Obsidian Blog
Topics range from elearning tools and resources, to instructional design and the science of learning.
Obsidian Learning Logo Rework: A Golden Opportunity
Posted Nov 6, 2017 by Rick Carruth
Recently I’ve found myself furthering my knowledge of the Golden Ratio and its proportions, specifically as regards logo design. This ratio has been used in works as disparate as the Mona Lisa and the Parthenon. The proportions derived from the Golden Ratio are said to be the most visually pleasing to the human eye, so when I decided to have a little fun and play around with the Obsidian Learning logo.
A Beginner’s Guide to Choosing Fonts
Posted Oct 9, 2017 by Rick Carruth
Not everyone fully grasps the impact of font choices in design, however, and we asked our in-house font guru, Rick Carruth, to provide us with some pointers and some of his own reasoned choices when it comes to font selection.
Free Download: Café Coffee Template for Storyline 360
Posted Sep 25, 2017 by Steven Westmoreland
We’ve been having a bit of fun experimenting with techniques to build custom templates for Articulate Storyline 360. In this example, we’ve removed the standard player chrome and implemented our own custom menu, help and close functions. Download the free template to use and customize for your projects.
Learning Inspiration with Sgt. Pepper
Posted Aug 10, 2017 by Amanda Costa
In his defense, Gabriel might have heard that from me before. I imagine that just once, he’d like to hear my reaction to something without it being filtered through a learning lens. There was the time I helped him with a public service announcement project at school; I wouldn’t stop babbling about the importance of the “emotional hook”. Then the time he told me about one of his teachers using a trashcan wastepaper basketball game as a form of in-class motivation, and I provided him with a long-winded explanation of the term “gamification” that he probably didn’t need to hear. I’m guessing that when I suggested a visit to the Sgt. Pepper’s Experience exhibit he thought he was safe from my particular brand of proselytization. Not this time, kiddo.
What is the Cone of Experience?
Posted Jul 19, 2017 by Lubos Janoska
Gather 'round kiddos, Uncle Lubos wants to tell another crazy but true story. This one is about an innocent kid, an abused model—and if you stick around till the end—a wholesome apple.
Design in Learning: Creating a Grid in Adobe Illustrator for PowerPoint Use
Posted Jun 14, 2017 by Rick Carruth
In terms of visual appeal, there is not much that can be said for overstuffed PowerPoint slides. Harmoniously placed content encourages the eye to flow naturally over the graphic elements, enhancing both interest and retention. In this article, Rick Carruth walks us through a step-by-step method for creating a grid in Adobe Illustrator that can be used in PPT.
Telling the Story of People Changing Lives: Part 3
Posted Jun 6, 2017 by Amanda Costa
In previous blog posts [Part 1 and Part 2], we’ve given you an inside look at the development process of our E-clip for Social Motion Skills. I am happy to say that the final video is ready for launch (stay tuned!), and we couldn’t be more proud of the result. As this project is a little out of the box for us, in the sense that it is not strictly a learning event, we thought it might be interesting to share some of our takeaways. Lubos, Tim, and Rick put pen to paper (rather, fingers to keyboard), and I have compiled some of their thoughts here. Without further ado…
What is Infographic?
Posted May 25, 2017 by Rick Carruth
An infographic is a visual representation of information, data, or knowledge intended to present information quickly and clearly.
Back to Basics: Instructional Analysis
Posted May 22, 2017 by Stephen Victor
In this post, we will focus on the first stage of ADDIE and describe the methods used by Obsidian Learning for instructional analysis. After a discussion of the activities and outputs of analysis, we'll present an example of a curriculum targeted at two different learner populations.
What is Microlearning?
Posted May 18, 2017 by Fred Lu
Given the appeal and expectation of instantly gratified information needs, it's no surprise that organizations are embracing the expediency of microlearning—bite-sized bursts of tightly focused content, designed for just-in-time consumption and multi-device delivery.
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