel overwhelmed by the transition from Year 9 to GCSE and from GCSE to A-Level. She believes that this struggle comes down to a lack of understanding of revision strategies and exam technique. Subsequently, this book helps underperforming students in Years 10-13 learn how to revise effectively by teaching students the following:

• ·         revision strategies
• ·         how to develop study time tables and tactics to break up the learning throughout the year.
• ·         techniques to work with teachers.
• ·         how to alleviate stress and establish a decent work-life balance
• ·         how to effectively identify and change habits.

She addresses these issues in a conversational, relatable manner that is easy to understand for both parents and teenagers alike.

What really sets 'Success In Exams' apart is that it’s a multi-media book which has revolutionary interactivity including bespoke quizzes and videos that can be viewed via QR codes embedded in the book. This provides a holistic skills development program for those who need it. Some of these codes are permanent links and others are regularly updated for new content to ensure that students keep using the book as a study aid.

Testimonials:

[Success In Exams] captured the essence […] of the subject matter and then built upon those to not only enable the student to gain knowledge and understanding but also the relevant practicalities of having to perform highly in examinations.

Rahul S. – Parent

Dr Ghatak combines her immense experience in teaching at top schools with her insight as a mother whose children have been through the process. [Success In Exams] has a holistic all round approach which maximises a child's ability and hard work with a healthy mental attitude and positive self-esteem to produce happy, motivated successful children.

Isaac P. – Parent

[Success In Exams] helped me organise my time more efficiently […] I optimised my speed of learning and clarity of thought […] I strongly advise all to follow her methods which are expertly set out in this book.

Sienna A. – Student

If you would like a free copy of the 'Success In Exams' eBook in any popular format, please click here or email: contact@hexisplus.com.

We here at Hexis Plus are delighted to have helped publish this book using our extensive editing, social media marketing, website designing and branding knowledge. We’re looking forward to our next projects with Dr Ghatak and the various different tutoring and training companies we support.

Blended Vs Flipped Learning

The terms Blended and Flipped Learning are often used interchangeably by educators but, despite having similar connotations, they are actually two very different types of eLearning.

Before we can discuss the benefits and drawbacks of each type of learning, it’s important to differentiate between them. Blended Learning utilises both online and face-to-face instruction in order to provide a broader learning experience whilst Flipped Learning requires the learner to study an online element before coming to class and then using their class time to delve deeper into what they’ve learned.

A typical example of a Blended Learning exercise might be an online quiz - such as those found on Kahoot! or Socrative - where the students answer questions virtually and then discuss the outcome in class, building upon their knowledge by taking into account each student’s thoughts. This type of learning is beneficial because it helps maintain student interest and allows them to discuss their own opinions and thoughts with each other.

The major drawback of Blended Learning is that it can hamper and alienate students that get overwhelmed by the use of technology which could also give some students the opportunity to pretend to be working harder than they actually are. In a recent paper investigating the impact of Blended Learning by Hernández-Nanclares and Pérez-Rodríguez on The Journal Of Interactive Media In Education, the conclusion was that students generally had a positive attitude towards a Blended design and found using technology in the classroom to be motivational.

In contrast, an example of Flipped Learning would be watching a video before class at home and then discussing the results as a group. This type of learning means that a student can watch the video in the comfort of their own home, taking in the information in their own time and space and this allows for class time that is focused on detail and discussion, rather than just outlining basics. In 1998, Richard Hake tested 2084 students using Flipped Learning and discovered that those taught using a Flipped method exhibited learning gains almost two standard deviations higher than those who were taught in a more traditional method.

Aside from the many benefits of Flipped Learning, there are some drawbacks which include the fact that all students learn at different paces making it difficult to test them. This type of learning also gives some students the chance to relax at home by not doing the work in the first place.

When it comes to answering the question: ‘Which of these two learning styles is better?’ there really is no black and white answer. Depending on what the desired outcome is, the two learning styles offer two very different solutions. In a classroom scenario, the best option is to use both styles at different times for different lessons and then analyse how the class responds. Some students favour learning everything in a classroom setting, others like to concentrate on the material at home. It’s up to the teacher or tutor to determine the style that best suits their students and whether one learning style might be better for a particular subject or lesson.

