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Ashley Chiasson, M.Ed

Instructional Designer & Consultant

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Holiday Gift Guide for Freelancers and E-Learning Developers

December 22, 2014

I know we’re only three shopping days away from the holiday season (maybe even two in some parts), but let’s face it…everyone loves getting a package in the mail, so if it’s late…who cares?! Here are some of my very favourite items for e-learning developers and to make freelancing a lot easier:

Wacom Bamboo Splash Pen Tablet – I have one of these at the office, and I’m vowing to use it A LOT more in 2015.

I plan to use the Wacom tablet with The Doodle Revolution: Unlock the Power to Think Differently, which I’ve been slowly working through since the summer.

Another great book that you’ve heard me raving about in my posts for the last few months is How We Learn: The Truth About When, Where, and Why it Happens. I LOVE this book. Any and all learning professional should have it an read it and use it as a mantra!

All good freelancers/consultants/independent contractors need a good Project Management Program. I’ve been using, and loving PancakeApp. I’ve also had the opportunity to use RedBooth this year and would recommend gifting either of these to a freelancer in your life (PancakeApp is a one time fee and RedBooth is subscription-based). Most often, creative professionals think more about their creative endeavours and less about their business acumen…which ultimately turns into chaos come tax time…make their lives easier!

To make e-learning reviews streamlined and standardized (which all e-learning professionals would truly appreciate), a subscription to Review My eLearning is a great option! I recommend the Medium subscription, which should do the trick for most folk.

Storyline 2 – This might be a bit of a splurge for the holiday season, but it’s definitely well worth the cost; especially if your favourite e-learning developer has been lamenting the impending end of their 30-day free trial. As an independent consultant, this purchase pays for itself in about a week.

A second computer monitor – this is ALWAYS welcomed for folks that tend to toggle between multiple programs/documents, as are: external hard drives, flash drives,  and noise-cancelling headphones!

For Mac OS users – Parallels, Dongles, or AirPort Time Capsule (LIFE SAVER).

Comfy pajamas or loungewear – ESSENTIAL for any work-from-home type. I recently picked up this exact PJ set, and I will be picking up more – so comfortable!

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Meet Ashley

Ashley ChiassonI’m a Instructional Designer with over 15 years of professional experience, and have developed e-learning solutions for clients within the Defence, Post-Secondary Education, Health, and Sales sectors. For more about me, click here!

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