Overview
The Self-Help Resources section provides helpful information and resources for business leaders and individuals tasked with meeting their team's training needs. This section looks at designing and facilitating beneficial learning experiences for adult learners, and includes tools, templates, and links to valuable industry information that can assist with bringing your design and facilitation ideas to life. Happy Creating!
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Brain Science
In this section, you will find information on how human beings physically, cognitively, and psychologically respond best to learning interventions.
Documents
Adult Learning Theory
Aligns learning solutions and training with the characteristics and needs of adult learners, to maximize learning engagement, acceptance, and application. Five Main categories and what they each mean to the learner.
Bloom's Taxonomy
Bloom's taxonomy is a classification system used to define levels of human cognition. (i.e. thinking, learning, and understanding.)
Websites
ATD: 3 Adult Learning Theories Every E-Learning Designer Must Know
As an instructional designer you want to create impactful courses that help your learner. This website helps answer the questions, what is Adult Learning Theory and why instructional designers need to know about adult learning theories. It also provides 3 Adult Learning Theories every E-Learning desinger must know.
Britt Andreatta: Brain-based Solutions for Today's Challenges
Dr. Britt Andreatta is an internationally recognized thought leader who creates brain science-based solutions to unlock the best in people and organizations. Her website provides curated brain science research on varying topics.
Mind Tools: Kirkpatrick's Model
Any time you design and deliver training, it is important to measure its effectiveness. This website explores Kirkpatrick's Four Levels of Training Evaluation Model, Level 1: Reactive, Level 2: Learning, Level 3: Behavior, and Level 4: Results, provides details for each level and how to apply it.
Videos
YouTube: How to Apply Brain Science to Learning Design
Wondering how to apply Brain Science to Learning Design? This micro lession youtube video provides a strategy called distributed practice that can help learners move information from short-term to long-term memory.
YouTube: What is E-Learning Anyway? Plus Instructional Design Examples!
Not sure what E-Learning is or how to apply it? This micro lesson youtube video provides the definition and examples and strategies to help you get started.
Copyright and Cobranding Guidelines
In this section, you will find guidelines for SoCalGas elements and information to protect original works of authorship.
Websites
E-Learning Heroes: Everything You Need to Know About Image Usage Rights
It's tricky to find appropriate, usable images for e-learning projects. And sometimes after you've found the right photo, it's unclear whether you can legally use it.
Gaslines: SoCalGas Branding Elements
SoCalGas branding elements. (i.e. logos, templates, branding, etc.)
Videos
YouTube: Understanding Copyright, Public Domain, and Fair Use
In this tutorial, you'll learn about the copyright protections that apply to work posted online, including images, text, videos, and more. You'll also learn about the rules that determine which of these resources you can use, and how you can use them.
Design Templates and Resources
In this section, you will find tools to support with content design and development.
Documents
Mind Mapping Activity Template PDF Document
Mind Mapping Activity Template PDF document.
Websites
Canva (Visual Design Tool) $ Paid Service
Canva is an online design and publishing tool with a mission to empower everyone in the world to design anything and publish anywhere.
Color Oracle: Design for the Color Impaired
Color Oracle is a free color blindness simulator for Windows, Mac and Linux. It takes the guesswork out of designing for color blindness by showing you in real time what people with common color vision impairments will see.
Damn Good Voices (Voice Overs) $ Paid Service
DGV focuses on bringing new voices to the market, mixed in with some highly skilled experts. All of our voices have graduated from some of the best drama schools throughout the world and are dedicated to delivering a top-class product.
E-Learning Heroes: Free Stock Photo Sites for E-Learning
Looking for some fresh images to use in your e-learning projects but short on budget dollars? You'd be surprised at how many stock photo sites offer free images you can use in personal and/or commercial projects.
Flickr Free Images
Free images to use in your e-learning projects. For SoCalGas images, enter SoCalGas in the search bar.
Gaslines: SoCalGas Branding Elements
SoCalGas branding elements. (i.e. logos, templates, branding, etc.)
LinkedIn Learning: 5 Tips To Making an Awesome PowerPoint Presentation
5 Tips to Making an Awesome PowerPoint Presentation - Make your PowerPoint presentations memorable by having awesome slides that enhance your presentation, not take away from it.
