Compare Online Meetings – video conferencing

October 29, 2010

Alcoholics Anonymous Online Meetings

Filed under: Health And Fitness — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , — admin @ 5:47 am
Andy Maingam asked:




A question often asked by those whose lives are affected by a drunken partner, family member, or friend, is why does there seem to be such a major difficulty getting boozers to moderate their drinking or sober up altogether? Well, first is there’s that all too common trait known as denial. Denial allows far too many drinkers and drug dependent people to think they don’t have a problem. Until a drunk actually admits to their addiction with alcohol, there will be slim chance of them taking positive steps towards seeking a solution to their malady. Pride is another obstacle. Even when an alcoholic does throw in the towel, reaching out for help from others often proves too difficult. This is when Alcoholics Anonymous Online Meetings can come in very useful.

Alcoholics Anonymous Online Meetings Offer a Lifeline

You may or may not have heard of a fellowship called Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). Over the years it has helped millions of alcoholics and heavy drinkers sober up and stay stopped. The drawback with AA is that it requires the one with the problem to turn up in person and sit amongst a room full of strangers. This is no easy first step for anyone, let alone a solitary drunk who is probably carrying around decades of built up shame, remorse, and guilt due to a string of bad events caused by years of binging on booze.

So many drunks live in denial and carry around with them a false pride which hinders their chances of recovery. Alcoholics are often branded by medical experts as egomaniacs with inferiority complexes, thus making them difficult to treat. Having such a warped self image is one reason why it takes a long time before an active alcoholic surrenders. So when it’s suggested that they reach out and ask for help from a bunch of total strangers in an AA meeting, it’s hardly surprising that many opt not to. Such a suggestion is simply too big an ordeal in those early days of sobriety. Alcoholics Anonymous online meetings offer a much gentler and a totally anonymous introduction to those seeking rescue from a fate worse than death.

Anyone with a computer and connection to the internet can login to an AA online program. From the privacy of home, the curious one can lurk in forums and listen into live meetings without identifying themselves or participating in any way. It really is a great approach for the newly sober (or still drinking) individual to learn about alcoholism and how to recover from it.

You’re not alone with AA Online Meetings

Alcoholism is often called the lonely disease because many problem drinkers feel isolated and cut off from the real world. Even those who still have jobs and are surrounded by family and friends are unable to shrug off this feeling of isolation. In fact, the more they are surrounded by their fellows, the lonelier they become. True loneliness is not determined by being alone, but by feeling alone, and there are few who feel more solitary than those who live for the bottle. Tapping into AA online meetings is the first step towards connecting again with others. It’s a virtual world where problem drinkers get to associate with, and relate to like minded folks who have found a solution to their troubles.

An alcoholic’s recovery is maintained by reaching out and helping the alcoholic who still suffers. One of the AA slogans goes; ‘You can’t keep it unless you give it away!’ and it’s a method that appears to work very well for those who practice it, whether through the virtual world or the real!

Timothy

October 28, 2010

E-learning in the Corporate World

Filed under: Electa Live Advanced Elearning Solutions — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , — admin @ 9:52 pm
Vishwanath Shankar asked:




E-Learning has progressed through the years from VHS video tapes, to elaborate synchronous online meeting tools through the internet. E-learning is not only being used in schools and universities but also in the corporate world.

Corporations are using e-learning as a means of communicating, training and enhancing employee value across organizations and across countries.

Corporate Advantage

The corporate world is constantly on the look to increase efficiency and effectiveness in their workforce. There is a constant need to upgrade existing employees in new trends or products.

Holding seminars, workshops or conventions detract employees from their work and results of such practices are at best weak. Being able to instruct employees while on the job through e-learning, can prove to be extremely valuable to any business.

E-learning solutions provide workers with important skills, making them more valuable as employees. A well-structured e-learning solution is the answer to the overall goal of efficiency and effectiveness.

E-Learning means using technology for learning, and with technology evolving at its current pace, the bounds of e-learning are virtually limitless whether synchronously or asynchronously. Laptops, desktops, mobiles, i-pods etc, can all be used for e-learning.

The impact of e-learning can be tremendous, especially in corporations. E-learning for corporations addresses the precise requirements of business. E -learning provides business-specific concept, training of various departments across the country simultaneously, introducing a new product into the company or just upgrading employees.

Since e-learning can be done in any geographic spot, there are no travel expenses. There is also no cost of conventions or hotels. E-learning is less expensive than learning in a traditional method.

Facilitating employee’s growth and training on the job also increases job satisfaction. This heightens worker motivation and results in increased work performance.

Worker Advantage

Flexibility is a major advantage of e-learning. E-learning has the advantage of taking class anytime anywhere. It is available when and where it is needed. E-learning can be done at the office, home, or while traveling, 24 X 7 X 365.

E-learning accommodates different types of learning styles. Workers have the advantage of learning at their own speed. Workers can also learn through a variety of activities that apply to many different learning styles.

