iPal Proud to Sponsor AHRC at the 2012 Aboriginal Entrepreneurs Conference and Tradeshow

Over the last year, iPal has had the good fortune of working closely with Aboriginal Human Resource Council (AHRC).  iPal and AHRC have developed a great partnership and have created many opportunities for people in the Aboriginal community to further develop their skills and abilities through our e-learning solutions.

On October 15^th and 16^th, 2012 AHRC will host the 2012 Aboriginal Entrepreneurs Conference and Tradeshow at the Westin Hotel in Ottawa ON.  This two day event “will highlight the significant role Aboriginal people, communities and businesses will play in the future economic development of Canada. This event delivers an important opportunity for economic development players in the Aboriginal community to connect with major developers from the private sector and learn how to fully participate in the many lucrative projects currently being initiated in Canada.”

iPal is proud to be a part of this event as a Diamond Sponsor and look forward to supporting AHRC as they continue to help employers develop and enhance Aboriginal inclusion in the work place.

For more information on the conference and tradeshow, please visit: 2012 Aboriginal Entrepreneurs Conference and Tradeshow.

For more information on AHRC visit: www.aboriginalhr.ca

E-Learning News: The Best of the Web – iPal Edition

iPal News

Here are some of our favourite stories and blog posts we have stumbled on.

Enjoy!

Maximizing the ROI on Employee Training With Mobile Learning – TLNT

No executive in their right mind would argue with the fact that employee training is a basic business necessity. When organizations experience growth, change or competitive pressure, gaps emerge between what employees know and what they need to know in order for the company to remain relevant in the marketplace.

Employee Engagement Matters for E-Learning – E-Learning Magazine

According to most definitions, an “engaged” employee is a high-quality performer who takes personal responsibility to work toward the success of an organization. Imagine if all your learners fit this definition. Such a population would likely look forward to training, proactively request clarification as needed, and eagerly apply new skills on the job.

Building Mobile Learning – Learning Solutions Magazine

Mobile learning, properly done, is a natural fit to the challenges that enterprises and their employees are facing. Mobile learning and information applications are small, and you should tightly target them to solve particular performance problems. This means that these applications are relatively fast and cheap to create, while paying off in almost immediate results.

Automotive Industry Experiments with New Learning Models to Innovate as Sales Fall - HR Magazine

The automotive industry has been hard hit by the recession with production levels down and falling sales but it continues to innovate with competitive advantage and the sector is looking beyond the classroom to new learning models and media to address these skills more efficiently and effectively.

E-Learning to Benefit from New Technologies – Virtual College

The e-learning industry is set to develop as a result of new technology arriving in the sector later in the year, according to the International E-Learning Association (IELA).

 

As always, if you have some great industry news or blog posts you would like to share, please let us know!

 

iPal is Headed to the 2012 Mobile World Congress in Barcelona Spain

As many in the industry know, mobile learning is being projected as the next great and essential part of any organizations learning and development plan. The proliferation of mobile devices, coupled with the accessibility and convenience the device offers to the learner, it is no wonder many organizations are moving towards the adoption of some form of mobile learning or another in 2012.

At iPal, we are committed to providing the most advanced and relevant learning solutions the industry has to offer and we are not stopping with mobile learning. The Government of Ontario has also recognized our commitment and as a result, has invited the iPal team to join them and 19 other companies from Ontario to the 2012 Mobile World Congress in Barcelona Spain from February 27^th – March 1^st 2012.

Hailed as the largest and most exciting mobile event to date, this International meeting of mobile technology’s biggest and brightest is sure to be an exciting adventure and great business opportunity for iPal.  This event presents great networking opportunities with global development partners; potential new clients as well as meetings government officials who can help us become leaders in the emerging m-learning market.

…“Far more than a mere communication device, mobiles now serve as our books, health monitors, payment transfer devices, social connectors and tour guides. Mobile technology is embedded in our cars, homes, appliances, governments and utilities. Mobile is enhancing and expanding education and thus, transforming the world. Mobile World Congress 2012 will celebrate the current state of mobile and offer a glimpse into where mobile has the potential to go next.”

