Read Online at: http://www.e-learningguru.com/articles/ezine/guru5_8.htm

Phew, whirlwind business travel, DevCon conference in Utah, and some minor summer slacking have delayed this issue. Lots to catch up on though. Look for another "catchup" issue in the weeks ahead.

My new favorite blog - from Brent Schlenker, Intel
Brent is an e-learning guru over at Intel and a prophet for Learning2.0 (e.g., Wikis) stuff. I met him at the eLearning DevCon conference... officially when during my keynote I asked if anyone was blogging in real time and he was the only one who was. He's been blogging for a year already but his blog is "new" to me. Great style, energy, wide swash of innovation but most with links back to e-learning. In fact, I think this is now my FAVORITE blog.

• Start by reading his August archives -- thought his topics were especially strong
• Visit his home page and make sure to get the RSS feed (note the cool features like you can even get PDF versions or mobile device versions of his posts)

Interview with Jane Bozarth - E-Learning on Shoestring
A couple months back we posted a book summary of Jane Bozarth's E-Learning Solutions on a Shoestring. Now in this follow-up interview.

New Edition: Rapid Instructional Design
George Piskurich, Ph.D. has released Rapid Instructional Design: Learning ID Fast and Right through Pfeiffer. This is the 2nd edition of the best-selling book. This is a solid valuable book, but aimed more for the serious ID professional -- perfect for college textbook; at almost 500 pages it's not for the casual practitioner. Solid review of the ISD process packed with tips, checklists and shortcuts. Good ideas and activities for synchronous training too. Browse or buy on Amazon here.

Free SCORM 2004 Testing Toolkit
The generous folks at Rustici Software are providing free access to their tool Score Test Track. I haven't tried it yet myself but they claim

The Test Track includes very detailed debugging and state information to help you figure out why your SCORM courseware behaves as it does. At any time, you can view the current state of the activity tree, monitor SCORM API calls, or trace the execution of the course’s sequencing logic. The Test Track even allows you to view parser warnings that describe slight imperfections in the course manifest.

Free Textbooks with Ads Inside?
This NY Times article is making the blogger rounds. A Minnesota publisher called Freeloader Press is offering free electronic textbooks to students and colleges, the only catch is that there are advertisements inside the text. About 100 colleges have signed on to try them out.

While every article and blogger I've read has been aghast and argues against this practice, I'm not so sure I agree. After all:

• College students are already inundated with ads, including on-campus ads
• College students are probably savvy enough to ignore, screen or objectively view the ads in the text
• Other pseduo-objective info sources like newspapers and magazines accept ads -- we somehow trust editorial to be separate from advertising, and readers ignore or view ads as they wish
• Channel One has been beaming ad-supported content into schools for 16 years and I don't think our kids are turning out for the worse
• And practically speaking, as someone who worked his way through college, if I got my textbooks for free it would have saved me about a 100 hours a year of work. Time that I could have used studying!

What does have me worried is the slippery slope. Could this commercial support of education extend someday to having our first graders forced to view 30 minutes of McDonald's and Coca-Cola ads each morning to start the day? E-mail me your thoughts at kkruse@e-learningGuru.com.

I'm Hiring an ID and a Flash Designer
I'm looking for an entry level to intermediate Flash designer. Someone just out of school but with skills and attitude would be great. Also looking for an instructional designer who can actually write scripts/storyboards. E-learning, workbooks, and workshops for pharmaceutical clients. If interested send me a resume and salary req to kkruse@e-learningGuru.com.

CBI's Pharmaceutical Sales Training Summit
October 19-20 in West Conshohocken, PA. Description. I'll be moderating a panel on innovation. If interested I can get you $300 off the ticket price. Send me a note at kkruse@e-learningGuru.com.

E-Learning 2006 Conference - Save 10%
If you want to explore how to link e-learning strategies with e-learning technology, check out this IQPC event. I can't make it myself due to a schedule conflict but my friends and former clients Ted Lehne of Delta and Kee Meng Yeo of J&J are sure to deliver great sessions. They'll be joined by peers from Home Depot, IBM, Oracle, Accenture and others. Use the Guru promo code EL99 and they'll give you a 10% discount. Click here for full conference info.

Here's to new friends and new ideas,

-- Kevin

Kevin Kruse is a writer, designer, and entrepreneur. He is the President of AXIOM Professional Health Learning. He can be reached at kkruse@e-learningguru.com.