How do you create engagement in this dead zone called your Facebook page? How do you make your audience like your posts, talk about them, share them, and comment on them?

Watch this three and a half minute video to learn how to connect with your viewers in order to avoid the “Death by Facebook” syndrom.

Click here if you cannot see the video below.

WHAT TO DO NOW:

In the comments below please share YOUR strategies for boosting Facebook engagement

If you liked this discussion, please subscribe to my blog to receive timely updates and your FREE Attention Grabber:

Don’t forget to get our #1 Amazon Bestseller!

Let’s connect:

Like my Facebook page to stay in touch:

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If you liked this video you might also like the following posts:

http://effectiveonlineteaching.org/2012/04/18/the-golden-climate-in-distance-learning-increase-connection-engagement-performance-enjoyment-online/

http://effectiveonlineteaching.org/2012/04/11/pinterest-a-new-connection-power-house/

http://effectiveonlineteaching.org/2012/03/21/5-cs-for-building-connection-in-social-media/

Have you ever thought how the rapid increase of tablets and smart phones and our shrinking attention spans will shape the future of learning?

Many industry leaders believe that the formal education is dying out and that instead the future learning will be bite-sized delivered via mobile platforms sprinkled with social networking. It will be able to adapt to each students’ personality, their learning preference for a particular task and their background knowledge. It will also be fully co-creative as every member of the learning community will be in the driver’s seat. Other, more traditional professionals who are accustomed to being custodians of learning and in full control of it, meet this idea with resistance. Where in this continuum do you belong?

Watch this 5 minute video to see Dr. Nish Sonwalker’s discussion about an Adaptive Mobile Management System and let me know what you think! (click here if you can’t see the video)

 What to do now:

In the comments below please write down the features of LMS that you would like to see in the future

If you liked this discussion, please subscribe to my blog to receive timely updates and your FREE Attention Grabber:

Let’s connect:

Like my Facebook page to stay in touch:

Get some up-to-date tweets on psychology, connection, engagement and enjoyment in the online context:

If you liked this video you might also like the following posts:

http://effectiveonlineteaching.org/2012/04/11/pinterest-a-new-connection-power-house/

http://effectiveonlineteaching.org/2012/04/04/attention-boosting-webinar-starters/

http://effectiveonlineteaching.org/2012/03/21/5-cs-for-building-connection-in-social-media/

http://effectiveonlineteaching.org/2012/03/07/social-loafers-free-riders-and-sucker-roles-in-online-group-projects/

Today’s “Hot Topics Wednesdays” episode is devoted to learner autonomy. We all know that development of learner autonomy is important in any educational setting. However, in distance learning it becomes crucial. How do we make our learners more autonomous? How do we maximize connection and minimize isolation?Watch this five and a half minute video to learn about the Dynamic Interrelational Model proposed by Dr. LaGanza that suggests some strategies for boosting learner autonomy online.

(Click here if you don’t see the video)

Also, if you missed it, watch our video introducing our new book

Get our book on May 8th, 2012 here: http://www.amazon.com/The-Golden-Climate-Distance-Learning/dp/0983677174/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1335303997&sr=8-1

WHAT TO DO NOW:

In the comments below please share YOUR strategies for increasing learner autonomy online.

If you liked this discussion, please subscribe to my blog to receive timely updates and your FREE Attention Grabber:

Let’s connect:

Like my Facebook page to stay in touch:

Get some up-to-date tweets on psychology, connection, engagement and enjoyment in the online context:

 If you liked this video you might also like the following posts:

http://effectiveonlineteaching.org/2012/04/25/a-sage-on-the-stage-a-guide-on-the-side-what-is-the-role-of-a-teacher-online/

http://effectiveonlineteaching.org/2012/04/18/the-golden-climate-in-distance-learning-increase-connection-engagement-performance-enjoyment-online/

Did you notice how the title almost rhymes? Ha ha! I just did! Today’s “Hot Topics Wednesdays” episode deals with a very important issue in distance learning- the role of the teacher online. In the last couple of years we have seen a huge shift from the “sage on the stage” -type of learning with teacher-centered classrooms that did not work online, to a more recent ” a guide on the side” approach. However, in this post, Dr. LaGanza and I argue that “the guide one the side” is still a very limiting concept as it does not include the idea of “interrelation”, which is so needed for the creation of an optimal climate online. Watch this six minute video to hear Dr LaGanza’s opinion on this new role (click here if you don’t see the video)

Also, if you missed it last week, watch our video introducing our new book

Get our book on May 8th, 2012 here: http://www.amazon.com/The-Golden-Climate-Distance-Learning/dp/0983677174/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1335303997&sr=8-1

WHAT TO DO NOW:

In the comments below please write down what you think about this new role for an online teacher. Do you agree or disagree with Dr. LaGanza? Do you have your own view of this role?