How To Keep The Human Touch In eLearning

For many years, learning in schools was all done in the classroom, where one leader would impart/pass on their knowledge to the whole room. However, thanks to recent advancements in technology, we are now seeing the growth of a different type of learning - electronic learning or ‘eLearning’.

eLearning allows students and employees to learn or train using the internet as guidance. Different companies, like Hexis Plus for example, offer extensive training courses online where employees from around the world can log in and train.

However, with so many different options available it can be hard to know exactly what the most effective method is and how technology should best be utilised. It also raises an important question - how can training seem less robotic and maintain a more personal touch?

Today there are two main methods being used: ‘Blended Learning’ and ‘Flipped Learning,’ both of which enable businesses to benefit from the cost-effective models of eLearning whilst still benefiting from the human touch. No matter how far technology develops, we will always have a need for personal learning and these two methods take advantage of this. Blended Learning - This form of learning is very much a ‘best of both worlds’ method in that employees will take part in eLearning but also attend classrooms or face-to-face meetings. Blended Learning takes the benefits of each and compiles them all into one program. Whilst employees will have a chance to learn at their own pace online, they will also have a support network offline to push their learning even further.

The added benefit of Blended Learning for all involved parties is that it gives employees a chance to learn independently from a system. It also allows employers to benefit because they are trusting their workers to research online as well as continuing to provide a teacher, ensuring that they know all the important factors of the training. Many workers say that they learn better in a blended learning environment created by companies like Hexis Plus. Flipped Learning - This a type of learning that takes the traditional educating method and literally turns it on its head. For example, normally employees will learn all the basics face-to-face and then receive resources to explore the topics that were covered further in their own time. However, sometimes this isn't the most efficient method as remote workers do not have help at home. In response, Flipped Learning gives employees the ‘basics’ to undertake research  before a session and  then expand their knowledge base in class.

When implemented correctly, this method of learning can work extremely well as all the basics can be covered online, meaning that the valuable time spent face-to-face can be used more wisely. Since employees already know the basics, they can delve into more detail with a teacher by their side. This form of learning allows the business to make the most of their money with teaching in a room and allows for a personalised learning experience for their employees to benefit from. One of the problems with regular learning is that the classroom only covers the basics which leaves employees on their own for the more tricky topics but flipped learning removes this.

eLearning is becoming ever-more popular which makes sense as it is cost-effective and proven to work; though this doesn't mean that human contact has to be completely lost. It is all too easy to leave your employees in front of a computer but this can lead to a ‘recall mentality’ rather than a ‘recognise mentality’. Hexis Plus enables you to maximise the relationship between technology and the personal touch, meaning that your employee’s learning would increase quicker than ever.

Why All Businesses Need Blog

Like it or not, the internet has transformed much of the way that we live our lives – from socialising to shopping and to running our businesses. However, getting your business online is only half the battle, while a great social media profile and effective online portfolio may do the business well enough, there’s much to be said for long-term strategy.

Much of holding people's interest in your business is related to Search Engine Optimisation (SEO), which is concerned with ensuring that Google prioritises your website or online presence as much as possible in search listings. While the right keywords will often do the trick, for Google to really keep your head in the game, and for you to engage regularly with customers, you’re going to need a regular.

Blogging is a form of engagement with customers and clients that works on a very base level of communication. By writing and publishing regular blog posts on topics and news relevant to your business, you’re not only establishing that you’re active in your industry, but that you’re also an authority. As Jayson DeMers writes for Forbes, regular blogging actively humanises your brand while also generating regular interest and custom for you in the bargain.

Blogging for your business also shows that you care. Consumers are more likely to approach a business or brand that is regularly engaging with their customers, rather than one that only offers a cold, solitary storefront? In a day and age where customer engagement and accountability is more transparent than ever, it makes perfect sense to make the most out of the current online climate – if you’re running a business regularly, but barely do any blogging, it may be time to reconsider.

Top 6 Reasons To Use Blended Learning

Just in case you missed our previous blog post, Blended Learning is a formally structured educational programme where students use online course material combined with class-based teaching. As Blended Learning programmes take place both inside and outside the classroom, learners have greater freedom when it comes to how they plan, structure and carry-out their sessions - it’s easy to see why this type of teaching is becoming increasingly popular.

