Vubiz and Farm Sanctuary partner to provide complimentary online course to volunteers

Vubiz Elearning and Farm Sanctuary together announce the release of a new online certificate program for Farm Sanctuary volunteers. Farm Sanctuary is America’s largest and most effective farm animal rescue and protection organization. Their three shelters in New York and California provide lifelong care for almost 1,000 rescued farm animals. These animals are ambassadors for the billions on factory farms who have no voice, and their stories help raise awareness about the harsh realities of factory farming.

Vubiz created the online course in partnership with Farm Sanctuary whose goal is to streamline education and help volunteers with strategies to improve their advocacy on behalf of animals. The new program, called The Fundamentals of Compassionate Campaigning, is offered free by Farm Sanctuary and includes topics such as the power of activism, how to effectively promote a vegetarian lifestyle, four tools to use to maximize the impact of activism, how to effectively use social marketing and many more resources. The program includes a test and certificate.

"This online class is perfect for anyone who cares about farm animals and wants to learn how to be a more effective advocate for them,” explains Nick Cooney, Farm Sanctuary’s Compassionate Communities Manager.

Here is a link to the program on Farm Sanctuary's website:
Farm Sanctuary Volunteer Course

Vubiz is proud to be part of this initiative by Farm Sanctuary. Vubiz is an award winning elearning company in business for 15 years offering quality courses at unbeatable prices.

http://www.prweb.com/releases/2013/2/prweb10481019.htm

E-learning Trends: 2013

This time of year, bloggers and experts forecast trends for the elearning industry. In reviewing recent articles, and attending the recent ASTD Tech show in Silicon Valley (American Society for Training & Development) the three biggest trends being talked about by elearning bloggers are Games, Video and M-Learning.  Recent Ambient Insight Research predicts the worldwide market for elearning to reach over $51billion by 2016 proving that elearning is a solid, mainstream industry and growing rapidly. 

Many experts talk about “gamification” as an important emerging element.  As elearning evolves with better, less expensive software, the bar for interactivity is also elevating.  Games in elearning are easier to build and they add high levels of interactivity while enhancing the learning experience overall. Simulation games are also increasing in popularity as designers find them to be effective training tools which keep the learner coming back.  As with video games, elearning games require you to play until you win, which in instruction design terms, means you play until you learn it.  Games in elearning have become a hot trend mostly in the corporate sector, and gamification can be as simple as an interactive quiz or as elaborate as an animated simulation. 

With the changing technical aspects of elearning, from flash to html5, the importance of video in elearning is skyrocketing.  Improved internet and bandwidth combined with today’s social media/YouTube culture elevates video to an essential part of elearning.   Again, with elearning evolving, interactivity and visual appeal is no longer a luxury, but a necessity.  Video is a very engaging form of communication for the learner and it quickly adds interactivity, interest and tangible learning benefits.  Today’s less expensive cameras and video capture tools make video much more accessible for everyone.

Mobile Learning or MLearning was definitely the buzzword at the Tech show.  In 2013, elearning companies will have to accommodate learners who use mobile devices on a daily basis. The explosion of tablets has pushed mobile learning to the forefront.  And globally, MLearning is vital as countries in Africa and India have gone straight to the smartphone for access to learning materials.

Social Learning is another buzzword for 2013.  It basically means learning with, and from, others.  Today, social media gives learners a great platform for communicating information.  Twitter, Facebook and other social networking sites encourage people to connect and share information, which can enhance the learning process.It’s likely we’ll see brand new ideas in elearning from the social media phenomenon that we don’t see right now.  We’ll definitely see more apps to support social learning and MLearning.  

Social media is changing the way we do everything, and it will be exciting this year to see how it changes elearning.  

Java Software Scare and How it Affects Elearning

The recent scare with Java software has big implications for some elearning providers, especially those who rely on Java software to run. In recent weeks, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security urged computer users to disable Oracle Corp.’s Java software to minimize the risk for hackers to access vulnerabilities and gain control of computers. Vubiz Elearning does not rely on Java to run its courses and is unaffected by this serious security threat.

Java is both a language and a platform to run websites and programs and is used by many computer users, both on the PC and Mac. The problem is that there is a hole or vulnerability in Java 7 which requires a patch. This vulnerability leaves millions of computers open to malware attacks and can lure online traffic to virus-infected websites. Hackers try to exploit this vulnerability to install malicious software which enables them to commit crimes such as identity theft and attacking websites.

“We are currently unaware of a practical solution to this problem,” the Department of Homeland Security’s Computer Emergency Readiness Team said in a posting on its website this month.

“This and previous Java vulnerabilities have been widely targeted by attackers, and new Java vulnerabilities are likely to be discovered,” the agency said. “To defend against this and future Java vulnerabilities, disable Java in Web browsers.” http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/techalerts/TA13-010A.html

It is rare for the government to advise computer users to completely disable software due to a security issue, especially with widely used programs such as Java.

Full press release

Vubiz Video

    Vubiz recently launched a new video production division.  We took this step because of video’s prolific growth online, and it’s clear advantages in communication.  We have previously produced videos, with extremely positive responses from our clients, but now we’ve taken a more committed approach to video production. 

Online video is highly effective and has become over the last few years an expected component of a user’s web experience.  Video use has exploded online, it’s become more affordable to produce and much easier to access and deliver.  YouTube has contributed to this explosion of use in a big way, and now most major companies in the world have some sort of online video strategy.

    At Vubiz we’re interested in producing videos that are professional and polished.  A service to offer our clients to help explain learning concepts in an effective way and that can hold a viewer’s interest and attention.  We also are committed to producing stand-alone web videos that can explain a company’s brand, service or product, and that can be used for internal communication to employees, or external marketing to customers.