Additionally, while in Barcelona, we will be meeting with industry leaders from Brazil, India, Israel, France and many more who are interested in iPal’s e-learning offerings and how we can help them transform and enhance their current learning and development processes.

If you are planning on attending the Mobile World Congress and would like to meet with us, please contact us today! Or request a meeting with us here.

Not planning on attending but want to know more? Stick with us here on our blog or on our Facebook Page, we will be sharing our experiences from the 2012 Mobile World Congress and hope you stay tuned for more!

We’ve Moved!

As mentioned in recent posts, iPal is excited for many new and exciting changes in 2012. Our first order of business was moving our office to a new location. Our new space allows our team greater opportunity to create and work together, meet comfortably with new and existing clients and grow as a company and a family.

Our new address is:

6 Antares Drive

Phase II Suite 12

Ottawa ON

K2E 8A9

613.225.5333

Our New Location

 

 

 

 

 

 

We also have a new Facebook Page. You can ‘Like’ us today to keep up with the latest news and events from iPal and around the e-learning industry.

 

We are so happy to be growing and making these exciting and new changes. Stay tuned to the blog for more!

E-Learning News – Best of the Web – iPal Edition

iPal News

Here are a few of our favorite e-learning stories and blog posts from around the world and within our industry.

Enjoy!

 

 

 

Boosting Staff Efficiency Through E-Learning – HR Magazine

With 78% of organizations now using some form of e-learning, and more than half planning to increase their use in the next 12 months, businesses clearly believe learning technologies will help them respond to changing business conditions.

Virtual Learning Used By Three Quarters of Employers – Personnel Today

Live online learning technologies – such as virtual meetings and classrooms, and video-conferencing – are becoming increasingly popular, with more than three-quarters of employers using them in 2011.

Delivering Mobile Training to Employees – Human Resource Executive Online

Global workforce demographics, advancements in mobile-device accessibility and capabilities, the emergence of effective mobile-learning tools, and best practices from early adopters make this an opportune time for any organization to test mobile learning (mLearning) without assuming too much risk, according to a recent white paper from The McGraw Hill Research Foundation.

The Secret to E-Learning - The Guardian

Online courses are on the rise as firms continue to cut training budgets and the newly redundant update their skill sets.

RCMP Banks on E-Learning to Instill Better Habits Among Officers – The Globe and Mail

Criticized for a retrograde and fractious culture, the Mounties have come up with a five-year plan for change – one that centers on using the Internet to help teach leadership.

 

As always, if you have great e-learning news or blog posts to share, please let us know!

Brad’s Message – January 2012

iPal's Managing Director Brad Loiselle

There was a lot of buzz about Mobile Learning in 2011, but never had I truly understood the significance of this form of training until my recent trip to India.  This past December, along with two other iPal team members, I had the great fortune of traveling to India as part of Canada’s IT Trade Mission. Once there, we met with several multi-billion dollar companies and had the opportunity to learn about their target markets, growth focus and business plans moving forward. It was during these talks that I came to realize the immense importance mobile technology has in the very near future. Many of these giant companies saw the potential and dare I say necessity for mobile learning as part of an overall learning and development strategy for their organizations. Many were planning on some sort of m-learning program implementation and integration into their business practices in the year to come.

iPal Managing Director Brad Loiselle in New Delhi

 

 

 

 

 

 

Further to this realization, the proliferation of mobile devices amongst the general population in India was amazing. The number of mobile users in India is more than twice the size of the entire North American population.  Almost everyone we saw as we traveled through India had some sort of mobile device, young and old, rich and poor. I could see learning opportunities everywhere!