Here at Hexis Plus we think it’s great so let’s take a look at our top 6 reasons to use Blended Learning:

1) Keeps learners interested.
Blended Learning offers variety, private study, classroom teaching and the freedom to negotiate the course at whatever speed suits the learner. Students are far more likely to treat the learning process as a positive experience and not a restrictive chore. There is no “wrong” method to how the course is taken, the student is in control.

2) Personalisation of lessons.
Every student is different and blended learning Some learners may pick up information quickly using auditory skills,others might need to read material a few times to fully grasp a concept. Both types of learner are accommodated with Blended Learning and are subsequently empowered to reach their maximum learning capacity.

3) Data collection of a system.
Figures released by The eLearning Industry in 2015 showed that while 47% of teaching was still training room based in 2015 there has been a positive shift towards the adoption of Blended Learning. They’ve also found that 29.1% of training hours utilised Blended Learning in 2015, proving that more professionals are realising it’s valuable as an effective teaching method that maximises administrative efficiency and gathers real time data from all over the world.

4) Less admin, less paper.
The practicality of not having heaps of course material to lug around cannot be underestimated. Electronic devices are convenient, lightweight and user friendly. Learners are able to easily download teaching materials onto their device from any location, making Blended Learning extremely cost effective

5) Easier sharing of resources.
Many learners get distracted in a classroom setting when studying alongside their peers. This issue is partially removed by moving some of the learning experience online with blended learning. Online facilities make marking, sharing data confidentially and accessing course material easier.

6) Convenient and user friendly.
The convenient availability of a digital device that can be used for study at home, on the bus, in the car or stretched out on the sofa, away from peers, is a practical advantage offered by adaptive technology.


The hands on administration is minimal with the online section of Blended Learning, analytics are recorded with real time data and upload/downloads.

Here at Hexis Plus, the advantages of Blended Learning come as no real surprise, especially when you consider all it offers. We facilitate training to help with a smooth transition to Blended Learning and to allow students the best personal and technology based learning experience on the market.

Powerful Work Opportunities For Graduates

Hexis Plus, London’s premier learning and development company for tutors, is proud to announce that The First Annual London Tutoring Conference will be taking place on Saturday 3^rd September 2016 at Work.Life in London Fields. Running from 10am to 4pm, this event will be comprised of inspirational TED Talk style speakers from the education industry and interactive workshops covering everything from marketing and tutoring to leadership and management.

Technology from the Hexis Plus system, aimed at all types of educators, will also be made available and it is one of the most advanced learning management systems on the market, and will be given away free of charge to every ticket holder at the event. UES Tutoring London commented on the technology: “…After our trial we are now looking forward to using this [learning management system] in our upcoming training sessions…” and Hertsaid Charity reinforced this view by saying, “…This [learning management system] has a ton of features. You have got something very impressive here...”.

Hexis Plus aims to combine a passion for education with state of the art technology which, in turn, will bring prospective tutors and tutoring companies together - ultimately creating a new generation of learners. According to recent research from The Guardian newspaper, tutoring is a £6 billion industry with at least 44% of schoolchildren in London receiving private tuition, and a whopping 72% of all children who are prepping for Common Entrance exams using a private tutor. Through special events such as the upcoming London Tutoring Conference, Hexis Plus are recommending tutoring as either a long-term or short-term employment solution for recent graduates and, with the chance to charge as much as £58 an hour, tutoring can provide the job security and stability that many struggle to find. Tutoring companies will also receive a chance to pitch to their prospective clients at the conference, allowing both companies and tutors to network with each other.

Tickets for the first annual London Tutoring Conference are free and are available online here.

Current list of speakers and workshop leaders are: 

