ASTD-Lincoln Tech in Training

ZOOM, ZOOM!!

Ranelle Maltas — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 13:48:06 GMT

As I have been going to various departments at UNL training on Outlook, there are a couple of tools I never leave home without. I didn't think much of them, but I've gotten almost as many questions about the tools I use as the training I'm providing. So here are my "can't train without" tools.

ZoomIt is screen zoom and annotation tool with a break timer for Windows XP and higher. ZoomIt runs unobtrusively in the system tray and activates with customizable hotkeys to zoom in on an area of the screen, move around while zoomed, and draw on the zoomed image. It’s small enough to run from my flash drive with no installation needed, so I can use it on any computer.

Although it’s called ZoomIt, you’ll notice it shows up in your menu as Sysinternals Screen Magnifier. ZoomIt is incredibly easy to learn. I’ve put together a manual (which consists of one page) you can use.

Uses: I use ZoomIt for drawing boxes and circles around areas of the screen when I talk about them. It also has a dynamic mode where I can click or type on screen while zoomed in. The break timer is also handy as a countdown to when the training will begin or time left before our break is over.

Virtual Magnifying Glass is a free, open source, cross-platform screen magnification tool. It is simple, customizable, and easy-to-use. The program shows a magnifying glass lens that follows the mouse movement. To close the lens, click the left mouse button. It stays in the system tray for launching the lens again. Right-click the Magnifying Glass system tray icon to for various customization options such as the glass size and magnification.

Uses: I use the Magnifying Glass to show buttons and text that are too small to be seen on my screen as is for those people sitting in the back of the room. It’s so easy to use with a simple click on and click off.

Use email 'delayed delivery' to do the work for you after training

Ranelle Maltas — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 15:25:26 GMT

Have you heard? The University of Nebraska is getting a new email system. We’re moving from Lotus Notes to Microsoft Office 365 (cloud) and Outlook. With all change comes it’s fair share of pains. For me, not all of my calendar entries migrated from the the old system. This means missing appointments and reminders to post to the ASTD-Lincoln Tech Blog. Oops, I do have that fixed now (better late then never). But it got me to thinking about all the ways we can use technology to remind us to do things.

There are a plethora of reminder programs on the market, free and paid. There are applications for your smartphone, services to send you a text or email message, but if you already use an email program with a calendar, chances are it’s already there.

In Lotus Notes, there is the To-do list. In Outlook, there is Tasks. In Gmail, you add reminders when you put something on your calendar. Great tool for reminders, but how does this all apply to training?

In learning more about Outlook, I found a great way to set emails for a delayed delivery. Check out your email system, it may have something similar. Some thoughts I have for using this in my training is to send that Level 2 evaluation out a set time after training. Perhaps I can send “what you learned in training” messages to attendees for several weeks after they attend training. Or messages that give them examples on how to apply what they learned in training to real-life. I can create templates or drafts of this information and then set them to send a specific intervals.

I can’t wait to try some of these things out. I’m already planning how to keep the learners I encounter learning long after they attend a training session. This is another great way to have technology help make my job easier.

Happy training in 2012!

Happy Holidays!

Ranelle Maltas — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 14:17:24 GMT

Just like every year, I find myself saying, "it can't be the middle of December already?!" Well, it is and just like every year, I'm behind on my holiday tasks. I did get a few cards in the mail today, but I haven't started on my cooking. I always share homemade goodies with my neighbors and coworkers. I've really got to get on that. I'm just happy I have all my decorating done, including my computer desktop.

With Windows 7, you can use many beautiful themes to decorate your desktop. You can even save your own wallpapers and settings as a theme. I have some wonderful holiday photos rotating in the background, but miss the blinking lights of a tree. Thanks to a friend, I now have a variety of blinking trees for my desktop. So, here's my gift to you, your very own desktop tree. http://www.get-xmas.com/

Remember to not get caught up in all the planning and preparing that you forget to enjoy the company of your family and friends.

ePortfolios for the Workplace Learning and Performance Professional

Ranelle Maltas — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 21:19:01 GMT

Everything these days seems to start with the letter "e." There are eBooks, ePubs, e-mail and our topic today, ePortfolios. Of course we all know the "e" stands for electronic. So you can understand the concept of an eBook or e-mail. But, not everyone is familiar with portfolios. A portfolio is “a selection of a student's work (as papers and tests) compiled over a period of time and used for assessing performance or progress” according to Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Artists also use portfolios for their works of art (photos, drawings, writings, etc.). Without a lot of work experience, students use them to provide evidence to an employer about their skills, abilities and extra curricula activities. So why would a trainer need a portfolio, and what would be a part of it?