If you liked this discussion, please subscribe to my blog to receive timely updates and your FREE Attention Grabber:

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Drum roll please… FINALLY I am excited to present to you a new book, “The Golden Climate in Distance Learning” that I co-authored with Dr. LaGanza.

If you are just considering teaching online or if you already teach online but feel stressed out and overwhelmed- this book will help you become successful in this environment. The book can help to improve your online interactions, even if you’re not a teacher. Who knows, one day you might have to teach online?

Unfortunately, despite the fact that distance learning field is growing tremendously, teachers are still often “thrown online” without any special preparation for this unique context. Most teacher training programs are limited to pure technology training and do not cover the pedagogy, changed role of the teacher online, and the psychology of online learning.

Therefore we decided to create a book for teachers that would be researched-based yet practical, that would address peculiarities of distance learning and help teachers develop the “Golden Climate”- an ultimate environment for teaching and training online.

The Golden Climate in Distance Learning addresses an essential dimension for distance learning teachers and trainers: how to BE with your students and trainees so as to increase their connectivity, engagement, enjoyment, performance, and autonomy. This book revises the teacher’s role and pedagogical approach to include an awareness of how the teacher can relate to their students and trainees on intellectual and emotional levels in order to optimize outcomes.

We also believe that with the help of specific strategies, distance learning has the potential to help you build the lifestyle of your dreams. Therefore, unlike any previous books on distance learning, The Golden Climate in Distance Learning promises not only to improve your results, but also to increase your enjoyment and fulfillment as a teacher as you watch your students bloom.

The book also contains exclusive interviews from Dr. Farhad Saba, Dr. Rosemary Lehman, Dr. Donna Gibbs, Dr.GermainRutherford, Anastasia Pryanikova, MA, JD; and James Breeze.

Watch this 3 and a half minute video for more details! (or click here)

JUST FOR YOU!

Just for my subscribers and readers I have included the Sample Table of Content here so you can easily see what the book covers.

Also, please enjoy an excerpt from the book Book sample!

PARTICIPATE IN OUR PROMOTIONAL PROGRAM ON MAY, 8, 2012

Whether you’ve been with us for a while or you are new to our world- I want to say THANK YOU!

                          We invite you to help us with our cause:

More online teachers deserve to master effective strategies that can make their online classrooms more successful and more enjoyable.

We are offering our special promotion on May, 8, 2012. Anyone who buys our book on that day will get a FREE copy of my e-book, “Teach Online” as our thank you for supporting the distance learning industry!

You will also be enrolled to win a Kindle!

As you know, for authors and business owners like myself, referrals are hugely important, and my business has grown based entirely on people like you spreading the word.

Here’s where you come in -

There are TOO MANY online teachers & trainers out there that I’m not reaching. They are still struggling with technology; thinking it’s not for them or that it does not work!

I want to reach these people through a huge platform – amazon.com. But to make that happen is going to be a bigger effort than I can achieve alone.

The more people who purchase our book on www.amazon.com on May 8, 2012, the higher it will be ranked and the more exposure it will get. It’s important to have a big rush of people buying all on the same day.

Here’s how you can help:

1. Spread the word to as many people as possible about the party- tweet it,

Facebook it, post it on LinkedIn & Google plus, share it via email, and even use word of mouth.

2. On May 8, 2012 go to our AMAZON PAGE

and get our book! Enjoy its unique content and the interviews of the leading experts in the field!! (Note: the book will be available May 8^th, 2012)

3. Email me your Amazon receipt to receive your bonus e-book and to have your name entered to win the free Kindle! mkostina@sbcglobal.net.

Thank you so much for your support on this, it means the world to me.

I’ll keep you posted as the big day approaches!

-         Marina

P.S. That link for May 8, 2012 again is:

http://www.amazon.com/The-Golden-Climate-Distance-Learning/dp/0983677174/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1334687795&sr=8-1

PLEASE FEEL FREE TO SHARE YOUR REACTIONS IN THE COMMENTS BELOW

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You have probably heard of a new “hot” social network called Pinterest. Yes, one more social network… I know, it might seem overwhelming but this one you just cannot afford to miss! Pinteres is one of the fastest growing sites whose unique visitors increased by 155% in just 1 (!) month, from December 2011 to January 2012; and it continues dominating the web!