Microsoft Sway: Resources and Tutorials
New to Microsoft Sway? This article provides an overview of how easy it is to create and share anything with Sway’s colorful and interactive canvas. Learn how to create and preview your first Sway, how to add and embed content, and how to share your finished creation with others.
Perkins: How to Design for Color Blindness
Does color blindness impact digital resources such as websites and educational materials? Absolutely! When designing online materials, consider accessibility best practices - this will make your website or online resource accessible to all users. How to Design for Color Blindness by UXBlog shares information and examples to consider when designing websites favorable for colorblind users.
Powtoon: Create Jaw-Dropping Videos and Presentations $ Paid Service
Powtoon's mission is to empower individuals, teams, and companies to achieve measurable results by transforming communications into visual experiences that get their audience to care, connect, and act. Powtoon adds a spark of awesomeness to everyday communications, turning content into substance people really want to watch and engage with.
Removebg: Remove Image Background
Quickly and easily removes the background for images. Remove backgrounds 100% automatically in 5 seconds with one click. No matter if you want to make a background transparent (PNG) or add a white background to a photo - you can do it with this website.
Voices (Voice Overs) $ Paid Service
Voices is the world's #1 Voice Marketplace, with over 2 million registered users. Since 2005, the biggest and most beloved brands have entrusted Voices to help them find professional voice actors to bring their projects to life. Our mission is to create the definitive destination that connects people with the right voice to bring their words to life.
Vyond: The 100+ Video Production Terms You Need To Know $ Paid Service
Video terms glossary.
WellSaid Labs Studio: Convert Text to Voice in Real Time $ Paid Service
WellSaid Labs Studio is considered an AI voice generator. We focus on going from text to speech which is a more reliable, flexible, and efficient way to scale up AI voice in digital content.
Groups or Associations
In this section, you will find groups and associations that provide instructional design and other learning and development related support.
Websites
Association for Talent Development
Our members and customers are professionals who help others achieve their full potential by improving their knowledge, skills, and abilities in the workplace. They go by many titles: talent development managers, trainers, instructional designers, performance consultants, frontline managers, workplace learning professionals, and more.
DevLearn
DevLearn Conference & Expo is the place to explore the future of learning technologies and see where our industry is headed. As one of the largest L&D conferences and North America, DevLearn will energize you, inspire you, and give you the insight you need to bring your learning projects to life! Join industry leaders and professionals from all over the globe to discover best practices and strategies to enhance your everyday work.
E-Learning Heroes
If you create e-learning and / or use any Articulate software, this is the community for you. They provide best practices, forums, templates, tips and tricks, resources, additional learning and much much more.
Instructional Design Central
Instructional Design Central (IDC) was created to provide instructional design and learning related professionals access to resources, tools, and content so that they can be successful in their career and education.
Learning Guild
Imagine what you can do with the largest learning technologies community on your side. Join today and get access to thousands of live and on-demand learning resources - all designed to help you take your professional development further.
Viva Engage: SoCalGas Learning Council
The SoCalGas Learning Council is a network of employees involved in training initiatives throughout the company.
Instructional Design Models and Methodologies
In this section, you will find structured and effective learning design models to help with creating learning experiences, courses, and instructional content.
Websites
Creately: Top 7 Instructional Design Models to Create Effective Learning Material
Creately is a website that provides everything from ID process, models to use, and blogs to help support with creating effective learning materials.
E-Learning Industry: Top 10 Instructional Design Theories & Models For Your Next E-Learning Course
Knowing the foundational principles behind Instructional Design can help you create more effective eLearning experiences. Here are the top 10 instructional design theories & models that you should consider for your next e-learning course.
Instructional Design Centeral: Instructional Design Models
Instructional Design Centeral provides instructional design and learning design related professionals access to brilliant resources, tools, and content so that they can be successful in their career and education. Instructional Design Central (IDC) is also a vibrant community that connects over 26,000 instructional design related professionals around the globe in more 20 countries worldwide.