Why have a portfolio?

It's difficult to explain your comprehensive training program in a few bullet points on a one-page résumé. A portfolio documents your planning process, training, follow-up, and evaluation process. It can showcase presentations, result data and other achievements.

Throughout your career as a workplace learning and performance professional, you have many opportunities to present and train on a variety of topics. You can include podcasts, webinar recordings, presentations and other media so potential clients and employers can get a feel for how your present and teach.

What should your portfolio say about YOU?

You are enthusiastic about your profession and continually learn and improve.

You reflect and learn from achievements and mistakes.
You provide your employer, clients, and learners with the highest-level quality education, training, and development.

You keep informed of pertinent knowledge and competence in the workplace learning and performance field.

You fairly and accurately represent your credentials, qualifications, experience, and ability.

Designing Your Portfolio

Chose a program. Blogging sites can much of what you need. If you want good design with quick startup, try Blogger. If you want more control, WordPress and Tumblr allow for more customization. If you prefer to set your portfolio to be more like a website, Google Sites is relatively easy to learn.

Make navigation simple; include a contents section with links to the various sections/pages. Use keywords or tags to help categorize entries. Be logical in your layout; consider the impression you will be giving about the way you potentially think and work.

Include an "About Me" section that tells a little more about your personal side. This is also a place to include a brief summary of employment and positions. You can also highlight awards and other accomplishments. Mention conferences and continuing education, such as certificates and certifications. ASTD meetings and other speaking engagements also speak well for you as a workplace learning and performance professional.

If you're not sure where to start, take a look at the ASTD Competency Model. This should give you ideas of what to focus on and what to include.

In summary, everybody's ePorfolio will be different, and it should reflect your growth and personality in your profession. It makes for a great reference for potential clients and employers. Good luck!

Filesharing in the Cloud

Ranelle Maltas — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 15:42:12 GMT

Have you run into a problem sharing large files with others? I hate to print extra handouts and waste paper, but some files are too big to email. If you've had this problem, you should try a filesharing site. Some are free with limitations, some are a pay service. But is you're looking for a place to share a large file with others, start with the ones here: http://delicious.com/astdlincoln/filesharing.

Personally, I've used DocStoc and Wikisend. I'm a huge fan of Dropbox because of it's options. If you have used a filesharing site and would like to share it with others, let me know and I'll add it to the list of resources.

Tablets for mLearning

Ranelle Maltas — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 14:15:13 GMT

Do you have an iPad? If not, how about a XOOM, Galaxy Tab, or Playbook? They are all tablets, and can do much of the same things. I have an iPad for work and a smartphone (Droid X) for myself. I can usually find the same or comparatively the same apps for either.

If you know your users all have access to a smartphone or tablet, you can use apps. You can find them in the app store for the iOS, Android, and Amazon Markets. Some are free, others will cost. By the time you read this, a hundred more will be released and I just can’t keep up on them all. Just know that a study has been done at a Higher Ed institution and they found there is no one “killer” app for learning. Each instructor found different apps that worked best for them. My suggestion is try it, and if you like it, keep it. Otherwise, dump it. Ask others in your profession what they recommend. Ask your PLN on Twitter. Post a question in you LinkedIn groups.