 What is Pinterest?

Pinterest is a virtual pinboard where you can share, curate, and discover new interests by posting (aka ‘pinning,’) images or videos to your own or others’ pinboards. Since it is a social network, it is designed to create high interaction among its members through reposting it, sharing others’ pins on Facebook and Twitter or via email, and even embedding individual pins on your website or blogs. Here is an example of a Pinterest page:

Pinterest revolves around visual imaging. Therefore it helps people to communicate their lifestyles, interests, preferences and connect with like-minded individuals and companies.

                                             Why use Pinterest?       

1.   To Increase Traffic

If you are a business owner, a teacher, a researcher or just a person who wants to build connections with others, using Pinterest can be very helpful for boosting your traffic.

NB! Research shows that Pinterest drives MORE traffic than Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter or Google +

2.   To Build Links

Every time you use “pin it button” your pins include a link to you. This means that anyone who finds your content on Pinterest can visit your site in just one click, which generates leads and followers.

3.   To Create a Sense of  Community Among Your Customers, Clients and Students

Pinterest allows you to connect with like-minded people, which in turn helps your followers to build a community with you and with each other. There are 2 ‘follower options’ that users can take when someone likes a piece of content they found: a person can follow a specific board by a Pinterest user or a user’s account.

NOTE: In order to get onto Pinterest you will need to send a request and wait for the invitation to be granted.

13 Steps to Building Connections on Pinterest

1: Attract your target audience.

Create a board containing pins that would appeal to your target market and add some images from your website and your blog to show how your business fits into their interests.

2: Connect with others in your industry.

One of the main rules of networking is actually connecting to others, not just waiting for others to connect to you. Follow companies, organizations or people that are similar to your field, and repin their pins. You will see that they will often return the favor, which in turn will make you visible to their followers.

3: Like and comment on other users’ pins

Any time you like or comment on someone’s post, you not only build connections with the post’s owner but also provide exposure to your profile.  Remember that keeping it real and genuine in your comments is a surer way to gain popularity than blunt self-promotion.

4: Add a ‘Pin It’ or ‘Follow’ button to your website or blog.

Make it easy for people to pin your website or products by adding a ‘Pin It’ or ‘Follow’ button. The more people who pin your website, the more people who will visit it!

Note: If you want to share your pins on your Facebook page, click your username in the top-right toolbar, then -> Edit Profile. Then simply move the slider to ON to add your pins to your Facebook Timeline. You can also Tweet your pins by clicking the ‘Twitter’ box when you pin or repin an image.

5: Create targeted boards.

Don’t display all your passions on one board!  By creating boards with targeted focus you will attract followers who are interested in that particular topic. Targeted boards create clarity and actually boost your connections with others

Hint: You can use boards that are based on your core keywords and those that you use in your SEO strategy.

6: Promote through other channels

In order to jumpstart your Pinterest presence, you can  promote it through other platforms. You can add the Pinterest “follow” button to your website and use Facebook, LinkedIn, Google+, and Twitter to invite people to your site. You could also create Pinterest contest and promote it on your networking sites and your blog!

7. Use compelling images

Identify images on each of your top product or service pages that are most compelling. Try to avoid company logos or call to action images (like your BUY NOW button).
8. Update Your Site Regularly

You need to update your site at least once a week (better, daily!) to keep the flow of energy and the interest going. Otherwise people will lose interest and will stop coming back.

9.   Have a daily or weekly theme

In order to entice your followers to keep coming back and keep piquing their interest you can have special themes for each week. For instance, a “blue” day where everything you post on that day is the color blue.

10.  Learn from Others’ Success.

One way to learn about best Pinterest strategies is to follow its early adopters. Analyze which pins attracted more interaction and engagement and use similar strategies for your site.
11. Find your focus Groups.

In order to reach a particular demographic you can check out their boards on Pinterest & see what interests them. This will help you target your customers better.
12. Make it SEO -friendly

Use keywords and hashtags (#) for your posts. This will help add to the Search Engine Optimization for Pinterest.
13. Create Engagement with your community.

You should encourage your community to add their content. You can set your account so others can add pins to your boards, which will make your Pinterest page more interactive.

Although Pinterest is a new site, it’s viable and sustainable, and is even superseding Facebook, Google + and Twitter. Don’t let this one get away from you. Check it out and try to make sure that it fits in with your client’s social marketing plan.