E-learning allows the workers to select learning materials that meet their level of knowledge, interest and what they need to know to perform more effectively in their field. This way learning can be customized to the workers need.

Workers can use the advances in mobile technology by e-learning on various handheld devices and PDAs during long tedious commutes. This cuts back on time wasted in traveling while advancing career growth.

Through e- learning workers can review information as often as they like, move forward and backward through the instruction at the pace they are comfortable with.

Corporate E-learning Software’s

Corporate E-learning Software’s are specially designed keeping in mind the companies necessitates and employee requirements. They’re are various packages that make a successful corporate e-learning software-

Communication package: facilitates all categories of users with discussion forums, announcements, surveys, news articles, and FAQs.

Designation package: can define, access, and manage roles, responsibilities, groups, user accounts, job profiles, and different clients.

Content Bank: Content Bank allows you to create content categories and define content types to be used in the system. It has powerful features to upload and store content in reusable format and in different versions. With easy-to-use search feature, the authors can quickly look for content to be used in their courses.

Syllabus Planner: This is a portal that aids instructors to plan the learning pattern and workflow. To efficiently deliver training to a workforce that has diverse needs, it is critical that your platform provides flexible course delivery options. WIZDOM provides you complete control over the learning plan (LP). You can create a hierarchal LP and attach any kind of content – PDF, DOC, PPT, Images, ZIP files, SCORM courses, or attach any item like Chat, Whiteboard, Offline Course, Discussion, Assessment, and Reference to the LP nodes.

Reports: This tool allows you to generate and analyze Site Usage Report; Course Usage Report, and Learners’ Activity Report.

The Bottom-Line

The bottom-line for any corporate is profit and success, with e-learning you accomplish this goal swiftly and easily.



Joy

October 27, 2010

How to Conduct Productive Meetings?

Filed under: Wonderfile — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , — admin @ 2:50 pm
Shafir Ahmad asked:




One of the biggest time wasters in the workplace is the endless stream of meetings. There is the weekly work-in-progress meetings, there are monthly meetings, there is the daily request for impromptu meetings and then there are meetings over lunch.

It would serve employees and employers well if meetings are not overrated in their importance because over the long haul, this translates to lower productivity. If a person is always in a meeting, when are they going to get any work done? For the employees, it means another late night.

If you are called for a meeting, you can save yourself some time if you can establish its necessity. Question the need to meet given the sophisticated environment that we work in, getting consensus usually can be achieved through other means like emails.

Conference calls can be a productive way to conduct a meeting as this saves huge amount of time and money travelling to and from the meeting venue. After all, its is not necessary that everyone be present at a particular location to have consensus.

If you have to be in a meeting, how do you manage an effective meeting so that it achieves its purpose, and in keeping within a certain time frame, and without being over bearing? If you are calling for the meeting, the key to a successful and productive meeting is to take control of the situation.

Here are some tips to conduct meetings effectively:

* Prepare an agenda with estimated overall timing and circulate it to the attendees before the meeting.

* Send a note to remind them to prepare questions or issues ahead of time.

* Call people a day before the meeting to confirm the timing and location. This reduces lateness and excuses.

* Set the tone about keeping the meeting to the point, being objective and avoid any politics. This also serves as a reminder that everyone’s time shall honoured.

* If there are many issues, itemize the items and break down the timing for each issue, this ensures each issue does not over run.

* Decide on who will be the time keeper and be taking down the notes. This ensures no one will be slighted when the time keeper announced time-out and there will be no confusion as to who is the referee.

* Control the time by controlling the situation, if an issue gets dragged into another unrelated area, politely point it back to the central issue.

* If there are issues that need to be further resolved, you can suggest a separate meeting with or between those involved only.

* Remind them to switch off their handphones or laptops. Very often people treat phone calls like a life threatening issue.

* Always be mindful of time, be firm but polite. Stay on target.

* If the meeting is a presentation that you are doing, keep check of your own timing. At the beginning you can request that questions be kept to the end of the presentation.

* Before the meeting or presentation, anticipate questions and prepare the answers ahead.

A productive meeting brings about a deeper level of satisfaction. People will appreciate that their time is respected and in return, you get the respect or consensus if you are able to demonstrate control and efficiency.



Melanie

October 26, 2010

Our Top Ten Tips for Holding Your Audience’s Attention During a Meeting

Filed under: Online Dating Tips — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , — admin @ 11:57 pm
Amy Linley asked:




Boring! That’s the complaint that tops the list when people talk about meetings. American businesses hold 11 million meetings a year and attendees agree that more than 50% of that time is wasted. Most regular meeting attendees admit to daydreaming (91%), missing meetings (96%), arriving late or leaving early (95%), bringing other work with them (73%) or dozing off (39%). Focusing and maintaining your audience’s attention is the challenge of meeting planners the world over. It takes a little extra time and effort to plan a meeting that will hold your audience’s attention from start to finish.