If you’re still reading, here are some iPad apps others have recommended. I’m sure some if not most are also available for the other tablets and smart phones as well.

eClicker is a Personal Response System that allows you to use ‘hinge’ questions to asses understanding.
Dragon Dictation allows iPad users to quickly and easily convert speech into editable text that can be copied or sent via e-mail. Great for learners who prefer talking over writing.
Mobile Mouse allows you to control your IWB / projected computer from across the room.
With the Remote Desktop App you are remotely accessing your computer and you your iPad is acting like a touchscreen monitor. You can control the projected screen fully and see it on your iPad.
Use SmartNote to send learners outlines or worksheet activities. They can then 'write' on them and share them back with you for assessment or send them to the web for pickup at home. Using this app, learners can also audio record ideas or instructions for later use. SmartNote allows users to insert images, browser views, and tons of widgets in a personalized notebook.
Use Idea Sketch (free, simple and pleasing to use) to create mind maps. SlingNote and Popplet work great for this, too.
Evernote allows you to keep notes and clippings in an online account that you can access anywhere.
Use i-Prompt or the "On Air" app to gain fluency when presenting (teleprompter).
DropBox account will automatically sync files wirelessly from a laptop to a set of iPads using the same account. You could set up a folder in DropBox for each learner.
SoundNote will allow you type notes as well as adding handwritten via your finger or stylus.
Whiteboard Free allows you to share iPad screens across a number of iPads. Once you open the app it asks if you want to 'share' your screen. Once you allow this it means that when one person write on their iPad it will be seen on the other iPads that it has been shared with.

Your Phone Doesn’t have to be Smart to Learn

Ranelle Maltas — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 14:14:40 GMT

These days when you think of mobile, you think of mobile phones. Not every phone has to be a smartphone with a data plan to use in learning. If your learners do all have a smartphone, there are a ton of apps you can get or even build. They make for great just-in-time learning. But if not, as long as they have texting, you can still have them learn on the go.

My first and favorite example is Twitter. You may not think this is a great learning tool, but I have built a great Professional Learning Network (PLN) and we tweet regularly. I tend to follow other people in Higher Education, Instructional Technology, and Workplace Learning and Performance. I also follow a number of K-12 teachers as I know their students will soon be my students.

You may be thinking that this is great for me to learn, but how can I use it for others? Specify a hashtag (ask me at the next meeting and I’ll explain) and have learners follow it. You can post a daily tip or learning nugget. Have the learners do the same and they can learn from each other. Have them tweet a question and some one will respond.

If you don’t think this will work, I have a great example. Check out @UNL_CropWatch sometime. You may think farmers are not that techno-saavy, but they all have mobile phones and text to stay in touch with the family and home when out in the field (in my day, we used a CB Radio). If a farmer comes across an odd bug or problem with a plant, they take a photo and tweet it to @UNL_CropWatch. An expert (at UNL or perhaps another farmer) will see it and can respond. It used to be they took the bug or plant to the “not-so-local” extension office and it may be days before they get a response. Now, it’s almost instant. How’s that for learning on the job?

Next up, Short Messaging Service (SMS). http://www.swaggle.mobi is a simple group text messaging service for cellphones. Send one text message to Swaggle, and and they will send it to everyone in your group. When someone responds, that goes to everyone in the group, as well. Use it to send tips, tricks, learning nuggets, reminders, or ask a question. A few others include http://www.cellsea.com/media/smsindex.htm, http://www.buzz411.org/ or use Google SMS Channels at http://labs.google.co.in/smschannels/. Some are free, some will cost you. Either way, be sure your users are aware of text messaging costs for this service.

As far as the apps available for smart phones, I’ll cover those next month when I talk about tablets (iPads, Xoom, Playbook, etc.) since there is so much cross-over.

mLearning, Why Do I Care about being Mobile?

Ranelle Maltas — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 14:13:59 GMT

Mobile learning (mLearning) can mean many things to many different people. The best description I’ve found is Any sort of learning that happens when the learner is not at a fixed, predetermined location. The reason I like this description is that there is no mention of technology. Technology is a tool to help you accomplish something but it is not the only thing that will work. I know, this is an article about technology. Let me explain.

