In the world of learning management systems, it seems that Google is joining the bandwagon with cloudcourse.
The LMS space is filled with so many proprietary systems that cost and the risk of over-specializing may be impede and/or limit many organizations from really engaging and participating in an organized approach for their learning goals. I’ve worked a little bit with other learning management systems, namely, Moodle, and it’ll be interesting to see how the space of more open-source systems may impact on how we manage and approach educational needs from a system’s perspective.
Not too long ago, I transitioned into the world of non-profits. Recently joining an organization to help support and manage the transition towards upgrading its online presence, updating its digital media solutions to showcase and highlight its projects and research, and providing a more integrated network to meet its many operational, communication, and strategic needs, has introduced me to an area of technology that is focused on the non-profit world.
How one approaches not only their web design, but also how they reach out to their target audience (or constituents) is very different. A non-profit’s brand is closely intertwined with its identity, and in turn, its identity – what it does, what it stands for and represents, what it creates and produces, what it defends – speak directly to a certain group of individuals. And it is these individuals who will provide the kinds of brand-building, presence-developing, and ultimately, fund-raising, that most, if not all non-profits depend on.
The ownership of ones’ brand is extremely important, but in some respects, I find that the need to truly own one’s identity, to truly identify what one actually does and specifically, provides and offers, is of particular significant to a non-profit organization.
Certainly, it is increasingly easier and cheaper to spread the world about non-profits. The lack of resources (both personnel and monetary) are no longer barriers that are insurmountable. Twitter and its kind (twitpic)
An example of using YouTube to support non-profits (it’s a dated video, but I think still relevant):
I’ll elaborate more about how digital media (and all its fun, related aspects such as online marketing and campaigns, community building, etc.) come into play as non-profits seek to expand their networks, fundraising capabilities, and brand presence. For the time being, I’ve listed some information here that could be a helpful start.
For the past year or so, I’ve been following this movement and call for applying design thinking into business. Although this is different point on design, this is a great site that challenges designers to reconsider how they think and approach design as it applies and relates to the world. (It also demonstrates, through the site’s many slideshows, some examples of how graphic design can be used to be informative and instructional.) It’s a call to action for designers to be more actively engaged in thinking about how to design and what to design, and how the processes and outcomes can affect the world.
Taking away the debate of whether or not it should be a designer’s responsibility or role to involve his or her work for these types of social, economic, and environmental issues, I find it rather inspiring to see how we can expand our perspectives of what we do, what we are “expected” to do in a given profession, and imagine and ultimately, act upon greater, far-reaching, positive change.
Here are some online health games that I’ve played, experimented, and used in part of a school research project. Try for yourself!