WHAT TO DO NOW:

In the comments below please share YOUR strategies for successful use of Pinterest.

If you liked this discussion, please subscribe to my blog to receive timely updates and your FREE Attention Grabber:

Let’s connect:

Like my Facebook page to stay in touch:

Get some up-to-date tweets on psychology, connection, engagement and enjoyment in the online context:

If you enjoyed this post you might also enjoy the following:

http://effectiveonlineteaching.org/2011/10/12/what-is-your-online-presence-a-must-see-intervie

http://effectiveonlineteaching.org/2011/09/29/how-to-create-connection-in-distance-education/

http://effectiveonlineteaching.org/2011/10/06/how-to-create-connection-online-part-2/w-with-dr-rosemary-lehman/

50 Resources on Educational Games

• Serious Games
• Resources: Games and Gaming in Education- Don’t Waste Your Time
• Using computer Games in Education
• What Makes a Learning Game?
• Students Building Mobile Games
• Marc Prensky – Digital Game-Based Learning
• Gadgets, games and gizmos for learning
• Digital Game Based Learning
• It is All Fun and Games…And Then Students Learn
• Marc Prensky – Twitch Speed
• Army War College
• Digital games and learning gains
• Which name is better – Serious Games or Educational Simulations or…?
• Interactive learning with game-based design principles
• Immerse Yourself in Another Language
• Digital Games: A Motivational Perspective
• Colleges Play Games
• Walk a Mile in My Shoes: Games Let You Do That
• The Art of Making Video Games
• Good Video Games and Good Learning
• Colleges Play Games
• Casual Games get Serious
• Aspects of Game- Based Learning
• Lego Games
• Games for Change – Toolkit
• For a Better World: Digital Game and the Social Change Sector
• 36 Learning Games to Change the World
• Why Are Video Games Good For Learning?
• The use of computer and video games for learning
• Simulation Games – A Learning Tool
• Teaching Educational Games Resources
• BBC School Games
• Additional Resources for Digital Game-Based Learning
• Video games and the future of learning
• Game Development Research
• Yes You CAN Create E-learning Games
• Interesting Web Sites for Game-Based Training, e-Learning and Education
• Examples of Games Based Learning
• A Theory of Fun- Clive on Learning
• Games e-Learners Play
• Apple Learning Games
• ZaidLearn: 75 Free EduGames to Spice Up Your Course!
• The Top 5 Platforms for Creating Educational Video Games
• 24 Questions about computer games and education
• Game Studies 0102: Cultural framing of computer/video games.
• Gadgets, Games and Gizmos: Learning Algebra in a Game
• Games and the Gamer Generation
• Rapid authoring for immersive games and sims
• Games and Learner Assessment
• Gadgets, Games and Gizmos: ESL in SL

WHAT TO DO NOW:

In the comments below please let me know what you would like to see in this blog? What types of community building activies would you want to participate in? What topics would you like me to cover?

If you liked this discussion, please subscribe to my blog to receive timely updates and your FREE Attention Grabber:

Let’s connect:

Like my Facebook page to stay in touch:

Get some up-to-date tweets on psychology, connection, engagement and enjoyment in the online context:

If you enjoyed this post you might also enjoy the following:

http://effectiveonlineteaching.org/2012/01/04/how-to-fascinate-your-way-to-students-hearts-in-distance-learning/

http://effectiveonlineteaching.org/2011/11/16/surviving-the-cyber-jungle-one-breath-at-a-time/

http://effectiveonlineteaching.org/2011/10/18/all-work-and-no-play-makes-jack-a-dull-boy-or-how-gamification-improves-your-online-classroom/

We have the attention span of a goldfish…

We stop listening to a voicemessage after 10 seconds…

As trainers, teachers or business owners we are constantly fighting for people’s attention online, trying to find ways to make our information stand out. In the context of a webinar, capturing and maintaining people’s attention is a HUGE challenge.

Watch this 4 and a half minute video to learn 4 new strategies that will help you attract the attention of your audience and keep their interest during your webinar. (If you don’t see the video, please click HERE)

Here are the 3 games that I promised in the video (Source: Karmiko Burton):

Game #1: “You Choose What Happened”:

Presenters share a scenario and then post 3-4 possible answers on the screen and participants choose what likely happened next. The presenter then asks for several people to explain why they chose a specific answer (which gets them using their critical thinking/problem-solving skills). And then of course the presenter shares the correct answer.

Game #2:  “Hidden Object Game.”