As a teacher, my goal is to either impart knowledge or skill to my learners. (Again, no mention of technology.) The reason I’m so fond of mLearning is that the learning can take place anytime, anywhere--and that doesn’t mean it has to be in a classroom. If my learners can continue learning beyond the classroom walls, I know I’ve gotten them higher up on the Bloom’s taxonomy to where they are applying, analyzing, evaluating and creating. I prefer to do this the most efficient way, and for me, that does include technology.

In the next several months, I’ll take you through some of my favorite tools and talk about mLearning with smartphones, tablets, webinars and podcasts and how you can blend them into your teaching. (Darn, another term: blended learning.) Yes, it all fits together and if you keep reading in the months ahead, you’ll find out how.

Virtual Business Cards for Your Business

Ranelle Maltas — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 14:13:21 GMT

If you are a regular reader of this column, you’ll know that I’m cheap. I like free and hate to pay for things. Many things I find I try the free version and if I get a lot of benefit, I’ll go ahead and pay for the full version. I just did that today with two Android apps for my phone. But in other cases, the free version is just good enough.

This brings me to my story. I do computer training on the side. My full-time job doesn’t leave room for lots of extra work, so I don’t put a lot of effort into selling my part-time work. Since I don’t make a lot of money, I don’t want to invest much, either. But when people want to learn more about me or my services, I don’t have a website to direct people to. To help give myself an online presence in the absence of a website, I found a virtual business card I can attach to my social networking sites and email signatures. I use BusinesCard2.com, but it’s not the only online business card option out there. However, I found it looks really good and the free version offers a lot.

On this card, you can have a picture, contact information, your bio, what you offer, links to social networking, videos and files. I haven’t taken the time to make an introductory video, but I plan to someday. It would be nice for people to “meet” me before they really do. I also thought about making videos of customer testimony to link to as well. That would make for a nice sell of me and my services.

If you want to check out my card, go ahead. You can find it at http://ctrlaltgeek.businesscard2.com. I also have it posted on my ASTD-Lincoln profile page. I hope to see yours there soon, too!

Resources Galore! (and many are FREE!)

Ranelle Maltas — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 14:12:38 GMT

Did you get the chance to attend the February meeting? If not, you missed out on some great stuff. But I’m not here to tell you what you missed. I’m here to tell you about what you can use. During the February meeting I reminded people about the shared bookmarks for ASTD-Lincoln for online resources. It became apparent that I was the only one aware of them. You should visit http://www.delicious.com/astdlincoln and find out what you’re missing.

It all started with a list of personal resources I was keeping for myself. People ask me often about this, that or the other thing and what I would recommend. I thought, “hmmm, I bet my ASTD-Lincoln friends could benefit from these same resources.” So I created the list.

The list is in Delicious.com because that’s what I used and my coworkers used. I have since moved on to Diigo.com for my social bookmarking of personal sites, but kept the Delicious.com for ASTD-Lincoln. I use it the resources and links almost as often as I add new ones.

To use the social bookmarking site, just go to the URL given in the first paragraph. On the right side, click a keyword or topic to narrow the list. You can click another to further refine the list. If you want to share the resource page with someone, you’ll notice it is the basic URL followed by a forward slash and the keyword (eg. /video).

If you are a Delicious.com user, you can subscribe to the astdlincoln page and get updated with additions. I usually add at least one or two each week. Enjoy this tasty tidbit of knowledge, it’s DELICIOUS!

Create Realistic Exercise Files with Fake Names

Ranelle Maltas — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 14:11:49 GMT

There are many times when teaching, I need a big list of fake information. It could be names, dates, addresses or whatever. It doesn’t have to mean anything, but I don’t want to take hours just to type a whole bunch of fake data that looks fake. I need it to look real and act like real data. Sometimes it’s for spreadsheet training, database testing, mail merge training (you get the idea).

Lucky for me, I found a website that will do it all for me. And customized, too! Check out FakeNameGenerator.com. The first page will give you just one record, but if you click on the Order in Bulk link at the top, you can order up to 50,000 records with the information you request (from a predefined list). You can choose from which country, approximate age groups, and gender.

For me, the .csv (comma separated value) format works best as it can easily import into most programs I use. But, there is a good variety of options for you to chose from. And best of all, it’s FREE! Oh yea, uh-huh, do the “happy me” dance.

