custom e-learning

September 21, 2012

Enspire Learning Wins Two CLO Learning in Practice Awards

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

AUSTIN, TX – Sept. 21, 2012 – Enspire Learning, a leader in simulation-based leadership development programs and custom learning solutions, won a gold and a bronze 2012 Chief Learning Officer Learning in Practice Award.

The Learning In Practice awards, now in their ninth year, recognize industry leaders who have demonstrated excellence in the design and delivery of employee development programs.

Enspire took home the gold medal in the Content category for a submission featuring Cisco Organizational Learning, a graphic novel-style online course. The course was created to ensure that Cisco has a foundational capability to derive learnings from successes and failures as the basis for improving the customer experience.

In the Simulations and Gaming category, Enspire won a bronze medal for a submission featuring Business Challenge at GE Aviation. Business Challenge is a competitive, team-based simulation in which participants manage the operations of a company and learn how to make better day-to-day decisions using business acumen. GE Aviation used the program to help employees gain greater awareness of how to live out the company purpose and growth values by improving their understanding of finance.

“The Learning In Practice awards were established to recognize transformational and visionary leaders in enterprise education,” said Norm Kamikow, president and editor in chief of MediaTec Publishing Inc., which publishes Chief Learning Officer magazine. “More than 200 top learning executives and solution providers were nominated by their peers in 15 categories. These finalists are the industry leaders who truly champion innovation and transform it into learning and value for their organizations.”

About MediaTec Publishing Inc.
MediaTec Publishing Inc. is a leading integrated media company serving the human capital, management and workforce development industries. MediaTec publishes Chief Learning Officer, Diversity Executive and Talent Management magazines. MediaTec partners with recognized industry experts and provides thought-provoking feature articles, news, opinions and insights through its award-winning publications, events and e-media.


September 19, 2012

Enspire Learning Wins Three Brandon Hall Excellence Awards

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

AUSTIN, TX – Sept. 19, 2012 – Enspire Learning, a leader in simulation-based leadership development programs and custom learning solutions, won a gold, a silver, and a bronze 2012 Brandon Hall Award.

Enspire’s Business Challenge simulation at ConAgra Foods took the gold award for excellence in the “Best Use of Games for Learning” category. Business Challenge is a competitive, team-based simulation in which participants manage the operations of a company and learn how to make better day-to-day decisions using business acumen. ConAgra Foods, a Fortune 500 packaged foods company, recognized that improving performance and investing in leadership training at the director level was a critical component to achieving its revenue and profit goals. ConAgra Foods incorporated Business Challenge into their leadership development program to improve employee business acumen to help them reach those goals.

The AMD Brazos online course created by Enspire won the silver award in the “Best Custom Content” category. The course provided AMD sales account managers with the tools they needed to market Accelerated Processing Units effectively, and in turn grow loyalty among the customer base and increase revenue through increased sales. The course was incorporated into the AMD Customer Group University Sales Enablement program, which won the bronze award in the “Best Program for Sales Training and Performance” category.

“This years’ winner should be very proud of their achievements especially based on the rigorous judging process all submissions underwent,” said Mike Cooke, Chief Executive Officer of Brandon Hall Group, Inc. “We are honored to recognize the award winners who exemplify a high standard of performance in their organization and demonstrate clear, measurable business results through these innovative programs.”

The entries were evaluated by a panel of veteran, independent senior industry experts, Brandon Hall Group Sr. Analysts and Executive Leadership based upon the following criteria: fit the need, design of the program, functionality, innovation, and overall measureable benefits.”

The Brandon Hall Excellence in Learning Awards are presented annually by Brandon Hall Group, one of the leading research firms in training and development. The winners are listed at www.brandon-hall.com.


June 18, 2012

Enspire Learning Named to Content Development Companies Watch List

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

AUSTIN, TX – June 18, 2012 – Enspire Learning, a leader in custom learning solutions and leadership programs, has been named to the 2012 Content Development Companies Watch List by TrainingIndustry.com.

TrainingIndustry.com compiled this list to help buyers of training services make informed decisions about learning providers.

“We are glad to be named to the 2012 Content Development Companies Watch List” said Ed Garner, Vice President of Custom Development Services at Enspire Learning. “I am thankful to work with such a strong team of learning professionals.”

