ID Resources Review
Below is a review of three instructional design blogs/resource sites with a description, critique, and suggestion of how they might serve as an ongoing resource for those in the instructional design field.
Learning Solutions Magazine (LSM)
The LSM is a content offshoot of the eLearning Guild (www.elearningguild.com). The LSM site offers a robust collection of articles on its blog, published by a variety of authors. The topics are all contemporary and offer information for the ID professional to contemplate for their own practice. The site also lists major upcoming conferences in the learning and instructional design fields.
LSM allows its subscribers (free) to comment on the articles and to also receive their biweekly newsletter.
Having articles from multiple authors on contemporary and practical issues is especially helpful to those just entering the ID field. These articles help orient one to the trends and new technologies being adopted. Because the articles tend to be full-length, informative pieces, they do seem to generate much discussion.
eLearning Industry (ELI)
One of the most robust ID-related sites, ELI offers hundreds of articles organized by topic. ELI’s site also lists numerous learning opportunities, from large conferences, smaller seminars, and webinars. Similar to most of the other ID sites, ELI also maintains a LinkedIn and Facebook presence. It is through those social media platforms that much of the interaction amongst subscribers and followers occurs.
ELI’s article repository is exceptionally well-organized. It sorts the contributions by major topics allowing readers to search and browse amongst the material that interests them most. The site cross-lists its major articles on to its social media platforms, which makes it easier for followers to keep up through their preferred venue, as they do not appear to offer an RSS feed on their website.
Rapid eLearning Blog (REB)
Hosted by Articulate, creator of two popular elearning authoring packages, the REB “shares practical tips & tricks to help you become a rapid elearning pro.” Because this blog focuses on elearning in particular rather than instructional design in general, its articles tend to be more focused. Although hosted by a software developer, the articles are not product-centric but instead cover areas of general applicability, such as leveraging social media, using interactive video, and building interactions. Articles on this site tend to receive more “traction” in terms of comments.
One of the key differentiators of REB’s content is its focus on practical matters related specifically to elearning development. For those working primarily, or exclusively, in the elearning sector, these articles offer timely, directly applicable information. The practical material is a welcome supplement to the many higher-level conceptual articles found on some sites.