The proliferation of mobile technology in India

 

 

 

 

 

 

When bringing mobile learning to an organization, understanding how people receive the data is just as important as the content itself. Spending time trying to understand India’s delivery platforms has opened my eyes to additional global opportunities. Developing and improving mobile learning will become even more important over the next few years and I believe the more companies invest in this learning method for training and development, the more growth they will see to their bottom line.

December was also a great month for recognizing all that the iPal team has accomplished over the past year and in the short period of time we have been in business. iPal was honored by the Ottawa Chamber of Commerce and the Ottawa Business Journal with the Bronze Award for Small Business of the Year for 2011 at the Ottawa Business Achievement Awards. The gala was a great event and truly a great way to cap off a very successful and exciting year for our family.

iPal Wins Bronze at OBAA Gala

We have some great things lined up for 2012, so please stick with us for more from iPal!

Keep moving forward!

What is the Difference Between E-Learning Software and E-Learning Solutions?

It is no secret that e-learning is quickly becoming the solution many organizations turn to for delivering cost effective and successful training programs. However, many organizations are too quick to invest in impressive looking software such as an authoring tool or a Learning Management System (LMS) because they are convinced that this software is the one-stop solution to developing effective e-learning programs. What organizations don’t understand is that without a clear understanding of how to use these tools or the capability to implement their functionality, their e-learning programs are sure to fail.

 

What is ‘Software’?

E-learning ‘software’ can include but is not limited to authoring tools, design tools, animation tools, avatar tools, audio tools, a LMS, an editing tool, a rendering tool and so much more. What most e-learning software companies neglect to tell the customer is that the software their organization has invested in is only one piece of the puzzle. Creating an effective e-learning program requires a combination of tools, processes and capabilities that, when brought together, create an effective and successful e-learning program.

What are ‘Solutions’?

An e-learning ‘solution’ is providing customers with an e-learning program that works best for their audience taking  into consideration the learner’s environment, the content and the context all while staying within a desired budget. Bringing together the right processes, technologies and capabilities in order to deliver a superior e-learning product is the key to e-learning success.

 

At iPal Interactive Learning we understand that software and technology are just part of what goes into developing an effective e-learning solution. Not only do we have access to the best technologies the industry has to offer, we also have the team of in-house experts to put all of the pieces together. iPal employs industry experts in the fields of project management, design, animation, programming, instructional design, professional voice narration, professional writing, avatar development, translation, video editing, broadcasting and much more! At iPal, we are committed to offering the complete e-learning solution, not just the software.

iPal Headed to ASTD TechKnowledge 2012 and HRPA 2012 Annual Conference and Trade Show – Will you be there?

Attending conferences and trade shows is something that we at iPal really enjoy doing because it allows us to meet new people, network with some of the industry’s finest and learn from others who share the same passion for e-learning as we do. 2011 was an exciting year for iPal and we are excited to be on the road again sharing our thoughts, experiences and products with people from all over the e-learning world. In the next few months we will be heading back to Las Vegas for the ASTD 2012 TechKnowledge Conference and before we get too comfortable back at home in Ottawa, we will be back in Toronto at the HRPA Annual Conference and Trade Show. Check out the details below and be sure to send us your information if you will be at these shows as well.

• 

  American Society for Training and Development

  ASTD 2012 TechKnowledge - January 25-27th 2012 – Las Vegas NV

“In Las Vegas, Nevada, January 25 – 27, 2012, ASTD will welcome more than 1,200 people who focus their daily attention on the design and delivery, management and strategy of technology and learning. Attendees will come together alongside 70 exhibitors in the learning technology space to learn, network, and move people forward through the application of learning and technology.”
iPal is headed back to Las Vegas and will be at the ASTD 2012 TechKnowledge Conference and Trade Show demonstrating our innovative products and services that are changing the way e-learning is created and delivered.
If you will be in Las Vegas and plan on attending the Conference and Trade Show, be sure to stop by booth 412.