• Chris Jones - As a qualified coach, trainer and teacher, Chris founded his company, Hexis Plus, to accelerate the growth of tutoring companies and he will be introducing the event. He will then outline the reasons why students should consider the world of tutoring, discussing many topics including how private tutors can earn between £20-50k per year and how there are great career development prospects for enterprising graduates.He will also be launching some exciting new technology for educators that will be made complimentary to all those who attend.
• Adam Muckle - Adam is president of The Tutors' Association and aims to provide recognition for tutors, reassurance for parents and a responsible, representative voice for the tutoring profession in the UK. He will be speaking about his fascinating insights into the industry of tutoring and what the future holds for this fast growing profession.
• Kobi Omenaka - A London based marketing expert, Kobi works with small and medium Enterprises (SME). He will be delivering a workshop on marketing for graduates who want to go it alone as a tutor or tutoring companies that want tips for improvement. This superb session will give participants a set of tools to increase a tutoring client database.
• Jonny Baker - Jonny is an experienced coach from Worth It Projects who specialises in motivating children and young adults. Tutors often come up against mental walls with their students which impedes learning progress. Jonny will be providing tips and advice for tutors on breaking down a student's barriers and empowering them to success.
• Indira Ghatak - The prestigious Henrietta Barnet School benefited from Indira being a dedicated head of department for many years before she became a successful student mentor and educational author. She will be presenting an opportunity to be apart of her schools based study which coincides with the launch of her latest book, Success In Exam.
• David Mareels - Co-founder of Chiron Tutors, David runs an online marketplace for tutors and a tutor management system which helps private tutors run and manage their business more efficiently. He will be giving a speech on how to get into tutoring and the advantages of the profession.

Calling All Tutors & Recent Graduates!

How does a flexible, rewarding and very well-paid job sound to you in a fast growing and dynamic industry?

If this sounds like an opportunity you’d be interested in, we encourage you to come along to Hexis Plus’s London Tutoring Conference at the start of September! Featuring TED Talk style speakers covering a vast range of informative and fascinating topics, stalls and the chance to pitch to prospective clients, this really isn’t something to miss!

As London’s foremost training company when it comes to tutors, we’re extremely focused on connecting quality tutors and tutoring companies. Our event provides the perfect environment for this to happen!            

  

For those interested tutors/graduates out there wanting a ticket, please click here.

Likewise, if you run a tutoring company, please sign up using our company’s page, by clicking here.

Time:

Saturday, 3^rd September 2016, 10:00 – 16:00

Location:

Work.Life – 1E Mentmore Terrace, London, E8 3PN

The Top 6 Reasons Why Tutoring Is Better Than Teaching

Tutoring is becoming  increasingly popular with graduates and even teachers who are turning to tutoring to free themselves from the time and financial constraints that modern schools put them under.

Let’s have a look at why being a tutor is beneficial:

1)      Freedom

Tutoring takes place outside of the structured education system. Students can come to the tutor’s home or office or even work remotely via e-learning; there is absolutely no requirement to sit in an educational establishment to work. Additional flexibility is added when a tutor is able to work weekends, evenings and even bank holidays - hours that schools can’t offer.

2)   Specialist knowledge

A tutor’s sole focus on a certain subject area allows them to develop in-depth knowledge and insight on a subject they are passionate about. This exclusive focus on one subject area makes tutoring far more effective compared with a teacher who must split their focus between their different school responsibilities.

3)      Method adaptability

A tutor working on a one-to-one basis or with a small group has the time to focus and adapt their teaching style to the learners’ personality so they benefit the most from the learning process. Having more time to focus on individuals in a class delivers better results.

4)      Effective time management teaching

Some students work better with visual tools than auditory techniques. When a teacher faces this type of student in a classroom environment, few concessions can be made - even mixing styles still may not be sufficient for comprehensive learning. However, with tutoring, the teaching and learning process can be customised for the student to maximise enjoyment.

5)       Higher salary

The hourly rate is higher for a tutor than for a salaried teacher. A quick look at The Tutor Pages shows that fees are rising and peak at around £41 per hour (although tutors may charge more if they wish). London fees peaked at around £60, York at £40 and some tutors are charging upwards of £100 for highly specialised areas of work.

6)      Less stress

A tutor is self-employed with the freedom to make their workload as heavy or as light as they wish and to teach in the style that works well for them and their students. Although teaching offers job security, there is no guarantee that the job itself won’t work you into the ground. Tutoring offers freedom, variety and a comfortable teaching atmosphere.    

The Guardian newspaper reports that the proportion of tutored pupils has risen by more than a third over the past decade, from 18% in 2005 to 25% now. In London, 44% of pupils had private or home tuition last year, compared with 34% in 2005. This increased demand has allowed tutors to get more work.

So if you want to escape the pressures of formally managed employment as a teacher and find freedom in self-employment, then we here at Hexis Plus encourage you to take the rewarding leap into the tutoring industry.