To head off complaints and ensure maximum productivity, consider these important issues in planning a meeting:

Timing is everything. Don’t plan a meeting for Monday morning when people are trying to get their head in the game, schedule their week and answer their emails. Avoid right after lunch when people sink into nap mode. And forget about holding a meeting on Friday afternoon when everyone wants to get out the door for the weekend.

Invite the right people. Invite the people who will most benefit, those who can make real contributions and those with the power to make decisions. Send a meeting summary to other interested parties. Research indicates that 5 to 9 participants is the optimal number for productive discussion and decision-making. Break larger groups into small work groups after the initial introduction.

Set a specific goal. Meetings are more apt to stay on track when participants know exactly why the meeting has been scheduled and the specific goal to be accomplished. Decide why you’re getting together. Is it to share information, brainstorm or make a decision? Send participants an agenda prior to the meeting so they arrive prepared.

Stay on track. People lose interest when a meeting veers off-track. Stick to your agenda and meeting timeline. Changing presentation media or tactics periodically will help meeting participants refocus on the agenda. Keep a running list of off-task ideas or questions in a “parking lot” so you can continue with the agenda without losing useful ideas that can be addressed later.

When people communicate, they gain 10% of the meaning from words, 20% from delivery style and 70% from non-verbal cues and body language. The presenter and presentation are more important than the actual words in getting your message across. And in our harried, multi-tasking world, attention span isn’t what it used to be. These factors are particularly significant given the growing number of businesses who are using teleconferencing and videoconferencing to mitigate increasing travel costs and narrowing employee time constraints. Meeting planners can take a tip from television which uses the formula: tighten, dazzle and flow to rivet audience attention.

? Tighten. Tighten the focus of the meeting by setting just one or two goals. Tighten your delivery with preparation and practice. Tighten control of the meeting environment by optimizing room temperature, ventilation and lighting. In a recent poll, poor speaking skills (monotone voice, repetition, over-gesturing and buzzword overuse), lack of direction and physical discomfort were most cited as causes for loss of concentration during meetings.

? Dazzle. Be enthusiastic and share your passion or belief in the task or goal. Enthusiasm is contagious and engages the attention of participants. Use the tactics listed below to keep the meeting fresh and interesting. Wake people up by doing the unexpected: Meet in a restaurant instead of the conference room, play a game, switch visual media, solicit audience participation, etc.

? Flow. Maintain continuity by sticking to your agenda and time frame.

To keep meeting participants energized and engaged, try these 10 tips for holding your audience’s attention during a meeting:

1. Use humor. Tell a joke, funny story or personal experience related to the meeting topic. Or open your presentation with an amusing slide, famous quote or cartoon. Dilbert is great for poking fun at meetings and corporate life.

2. Offer refreshments. Cool, refreshing beverages – ice water, juice, soda, iced tea – and easy-to-eat salty or savory snacks can help participants stay alert.

3. Busy hands. Place small jigsaw puzzles, mini Lego kits or tiny cans of Playdough in front of each participant. Some people think and concentrate better when they have something to do with their hands. Invite those who care to “to play” while they work.

4. Pose a question. Ask a question early in the meeting, but tell participants you don’t want an answer until the end. To encourage active listening, offer a small prize (quarters for the vending machine or a Starbucks coupon) for the first correct answer.

5. Engage participants. Encourage and solicit the views and discussion of all participants. Use eye contact to draw people in. Toss a Nerf ball around the room. The person who catches the ball must offer a comment or suggestion before tossing it to another participant. Have participants show agreement or disagreement by holding thumbs-up or thumbs-down.

6. Get personal. Credit meeting participant’s when facts, statistics and ideas are presented. Encourage participants to share ownership of the meeting by offering details of their involvement or accomplishments.

7. Show and tell. Use visuals to get your point across. Wake things up with a hands-on demonstration or PowerPoint graphics. Use a variety of visual tactics to keep things fresh.

8. Unlock the mystery. Abstract concepts and statistics can cause people’s eyes to glaze over. Provide an understandable comparison or explain the real world implication. When possible, relate the numbers to the participants’ personal lives.

9. Shake things up. Pop a Q&A or brainstorming session into the middle of a discussion. Do some role-playing to revitalize attention. Solicit alternative perspectives and stimulate creative thinking by passing out sheets of paper on which each participant writes a problem or concern. Papers are passed to the right where the recipient has 60 seconds to write down his first thought about the problem. Continue to pass the papers every 60 seconds until each person gets his own sheet back. Invite the group to share and discuss responses.

10. Snappy ending. Keep the end of the meeting from getting bogged down in repetitive comments and summary. Give each participant a blown-up balloon. If he feels someone is winding on too long, he can pop his balloon to “stop the hot air.”



Katie
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