• 

  HRPA 2012 Conference and Trade Show

  2012 HRPA Annual Conference and Trade Show - February 1st-3rd 2012 – Toronto ON

“Join HRPA for Canada’s top HR professional development experience. Over three days—February 1 to 3, 2012—we’ll be sharing ideas, challenges and opportunities with HR professionals from around the world, examining the latest HR issues, and engaging with some of the world’s leading business minds. You’ll network with some of the best in the profession, build understanding into the future of work and come away with the tools to prepare your organization—and yourself—for the massive change that will transform the workplace.”
This will be iPal’s second year attending the HRPA Conference and Trade Show and we look forward to exhibiting alongside some of the industry’s top talent. If you are planning on attending the 2012 HRPA Conference and Trade Show, please stop by booth 240 to see what iPal is all about!

We will also be on Twitter following the action at #ASTDTK2012 and #HRPA2012 – follow us @iPal_ELearning for updates and news from these shows!

We hope to see you there!

iPal Developing Business Relations in India

As we get set to wrap up another great year at iPal we are excited to announce that we will be expanding business relationships in India and will be forging ahead to the New Year with exciting new partnerships and amazing growth opportunities.

Recently iPal’s Managing Director Brad Loiselle and his team traveled to India with the International Trade Branch of the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade on the Telecom Mission to India 2011. “The purpose of the mission is to help Ontario companies to develop a better understanding of the rapidly growing telecom market and to assist in partnering and accessing export opportunities in this sector.”

Once in India, the iPal team had many great meetings with some of India’s finest in the technology and telecom industry and came home with a wealth of new information and possibilities. “The Indian telecommunication network is the third largest in the world and the second largest among the emerging economies of Asia. The rapid growth of the sector has been coupled with proactive polices and decisions taken by the Indian Government and dynamic involvement of the private sector.”

iPal is always looking forward and finding new ways to improve the delivery of our e-learning solutions. As we move into 2012 we are also devoted to the exploration and development of the promising and inescapable world of mobile learning. The connections and partnerships created during our time in India will prove to be beneficial not only to our customers and clients, but to the evolution of the entire e-learning industry as a whole.

Stick with us to find out more about our exciting new business developments in 2012 and check out some our favourite shots from our trip!

iPal Managing Director Brad Loiselle in New Delhi

 

iPal's Managing Director Brad Loiselle with Ontario’s Trade Commissioner and India’s Canadian High Commissioner.

iPal's Team

iPal exploring growth opportunities and new partnerships

The proliferation of mobile technology in India

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reference: Information Technology Association of Canada

E-Learning News – Best of the Web – iPal Edition

iPal News

Here are some of our favourite news stories and blog posts from around the e-learning industry.

Enjoy!

Boosting staff efficiency through e-learning – HR Magazine

“With 78% of organisations now using some form of e-learning, and more than half planning to increase their use in the next 12 months, businesses clearly believe learning technologies will help them respond to changing business conditions. Organisations already making the most of learning technologies report significant benefits from this type of learning, including cost savings, time saving and an increase in the volume of learning delivered.”

Virtual learning used by three-quarters of employers – Personnel Today

“Live online learning technologies – such as virtual meetings and classrooms, and video-conferencing – are becoming increasingly popular, with more than three-quarters of employers using them in 2011.”

Delivering Mobile Training to Employees – Human Resource Executive Online

“Global workforce demographics, advancements in mobile-device accessibility and capabilities, the emergence of effective mobile-learning tools, and best practices from early adopters make this an opportune time for any organization to test mobile learning (mLearning) without assuming too much risk, according to a recent white paper from The McGraw Hill Research Foundation.”

The secret to e-learning – The Guardian

“Online courses are on the rise as firms continue to cut training budgets and the newly redundant update their skill sets”

E-learning industry is “on a roll” in business and education – Virtual College

“Experts claim that e-learning medium is ‘on a roll’ due to the numerous benefits such as speed of delivery, increasing accessibility of learning, generating user specific content, reducing cost of learning and increasing flexibility.”

If you have a favourite e-learning news story or blog post – let us know! Share your links in the comments section.