Countdown to a New Year (Timers, too)

Ranelle Maltas — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 14:11:12 GMT

Happy New Year! Did you count down to the New Year? If you were watching television, that was easy. But what if you are in a training session and need to count down to the end of a break, breakout session, quiz, or whatever? There are lots of options for you.

e.ggtimer.com is a simple online timer. They have lots of predefined timers, but you can set your own and bookmark it to go back to it easily. If you need more than one, try my.online-eggtimer.com. You can create multiple times and bookmark them for easy use later.

My favorite is the online-stopwatch.com. You can use it online or download for off-line use. They have a countdown, stopwatch, split lap, egg, bomb, clock, chess clock, chess timet, online clock, online alarm clock, online digital clock, cash clock, interval timer, metronome (for you music people), a stay on top app, custom countdown, online calculator and a Windows 7 gadget. I’ve downloaded the timers and saved them on my USB drive along with my presentations and exercise files I use for training. It’s with me where ever I go. Small and simple and hasn’t failed me yet.

Learning in the Cloud with Google Docs

Ranelle Maltas — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 14:06:59 GMT

For the past six months, I’ve been writing these articles. I type them up in Google Docs and then share it with David Jacobs, Vice President of Communications. It’s so easy to either type in Google Docs or upload a Microsoft Word file. Then I click the Share button and pick David out of my contact list. He then has access to the document where he can edit and save or copy/paste into the newsletter. It has worked very well for us since neither one needs access to a specific email account, just the Internet, which we can access from anywhere. I’ve worked on articles at home, on vacation and in the office.

You may be asking yourself, “What does this have to do with training technology?” Let me ask you a question, “Do you work with Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) and require them to provide you information for your training?” If the answer is “yes,” I have the answer you’re looking for. Google Docs. The SME can type/upload the file to Google Docs where you can edit to make it more understandable to the lay-person.

Do you have more than one trainer working on the same training? Google Docs allows you to share the training materials as you work on them. When you need to share the documentation with a new trainer or if it’s a handout, you can share it with the learners without printing on paper.

I could go on, but I hope this has sparked your imagination. Also, Google Docs is not the only answer. It’s just the one I use. There is also Zoho Docs, Microsoft Office Live (Skydrive), Adobe Buzzword, TitanPad, Entri, and collabedit just to name a few. Each have their own benefits. Not every option may work for you, but give it a try. You may become addicted to sharing!

Want to check out this article on Google Docs? Visit http://tinyurl.com/28apupp. Just so you know, I made it public to view, but not edit. Sorry folks.

Easy as a Click(er)

Ranelle Maltas — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 14:10:42 GMT

You may have heard about Audience Response Systems (ARS), Personal Response Systems (PRS), Student Response Systems (SRS) and Classroom Response Systems (CRS). Most people refer to the device as Clickers. What ever you call it, many people have found them to be an invaluable tool to increase learning during instructor-led training.

On campus, there are some professors that use clickers to just take attendance or a quiz. Although that works, it's not really the best practice. While training, you ask questions of the participants like "do you understand?" to determine of what you just said made sense. You hope someone is brave enough to shake their head "yes" or "no," but all you get is a glazed over look like you just spoke Latin. Quizzes are designed to give feedback to verify what the participants have learned. But you only get this feedback after the training and the papers have been graded.

Imagine you are training and you ask a question to find out if they comprehend what you just told them. On the spot, you find out who is awake and answered (anonymously) and if they really understood the concept. If you find they did not, you can at that point in time address the topic from another point of view. You can ask the question again to see if the responses have changed for the better or not. You can stay on topic until the topic is learned. This is clickers at work.

There are a ton of options for clickers on the market. Two of the top are Turning Technologies and i>Clicker. Another popluar one is eInstruction. These are paid products where each participant has either a proprietary clicker or software for a laptop, and you have software to manage the responses. If you are looking for a more simple option, Poll Everywhere is gaining in popularity. It lets you use any mobile device without requiring the purchase of a proprietary clicker. Want to go more mainstream? Have people use Twitter and answer with a specific hashtag to filter the results or use twtpoll. Feeling adventurous? Try Text The Mob [Beta]. Participants can respond with their cell phones.