Group together several images that contain key points that participants need to remember about the subject, action items, etc. Participants work on their own to identify 6 things they see in the image. Participants “raise their hand” to provide their answer. Then the presenter recaps the correct answers with additional details.
Game #3: “Word Scramble.”

If bullet points must be used to facilitate key ideas, scramble the words of one of the bullets and allow participants to unscramble the words. Participants “raise their hand” to answer (raising a hand online can show who did it first, second, etc.). The first person to answer correctly can earn points. Do this activity for every slide that contains bullets and at the end of the webinar; the person with the highest score can win something that’s related to the topic (free coaching session, book, etc.).

WHAT TO DO NOW

In the comments below please share YOUR strategies for successful starters in a webinar:

If you liked this discussion, please subscribe to my blog to receive timely updates and your FREE Attention Grabber:

Let’s connect:

Like my Facebook page to stay in touch:

Get some up-to-date tweets on psychology, connection, engagement and enjoyment in the online context:

If you enjoyed this post you might also enjoy the following:

http://effectiveonlineteaching.org/2012/03/28/how-to-cure-the-talking-head-syndrome-creating-online-videos-for-deeper-connection/

http://effectiveonlineteaching.org/2012/02/29/webinar-superstar-how-to-engage-your-audience-during-your-online-presentation/

http://effectiveonlineteaching.org/2012/01/10/7-tools-for-creating-a-killer-online-presentation/

 In our attempts to create more connections in distance learning, we try to experiment with different forms of media, and video seems to be one of the best tools for creating engagement online. However, research shows that people are extremely distracted when watching videos on the web, especially when it has the “Talking Head” syndrome and is designed for TV broadcasting rather than online experience.

Such videos are not very effective online. Watch this 4 minute video to find out the results of the eye movement research and to learn some strategies on how to make your online video more appealing for your audience.

click here or the video below:

WHAT TO DO NOW:

In the comments below please share YOUR strategies for making engaging videos online.

If you liked this discussion, please subscribe to my blog to receive timely updates and your FREE Attention Grabber:

Let’s connect:

Like my Facebook page to stay in touch:

Get some up-to-date tweets on psychology, connection, engagement and enjoyment in the online context:

If you enjoyed this post you might also enjoy the following:

http://effectiveonlineteaching.org/2012/02/29/webinar-superstar-how-to-engage-your-audience-during-your-online-presentation/

http://effectiveonlineteaching.org/2011/12/14/how-to-create-online-content-that-gets-attention-using-human-psychology/

http://effectiveonlineteaching.org/2011/10/06/how-to-create-connection-online-part-2/

http://effectiveonlineteaching.org/2011/09/29/how-to-create-connection-in-distance-education/

Many of us start to realize that social media has an enormous potential on our businesses and our teaching.  However,  “pushing content” onto your reader is no longer enough as people are hungry for human connection (despite the fact that we are on the Internet 24/7 and are linked to hundreds of thousands of people all the time).

Having an account on Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn does not mean that you engage with your followers.So how do you build connections in your social media world? This 6- minute video covers 5 Cs of connection. Click the video below (or the picture above) for more detail….even though you might want to skip my goofy Madonna impersonation:-

List of social media sites:

http://socialmediapearls.wordpress.com/2011/12/19/social-media-a-to-z-series-n-is-for-networks-40-social-networks-to-consider/

WHAT TO DO NOW:

In the comments below please write down how you build connections in your social networks?

If you liked this discussion, please subscribe to my blog to receive timely updates and your FREE Attention Grabber:

Let’s connect:

Like my Facebook page to stay in touch:

Get some up-to-date tweets on psychology, connection, engagement and enjoyment in the online context:

If you enjoyed this post you might also enjoy the following:

 http://effectiveonlineteaching.org/2012/01/04/how-to-fascinate-your-way-to-students-hearts-in-distance-learning/

http://effectiveonlineteaching.org/2011/12/14/how-to-create-online-content-that-gets-attention-using-human-psychology/

http://effectiveonlineteaching.org/2011/11/30/conflict-resolution-in-an-online-classroom-an-interview-with-anastasia-pryanikova/

http://effectiveonlineteaching.org/2011/10/12/what-is-your-online-presence-a-must-see-interview-with-dr-rosemary-lehman/

http://effectiveonlineteaching.org/2011/10/06/how-to-create-connection-online-part-2/

http://effectiveonlineteaching.org/2011/09/29/how-to-create-connection-in-distance-education/