Wednesday
Jun182003
257 - Bullfighter - Stripping the Bull Out of Business; Wireless PC Card - Learning in the Right Front Seat; Teaching Tip: Don't Face the Front of the Room
June 18, 2003
#257 - - - June 18, 2003 - - - 44,955 Readers
*** Elliott Masie's TechLearn TRENDS ***
Training, e-Learning and Collaboration
Web Site: http://www.masie.com
1. Bullfighter - Stripping the Bull Out of Business
2. Wireless PC Card - Learning in the Right Front Seat
3. Teaching Tip: Don't Face the Front of the Room
1. Bullfighter - Stripping the Bull Out of Business: This is one of the
funniest and on-target free pieces of software that I have ever seen.
Bullfighter, just released by Deloitte Touche, is a free download that
scans documents for business "BS". It will keep you honest and a whole
lot more down to earth in writing and thinking. For example it will have
a field day on these types of comments:
"A value-added, leverageable global knowledge repository."
"A future-proof asset that seamlessly empowers your mission critical
enterprise communications."
We are using Bullfighter to scan all of our TechLearn 2003 sessions, as
our conference is a Reduced Bull program.
Find it at: http://www.dc.com/insights/bullfighter/
2. Wireless PC Card - Learning in the Right Front Seats: I have been
using the Verizon Wireless PC card in the past three weeks, adding
internet access to by tablet computer from just about everywhere. It has
been working in about 95% of the places I have been. Speeds are usually
about 90 kps but can go as high as 144 and as low as 36. It has
facilitated some very new types of just in time learning:
- Yesterday, while travelling in North Carolina, with my wife driving, we
were approaching Asheville. I was on the pc, with real time access to
historical and tourism information. My wife started to just ask for info
and I was fingertips away.
- We were in a large retailer looking at a product. The salesclerk didn't
really have a lot of information, so I logged on to the manufacturer's
site to get the details we needed.
- Sitting in an airport, I heard a report on CNN about a company's
financial troubles. Once again, whipped out the tablet and got some
context for the broadcast.
Each of the wireless providers is coming to market with these products and
they will also be going up the bandwidth speedchain in the coming months.
Rates range from $50 to $90 a month, which should also start to go down.
3. Teaching Tip - Don't Face the Front of the Room: Why do so many of our
classrooms face the front? I have a lifelong technique of shifting the
direction of the classroom. If you are setting up a classroom with
computers, experiment with putting the computers around the walls, facing
the walls. Learners can then either face the computers, turn to the
middle or move their chairs.
I also apply it to non-computer classes. I like to use rounds rather than
classroom style and then move myself around the room as the trainer. It
really breaks the assumption of action/passive roles and also keeps the
learners way more engaged.
Remember: The reason we are bringing learners to a classroom is to have
them active and interacting. If they are just going to listen, send them
the file!
MASIE Center Programs:
- Join the e-Learning CONSORTIUM: Information at www.masie.com
- Mark The TechLearn Dates: TechLearn 2003, Orlando, FL, Nov 2 to 5, 2003
*** Elliott Masie's TechLearn TRENDS ***
Training, e-Learning and Collaboration
Web Site: http://www.masie.com
1. Bullfighter - Stripping the Bull Out of Business
2. Wireless PC Card - Learning in the Right Front Seat
3. Teaching Tip: Don't Face the Front of the Room
1. Bullfighter - Stripping the Bull Out of Business: This is one of the
funniest and on-target free pieces of software that I have ever seen.
Bullfighter, just released by Deloitte Touche, is a free download that
scans documents for business "BS". It will keep you honest and a whole
lot more down to earth in writing and thinking. For example it will have
a field day on these types of comments:
"A value-added, leverageable global knowledge repository."
"A future-proof asset that seamlessly empowers your mission critical
enterprise communications."
We are using Bullfighter to scan all of our TechLearn 2003 sessions, as
our conference is a Reduced Bull program.
Find it at: http://www.dc.com/insights/bullfighter/
2. Wireless PC Card - Learning in the Right Front Seats: I have been
using the Verizon Wireless PC card in the past three weeks, adding
internet access to by tablet computer from just about everywhere. It has
been working in about 95% of the places I have been. Speeds are usually
about 90 kps but can go as high as 144 and as low as 36. It has
facilitated some very new types of just in time learning:
- Yesterday, while travelling in North Carolina, with my wife driving, we
were approaching Asheville. I was on the pc, with real time access to
historical and tourism information. My wife started to just ask for info
and I was fingertips away.
- We were in a large retailer looking at a product. The salesclerk didn't
really have a lot of information, so I logged on to the manufacturer's
site to get the details we needed.
- Sitting in an airport, I heard a report on CNN about a company's
financial troubles. Once again, whipped out the tablet and got some
context for the broadcast.
Each of the wireless providers is coming to market with these products and
they will also be going up the bandwidth speedchain in the coming months.
Rates range from $50 to $90 a month, which should also start to go down.
3. Teaching Tip - Don't Face the Front of the Room: Why do so many of our
classrooms face the front? I have a lifelong technique of shifting the
direction of the classroom. If you are setting up a classroom with
computers, experiment with putting the computers around the walls, facing
the walls. Learners can then either face the computers, turn to the
middle or move their chairs.
I also apply it to non-computer classes. I like to use rounds rather than
classroom style and then move myself around the room as the trainer. It
really breaks the assumption of action/passive roles and also keeps the
learners way more engaged.
Remember: The reason we are bringing learners to a classroom is to have
them active and interacting. If they are just going to listen, send them
the file!
MASIE Center Programs:
- Join the e-Learning CONSORTIUM: Information at www.masie.com
- Mark The TechLearn Dates: TechLearn 2003, Orlando, FL, Nov 2 to 5, 2003
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