Best of the Web - Brief Article

Training & Development, May, 2000 by Donna J. Abernathy

Webpage links from past online excursions often don't carry the same wow factor the second time around. You might bookmark a site, intending to return, of course, but three months later, it's just another link in an overstuffed drop-down box.

This month, we share 20 top picks for useful training-and workplace-related Websites nominated by ASTD conference presenters and staff. It's the bookmark list that you won't have to cull every month because (get this) you'll actually use these sites. While e-commerce lurks beneath most Websites' surface, you'll notice that these online digs are big on free content and services. They can help you cut through the muck and get on with smart business.

This compilation ranges from e-learning to knowledge management to small-business Websites. And lots in between. They're among our best of the Web for 2000.

@Brint.com:

The BizTech Network

brint.com

This site is one of the best-known for knowledge management networking and links. The bulk of @Brint.com's content lies in three divisions: e-business, general business, and KM. You need to bookmark this site simply because there's too much to see in one visit. As an added bonus, it offers topical links (for travel, books, and games, for example) in 60 languages.

America's Learning eXchange

www.alx.org

Part of America's Career Kit, ALX offers searchable databases of classroom and online courses, CBT, conference workshops, seminars, training suppliers, and certifying agencies. There are separate search and service areas for four main

America's Learning exchange

categories of users: students and adult learners, HR managers and small-business managers, training providers, and courseware and online developers. For global visitors, the ALX site has a built-in translation feature at the bottom of the splash page for French, German, Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish.

Annenberg/CPB Project

learner.org

According to the site; the Annenberg/CPB Project helps "colleges, universities, high schools, and community organizations use telecommunications technologies to improve learning for all students, including the growing number of older and part-time students, and informal learners in their homes." Take a look and you'll see that it does that through no-cost online learning activities, broadcast programs, and resources for free agent learners and schools.

Blackboard.com

blackboard.com

Here's a free service that can help trainers put their courses or course components on line. Blackboard.com guides you through five steps to create virtual classes that are hosted on Blackboard's servers. Free CourseSites can include threaded discussions. synchronous communication, online tutorials, assessment tools, a messaging system, and user tracking, among other features

Ericae.net

ericae.net

Billed as the clearinghouse for assessment, evaluation, and research information, Ericae.net has evolved from the 34-yearold ERIC (Educational Resources Information Center) based at the University of Maryland. It offers a database of more than 1 million abstracts of education articles and resources. The assessment library alone boasts 350-plus full-text articles and books. You'll also find the Practical Assessment, Research, and Evaluation online journal here.

Fast Company

fastcompany.com

The online version of Fast Company is just as fat as the print edition. All features are archived online--even the November 1993 prototype edition--and you can search back issues by theme. Devoted free agents will find community in the online regional discussions, book club, Company of Friends reader network, and fast-talk forums.

Fool.com

fool.com

You say you're ready to invest in the training industry? Fool.com is the place for people just starting out (and the old pros).

Fool.com.

The Motley Fool.

After all, its motto is "Educate, amuse, enrich." And that it does. Here you can explore such areas as stock quotes and strategies, corporate research, news commentary, and Fool's School. If you're a registered Fool, you get extra benefits, such as unlimited site access, a Fool investment guide, product discounts, and portfolio tracking.

Learnativity

learnativity.com

This Website answers the question: "I'm new to the training and learning field. Where do I begin?" Learnativity points to the organizations, Websites, publications, tools, books, and discussion lists that can help jump-start your career. You can also find links to training-industry statistics, trends, salaries, Web tools, articles, and certification.

Lycos Small Business

lycos.com/business

This site offers free business tools, news headlines, startup links, HR advice, tax links, a government-bid search engine, online communities, company research, and guides to starting, financing, and running a small business.

Monster Executive Salary and Compensation Site

executive.monster.com/links/salary

It's the Mothra of all salary portal pages. The Monster Executive page links you to the lowdown on employee benefits, starting salaries, negotiation strategies, wage surveys, and gender-gap earnings.