CAD Manager's Newsletter (#198)
24 Jun, 2008Creating Training Videos, Part 2
Making your own training videos may seem daunting at first, but if you try it, you'll likely find it rewarding and fun.
In the last issue of CAD Manager's Newsletter, I showed you how to get started making your own training videos and gave you some pointers on the configuration of the Camtasia program I use to create videos. I hope you were able to download the trial version and give it a try.
In this installment I will finish the discussion of making training videos by giving you some more technical pointers and some recommendations for how to create better presentations in general. Here goes.
Presentation Tips
For any presentation, whether video or otherwise, to work well you'll need to alter your presentation technique to convey maximum comprehension. Therefore I'll start with some concepts that often get missed in video presentations and explain each briefly.
Show the end product. Before you begin a lesson, tell the users what the outcome will be and show them what the output will look like when finished. When the users know what you're trying to achieve, it will be much easier for them to follow along. Read more »
:: CAD Manager’s Toolbox:
Training with Standards
CAD managers often wear more than one hat and must be creative when devising training materials and enforcing standards.
Some readers have commented that they, like most CAD managers, have the dual responsibilities of user training and standards authoring and enforcement. If you fall into this common situation, here are a few tips that can help you enforce standards while you perform training tasks, thus getting a potential 2-for-1 productivity boost.
Tip 1: Combine standards with features. Don't train users how to plot from a generic point of view; train them on how to plot using all your plotting standards. Now the training course echoes your standards and makes it much easier for users to actually plot correctly because that's how they were trained. Read more »
Do you have a suggestion/tip that should be in the CAD Manager?s Toolbox? Send it to me at rgreen@cad-manager.com and you might get a cool Cadalyst souvenir if I use your idea.
SolidWorks Certification Prep Course Released
SolidProfessor's SolidWorks Certification Prep Course is written by certified SolidWorks professionals and certified SolidWorks instructors. It is designed to help users prepare for and successfully pass Certified SolidWorks Professional (CSWP) and Certified SolidWorks Associate (CSWA) exams. Read more »
Webinar: Advanced Road Template Design
June 26, 2008
12 noon ET
This comprehensive Webinar will demonstrate the multiple uses of Carlson Software's road templates. Read more »
Webinar: Working with SiteNET
July 10, 2008
12 noon ET
In this webinar, Carlson Software's Gary Rosen will show how SiteNET, Carlson's layer-based surface generator and earthwork calculator saves you time and money. Read more »
Webinar: Advanced Roundabout & Knuckle Design
July 17, 2008
12 noon ET
This Webinar by Carlson Software will demonstrate how to lay out a collection of intersecting roads, process them all together, and clean up all intersections, cul-de-sacs, and other design features in 2D and 3D. Read more »
Bentley Plant User Group Meeting
September 18-19, 2008
Biloxi, Mississippi
This annual user conference includes hands-on workshops led by Bentley personnel, technology/product updates, keynote presentations by Bentley executives, and user presentations. Read more »
For a complete list of CAD meetings, conferences, training sessions, and more, check out our calendar of events on Cadalyst.com.