Video is extremely effective for online learning and communication.  Our brain responds to visuals much faster than words, and we’re very good at remembering pictures especially when they are reinforced with an audio voiceover.

    We can take someone, through video, where they can’t easily go themselves.  For example, showing a safety procedure on top of a tower crane.  Or showing a remote industrial location in Canada’s north.  Properly produced, a video can explain information in about half the time as words alone, and can help viewers understand information in a much clearer way.

As well as an education tool, videos are an obvious and excellent marketing tool for companies to get their message across (not a new concept as TV commercials have been effective over decades).  But it’s still worth repeating that most people will choose to watch a video over reading text, and online video encourages visitors to stay on a website up to 3 times longer than the average browsing time.

Finally, online video is truly mobile on all devices: anytime, anywhere and on-demand.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM THE VUBIZ TEAM! 

Vubiz would like to wish everyone a very Happy Holiday season and all the best in the New Year! Here's to a great 2013!

New Harassment Prevention Online Program from Award Winning Vubiz

Vubiz Elearning announces a brand new Harassment Prevention Training Program for 2013. In partnership with Employer’s Group of California, Vubiz is launching dynamic new online courses covering Prevention of Harassment and Illegal Discrimination for both supervisors and employees. Employers Group worked with The Fair Employment and Housing Commission (FEHC) in California on AB1825 compliance requirements that are now established regulations. Vubiz elearning has been awarded the Best of Compliance Elearning award for 2012 from the Elearning Media Group. Together they offer one of the most comprehensive, interactive and affordable harassment training courses available.

The new harassment program is offered at the same low price but now features unsurpassed learner engagement with an avatar guide, animation, a new Smart timer, interactive games, more thought-provoking scenarios and video. For California clients, the new Smart-Timer allows learners a better timed learning experience. The training continues to offer custom policy integration, a proficiency exam, custom certificate, “ask a question,” and bookmarking.

In 2005, AB1825 became law in California which requires supervisors to receive two hours of harassment prevention training every two years. Other states have similar training requirements and are implementing new standards in response to the increase in discrimination cases. Federally, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) received 100,000 discrimination charges in 2011 with retaliation being the top employer charge. Disparate impact and systemic discrimination charges are rising and EEOC is proactively targeting employers in these two areas.

As a proactive measure, many employers both inside and outside of California, are providing training to both supervisors and employees. Vubiz covers all topics in the course broken down into four areas: Illegal and Unlawful Discrimination, Harassment and Sexual Harassment, Reasonable Accommodation and Retaliation, and Process and Prevention. The new course also covers new 2012 protections including Sex and Breastfeeding and Religious Grooming and Dress.

Vubiz offers a suite of harassment elearning including versions for employees or supervisors in California and throughout the United States and Canada.

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/business/prweb/article/New-Harassment-Prevention-Online-Program-from-3995496.php#ixzz2C3B1O2Bn

Vubiz Launches Employee Share Ownership Plan 

Vubiz ELearning is excited to announce new online courses covering a significant issue for today’s businesses: Employee Share Ownership Plans.

Current studies consistently prove that employees become more motivated and more fulfilled in their employment positions when they take on the accountability of being part-owners. ESOPs provide a viable remedy to today’s media barrage highlighting a discontent and frustrated workforce. Successful companies must have engaged workers to compete in today’s highly volatile business climate. Engagement means commitment which translates to increased profits not only for business owners, but also for employees in companies with an ESOP.

Vubiz has created three new programs covering this important issue: The Fundamentals of Employee Share Ownership Plans for Owners; The Fundamentals of ESOP for Advisers; The Fundamentals of Ownership Thinking.

The Fundamentals of Ownership Thinking module explores how successful companies can create an engaged and committed workforce through employee ownership. Ownership Thinking was created over 16 years ago by Brad Hams, a master at creating and sustaining business cultures of excellence. As with all great ideas, its very simplicity makes the methodology accepted and implemented by over 2000 companies around the world. The Fundamentals of Ownership Thinking module will explain the importance of ending cultures of workplace “entitlement” while taking the learner through this exciting and revolutionary model. Components of Ownership Thinking Module include: Scoreboards; Rapid Improvement Plans; Key Performance Indicators (both lagging and leading); Huddles.

The Fundamentals of ESOP for Owners module is a must for owners looking to increase profits and build a legacy. This 60-minute module takes learners through an interactive journey of explaining what an ESOP is, why an owner should consider establishing an ESOP, how an owner can begin a path towards ESOP implementation, and who is a good ESOP candidate. Overall, this module gives a fundamental level of understanding as to why ESOPs are being adopted by successful business enterprises.

The Fundamentals of ESOP for Advisers is also one hour and takes learners through an interactive journey of explaining what an ESOP is, why an owner should consider establishing an ESOP, how an owner can begin a path towards ESOP implementation, why ESOPs help owners with their exit strategies and who is a good ESOP candidate. This module is geared towards advisers.

Perry Phillips, a Canadian leader in Employee Share Ownership Plans, met Brad Hams (Ownership Thinking) in 2010 at the NCEO conference in Oakland California; the world’s largest provider of ESOP research and conferences in the world.

Upon hearing Brad speak about the Ownership Thinking methodology, Perry immediately saw the potential for all of his business clients—both those who were engaged in ESOPs and those who were not. Perry conducted extensive research on the methodology and watched Brad speak to business owners about the importance of ESOPs. After completing an extensive certification course to become an Ownership Thinking facilitator, Perry purchased the exclusive rights to Ownership Thinking in Canada. His business and those of his clients have been growing ever since. Perry is President of ESOP Builders Inc., Ownership Thinking Canada and Phillips Valuations and has over 35 years of experience in the area of ESOPs.