Top 8 Online Learning Industry Jargon Demystified

The boom in online learning has led to the rise of a number of related terms. With so many terms it can be tricky to decipher and keep up with what they all mean. For this reason, we welcome you to Hexis Plus’s guide to understanding some of the jargon that is being used by eLearning companies around the world.

eLearning - It’s sensible to start with the term you will see the most. It’s very simple; just like email means electronic mail, eLearning means electronic learning. With bigger and better computer systems being announced every year and with the internet growing faster, some companies are now offering training courses online. This ‘eLearning’ is more cost-effective than regular learning and can also be quicker.  

LMS/LCMS - LMS stands for Learning Management System and LCMS stands for Learning Content Management System. An LMS is a system that a business uses to train their employees; these systems allow businesses to become administrators for their employee’s learning, as well as looking after documents and tracking the online course.

An LCMS is a place where experts can create, store and manage online content. This type of system will have many users as well as various authors and developers who will manage their own content. Therefore, the LCMS manages the content that will make its way onto the LMS.

Quick Stat: Around three-quarters of all companies currently use one form of LMS.

Distance Learning - Not everyone has the ability to attend a college every day and employees cannot always leave their place of work for a week to attend a course. As a result, ‘distance learning’ was created in order to allow these people to ‘learn from a distance’. People using this method will be provided with online tools to learn without having to attend face-to-face sessions.

Blended Learning - Although eLearning is a fantastic development, some companies still like to have the personal touch rather than forcing their employees in front of a computer all day to learn. In these situations, blended learning is used to create a mixture of online and offline learning.

Learning Automation - This term refers to the process of switching any training and learning from face-to-face to online. Just like a business might automate a section of the business, they can also stop bringing in external trainers and start purchasing online courses for their employees.

Flipped Learning - Typically, the basics of everything are taught on a course and then employees will be given resources to research further at home. However, flipped learning completely changes this and lets workers discover the basics online before going into more detail in a course. This method is said to yield better results because a trainer is available to help as more detail is attained.

OAuth - OAuth describes the method that allows internet users to login to a site using a third-party account. For example, some websites will offer users the chance to sign in using Facebook, Twitter, Google or Mail.

mLearning - As the years pass, we are seeing more and more mobile devices that can do just as much as a computer and mLearning looks to take advantage of this. Through mLearning, people have the opportunity to learn via their mobile and tablet devices,  allowing them to learn ‘on-the-go’. By 2017, it is thought that the mobile learning market will have grown to be worth over $12 billion.

So there we have it, eight seemingly difficult terms broken down into simple phrases. It is important that you get to know these words and definitions if you want to learn where the best options can be found and where the different types of learning are offered. Now, you should be in a stronger position to make better-informed decisions for you and your employees.

How Training Increases Customers & Improves Selling

Sales strategies vary from business to business – where The Guardian newspaper has to find a way of appealing to the entire British public, The London Evening Standard only has to be appealing to Londoners. But when marketing your brand, product and enterprise to as wide an audience as possible, you may need to employ more than a little natural gumption to your sales technique.  While many have survived in the world of sales and marketing by their wits alone in the past, there is much to be said for the presence of sales training in today’s business climate.

The way in which we approach customers and the way in which we promote our goods and services has changed dramatically in the past decade. Companies are now expected to connect with their clients directly via social media, to integrate their brands with multi-media platforms and to really think outside of the box when it comes to connecting with the average consumer. Consider that, according to John Rampton at TNW, around 61% of start-ups are now actively engaging in social media marketing. That’s a clear majority!  But how does one get involved? Is there a catch-all solution? No – but there are a wealth of new strategies and techniques that all successful enterprises adopt when expanding their customer base.

Sales and marketing training is seeing considerable growth as enterprises find the need to show greater care for their customers, as well as greater accountability. The way in which we share and consume information is changing all the time and effective strategy and education needs to be communicated to salespeople and marketing experts alike, if they are to continue to grow their profile. Sales training rolls out useful strategy, tried-and-tested approaches to new media, and above all helps to ensure all businesses and professionals are on the same page when it comes to attracting the right custom.

John Eades, CEO of LearnLoft, advises that effective training can be measured and followed easily, stating that continued investment in training alone can vouch for its effectiveness – and that good training can be monitored via regular skills checks and physical practice. We are all built to learn, after all!

Going into sales or marketing without training could leave you at the bottom of the pile – keep up with your rivals by educating yourself on current customer engagement trends and you will soon be growing your client base above and beyond all expectations.

By Graham Pierrepoint