Companies named to the Watch List were chosen for demonstrating excellence in many areas, including:

  • Industry visibility, innovation and impact
  • Capability to develop and deliver multiple types of content
  • Company size and growth potential
  • Depth and breadth of subject matter expertise
  • Quality of clients
  • Geographic reach

“The 2012 Content Development Watch List showcases 12 companies committed to innovation and customization in the content development work space. Eight of these companies are new to the list and they represent a strong North American presence for custom content,” said Ken Taylor, Chief Operating Officer at Training Industry, Inc.

To view the complete 2012 Content Development Companies Watch List, visit TrainingIndustry.com.


June 14, 2012

Friday Spotlight > Veterinary Exam Room Communication

VCA Animal Hospitals operates over 580 small animal hospitals in 41 states and Canada. These hospitals are staffed by more than 2,600 fully qualified, dedicated, and compassionate doctors who provide the very best in general and specialty veterinary care.

In a national survey of VCA doctors, 87 percent identified “improving exam room communication” as the skill with the greatest impact on their job performance. To help doctors grow in this area, VCA partnered with Enspire Learning in 2011 to create the Communication Works: Happy Doctors, Loyal Clients, Healthy Pets program. Built from extensive field research with VCA doctors and over four decades of evidence-based studies on doctor-patient communication, the program is designed to lead to healthier pets, happier clients, and more professionally satisfied doctors. The program includes a classroom-based collaborative learning workshop, online training modules for content and skills reinforcement, and an online repository for readings, discussion forums, and other resources.

Enspire and our media arm, Houndstooth, developed a trailer (below) for the program’s launch. Read this case study to learn more about our work with VCA!


May 10, 2012

3D or not 2D? That is the Question

Is 3D media a better choice than 2D for asynchronous learning experiences?

First, context: I think marketing and entertainment savvy have an important place in training and development. All cross-disciplinary approaches to improve the design and production of exceptional online learning experiences are welcome. Enspire’s own media subsidiary, Houndstooth, reflects this philosophy – cross pollinating heavily between the worlds of marketing, learning, and entertainment, and deploying 3D or 2D media as need dictates.

That said, I’ve noticed customers are specifically seeking out vendors to create 3D environments for asynchronous learning experiences.  Note the “asynchronous” modifier.  I’m referring to single user experiences, not multi-user virtual worlds.

Is 3D better for this kind of learning?
Continue reading →


May 4, 2012

Friday Spotlight > 2012 Texas Film Hall of Fame Awards

,

Enspire’s Houndstooth media arm provides design and high end media production for Enspire Learning products and custom services.  HT also explores creative projects outside the learning space in Austin and beyond. All this creativity finds its way back into Enspire work… a virtuous cycle.

Every year, writer/director Richard Linklater‘s Austin Film Society honors outstanding Texans who’ve made a significant contribution to film and entertainment, and non-Texans who have advanced the Texas entertainment industry.

Houndstooth developed the motion graphics package for the 2012 Texas Film Hall of Fame Awards banquet,  held at Austin City Limit’s new home – The Moody Theater – in the W Hotel in downtown Austin.   Houndstooth also designed and executed custom lighting for the  event, painting the outside of the W with a kaleidoscope of color.  View HT’s Ziris loop and other videos here, and pictures from the banquet on Flickr.

Catch KLRU‘s rebroadcast of the show on May 14th at 10:00 PM CST!

 


April 20, 2012

Friday Spotlight > MyGraduationPlan

In 2011, Excent engaged Enspire Learning to create online instruction for MyGraduationPlan®, a unique, flexible curriculum that empowers students with disabilities.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-659tz057c&list=PL9332BF7121D9EDB2&index=1&feature=plpp_video


February 15, 2012

Lights, Camera, WOOF!

VCA Animal Hospitals (NASDAQ:WOOF) operates over 580 small animal hospitals in 41 states and Canada, staffed with 2,600 fully qualified, dedicated, and compassionate doctors. VCA partnered with Enspire to create an 11 hour blended curriculum focused on doctor communication skills, of which high quality video is an important piece. The large video shoot supporting the program took place recently in Austin, and while days were long it was a resounding success. Here’s how your shoot can succeed, too. Continue reading →


December 16, 2011

Friday Spotlight > Coats for Kids

Austin’s Coats for Kids effort is the second largest effort of its kind in the country. This was the 25th year for the drive, an annual community project that this year put 30,000 coats in the hands of eligible kids.  Enspire donated laptop computers for use at donation centers and Enspire VP of Business Development (below left) ran the distribution site at Del Valle Elementary School.