If you just want to learn more, check out Derek Bruff's blog, Teaching with Classroom Response Systems, at http://derekbruff.com/teachingwithcrs. He literally wrote the book on Teaching with Classroom Response Systems.

Screensharing to Learn at a Distance

Ranelle Maltas — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 14:09:43 GMT

In the world of computer training and support, I often get phone calls from people telling me that their headers and footers aren’t working (or something of the sort). Not being computer techies, they don’t know how to describe what is on their screen accurately enough for me to understand. Being a wimp myself and not wanting to run across campus in the rain or snow, I needed a way to see their screen without leaving my computer. (Okay, so a more politically correct option is that it I waste 20 minutes of my day to walk there and another 20 minutes back. Option two is that they are at a remote site in another town.)

I began using Adobe’s Connect Now. It’s free when you register and can have up to three connections at a time. It uses audio and video with screensharing capabilities. I don’t use the video or audio to save bandwidth and just talk on the phone with the other person. Once the other person joins the meeting via a URL, you can then promote them to a presenter. They now have the ability to share their screen with you or you can share your screen with them, which ever you prefer. It does use flash technology and so you have to download and install a plug-in (which is easy to do) but requires administrative rights on the computer.

Recently, I discovered a couple other options. The first is called join.me. It’s a free service offered by Log Me In. This one also requires you to download the join.me client. It’s a quick install. It gives you a simple toolbar at the top of your screen. Just send someone the nine-digit code (join.me/###-###-###) to give them access to your screen. I can see this being used to give a quick tutorial when needed.

Another one, Mikogo, looks just as easy. It requires you to have a free account with them. Once registered, you can download the client application (it’s small). Once installed, it adds a shortcut to your desktop and also appears as an icon in your system tray (I used Windows). Click the icon to open the menu and begin a session. Share the nine-digit code with participants (there is a Join Session link on the home page). You could also have participants download and install the participant program to make joining easy if you hold regular sessions.

Do I even need to mention at this point that all of these are free? Adobe Connect does have a paid option that works very well.

I plan on using one of these with my mom who just got her first computer. She never calls to say, “I love you” anymore. Every time I answer the phone it’s, “I need your help with something on the computer.” I think this will make my life easier. I love you, Mom!

HBS Elevator Pitch Builder

Ranelle Maltas — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 14:08:32 GMT

Do you ever have a hard time explaining what you do to people in just a couple of sentences? More importantly, can you do it so they want to know more? A couple years back, one of our ASTD-Lincoln programs was how to build an effective “elevator pitch.” You know, that quick speech about you and/or your service that can be delivered in 1-2 minutes. It was really effective and I’ve used it a lot. But what do you do if you missed this valuable resource?

The Harvard Business School has created an online elevator pitch builder. It helps you pick words for the five rules, then builds a speech with a word count, estimated time of delivery, and count of repeated words. It’s not perfect, but is certainly a great way to help you look at your speech in another way.

You can check it out online at http://www.alumni.hbs.edu/careers/pitch/. And did I mention it’s FREE?

Practice in front of a Virtual Audience

Ranelle Maltas — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 14:09:08 GMT

Need some practice speaking, but don't want the embarrassment of messing up in front of a live audience? Try the Virtual Audience! The Virtual Audience program allows you to practice in a virtual reality performing in front of a living, breathing virtual audience.

The software runs on the free Adobe AIR runtime environment, so you will need to download that first if you don't already have it installed. You can get it at http://get.adobe.com/air/. Next, download and install and the Virtual Audience for free. You must have a web cam and microphone to use.

Initially, a member of the music faculty asked to have a DVD with looped video of an audience to give music students a chance to practice in front of an audience that did the distracting things that audiences do, cough, sneeze, whisper, etc. In theory, this would allow the student to be desensitized to audience distractions. This prompted the program's creator, Britt Carr, to make a more interactive version using Flash’s ability to sense user’s movement and sound using a web camera’s lens (as the audience’s eyes) and mic (as their ears).