Instructional Design: Taxonomies
InstructionalDesign.org is provided to support students, educators, instructional designers, learning engineers, policy makers, and all others interested in the learning sciences and the art of designing effective learning experiences. This site provides information on instructional design concepts, therories and models.
Online Tutorials
In this section, you will find links to videos and tutorials to support in developing and designing.
Websites
360 Learning
Introducing The L&D Master Class: David James Teaches Impactful Digital-First L&D. In our L&D master class, join CLO David James (ex Disney Looop co-founder) for a six-part tour of impactful, digital-first L&D. From creating content alongside subject-matter experts to proving your learning impact, we'll show you what it really takes to solve tough business problems with L&D.
Microsoft: PowerPoint for Windows Training
Resources and tutorials for Microsoft PowerPoint.
Activities
In this section, you will find fun communication exercises that help individuals / teams get to know each other.
Websites
Museum Hack: The Only List of Icebreaker Questions You'll Ever Need
Here are fun introduction questions for virtual meetings, which are sometimes called Zoom icebreaker questions. These questions are especially useful during quarantine.
Session Lab: Library of Facilitation Techniques
Find the right tool for your next session.
Foundations of Facilitation
In this section, you will take a deeper dive into facilitation and learn how to keep learners engaged while ensuring that learning sticks.
Documents
SCGU Facilitation Tips Handbook
This handbook will be a great resource for you in your preparation to facilitate an in-person or virtual class, training, even a presentation. This handbook contains guidance and tips that come from the Employee Development Team and our experience with delivering both virtual and in-person courses for SoCalGas University.
Websites
ATD: How Can I Apply Brain Science to Virtual Learning?
Article on brain science and virtual learning.
The Knowledge Academy: What Is Facilitation? A Complete Guide
Blog that explores facilitation, shedding light on its pivotal role in fostering communication and synergy.
Session Lab: What is facilitation? Definition and Priciples
Article that shares the definition of facilitation and explores the key principles you can use to embody the approach successfully.
Groups or Associations
In this section, you will find groups and associations that provide instructional design and other learning and development related support.
Websites
Association for Talent Development
Our members and customers are professionals who help others achieve their full potential by improving their knowledge, skills, and abilities in the workplace. They go by many titles: talent development managers, trainers, instructional designers, performance consultants, frontline managers, workplace learning professionals, and more.
Viva Engage: SoCalGas Learning Council
The SoCalGas Learning Council is a network of employees involved in training initiatives throughout the company.
In-Person and Virtual Facilitation Best Practices
In this section, you will find simple, yet effective techniques to develop skills as a facilitator.
Documents
SCGU Facilitation Tips Handbook
This handbook will be a great resource for you in your preparation to facilitate an in-person or virtual class, training, even a presentation. This handbook contains guidance and tips that come from the Employee Development Team and our experience with delivering both virtual and in-person courses for SoCalGas University.
Websites
Franklin Covey: Facilitator Enhancement Day Series Body Language
Franklin Covey videos on body language.
Session Lab: What are Facilitation Skills and How to Improve Them
Article that looks at what facilitation skills are, including practical abilities, life competencies, and components of the facilitation mindset.
Virtual Speech: Key Facilitation Skills for Trainers and How to Improve Them
Guide that covers some of the key facilitation skills you need as a trainer and how you can improve them.
Videos
YouTube: Facilitation Skills Techniques and Secrets
Are you looking for facilitation skills training videos that will help you improve your facilitation techniques? This video shares facilitation techniques and secrets that will help transform you into a top-notch meeting facilitator.
Platforms and Engagement Tools
In this section, you will find various tools for facilitators to make learning fun and interactive.
Documents
SCGU Facilitation Tips Handbook
This handbook will be a great resource for you in your preparation to facilitate an in-person or virtual class, training, even a presentation. This handbook contains guidance and tips that come from the Employee Development Team and our experience with delivering both virtual and in-person courses for SoCalGas University.
Websites
Mentimeter: Engage Your Audience & Eliminate Awkward Silences
Mentimeter engagement platform.
Mentimeter: Interact With Your Audience in 3 Easy Steps
How to get started tutorial videos.
Microsoft: Use Breakout Rooms in Teams Meetings
Microsoft Teams breakout rooms tutorial.