It is a pretty cool little program. If you would like to more about the program and how it works, you can read Britt's blog post at http://learningactivities.wordpress.com/2009/03/31/virtual-audience-using-adobe-air/. You can also find the download for the program there as well.

What’s New in PowerPoint 2010

Ranelle Maltas — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 14:06:19 GMT

On June 15, 2010, Microsoft Office 2010 became available. It seems for the last few updates, Microsoft has treated PowerPoint like the red-headed step child, giving just enough attention, but not really putting a lot into it. This latest upgrade is different.

There are a lot of general changes and enhancements to all of Microsoft Office 2010, but for the purpose of this article, I’m only going to focus on the specifics of PowerPoint that you, as trainers, would be concerned about.

Organize your slides into sections

This new feature does not change your presentation show, but instead allows you to section your slides to allow for easy navigation as you edit. In the Navigation pane (left side of Normal view) you can create section headings that you can collapse and expand to allow you to easily get to the slide you need without all the scrolling up and down.

Merge and compare presentations

If you work with others on presentations or just want to compare your new presentation to an old one, you'll love this. You have one presentation open, then click the Compare button and find the other presentation to compare to. Little icons appear where changes occur between the two versions. You can click the icon to see the change.

Embed, edit, and play video in your presentation

Videos in your presentations become part of (embedded in) the presentation file. That means when you move your presentation to a flash drive or send in an email, you no longer have to include the video file; it is a part of your presentation. WOO-HOO!!! But wait, there's more...

You can trim an audio or video clip in PowerPoint. You can't fully edit, but if you need to knock out the extra bits at the beginning and/or end, you can. You can also place bookmarks at different places in your audio or video clip that will trigger an animation or to jump to a specific location in the video. COOL!

Link to a video from a website

For those of you have wanted to show YouTube videos, you can copy the embed code from YouTube and then add it to your presentation. Can I get a, "WOOT WOOT" for that one? That's worth the price of admission right there.

Improved Format Painter/New Animation Painter

If you have used Format Painter to copy and paste formatting between text, you’ll be happy to know it now also will copy and paste formatting shapes/images.

The Animation Painter allows you to copy animations, similar to how you would use the Format Painter to copy text formatting.

New 3-D slide transitions

You may have heard me preach against using the Random slide transition. It was an option that decided your slide's transition for you. It changed every time and you never knew what you'd get. I've always said it was the worst option ever. Have you noticed I'm using past tense? Yes, it's finally gone and you now have a nice variety of new 3-D options. If you have have ever watched an Apple Keynote presentation, you may have been jealous of the cool transitions. You don't have have to be any more.

Turn your presentation into a video

In the past, if you wanted to share your presentation but not allow anyone to edit it, you had to save it as a .PDF. If you wanted to share it online, your only options were to upload to SlideShare.com or authorSTREAM.com or some like service. Now you can record your presentation as a video for you to email or post on YouTube.com.

Broadcast your slide show

Share a slide show with anyone, anywhere, over the Web. You send a link (URL) to your audience, and then everyone you invited watches a synchronized view of your slide show in their browser. There are;, however, some limitations.

Anyone with the link to your slide show can view it. If an invited audience member shares the link with someone else, that person can view your slide show as well.
You need to be connected to the Internet and logged into your Windows Live account.
The broadcast slide show feature can be viewed in the Internet Explorer, Firefox, and Safari for Mac browsers.
Some features are changed when broadcasted online. (Only the Fade transition is used, audio/video cannot be transmitted, no links to websites, no annotations).

Turn your mouse into a laser pointer

When you want to emphasize a point on a slide, you can turn your mouse pointer into a laser pointer. All you need to do is while in Slide Show view, hold down CTRL, and click the left mouse button to point.

There are other neat new features and changes to the customization of the Office button (now called Backstage view), you can also customize the ribbons and so much more. For more details about the changes to Microsoft Office 2010, you can visit http://tinyurl.com/GetStartedOffice2010, or talk to me at a meeting sometime. I'd love to chat with you.