Tuesday
Sep142004
293 - Cellphone Based Novels & Graphic Novels; Pathlore Buys DKSystems: LMS Consolidation Continues; What I Learned From My Horse About Training
September 14, 2004
TRENDS by Elliott Masie - Sept 14, 2004
#293 - Updates on Learning, e-Learning & Training
48,095 Readers - The MASIE Center - www.masie.com
Free: 701 e-Learning Tips www.masie.com/701tips/
1. Cellphone Based Novels: Watch This Trend
2. Graphic Novels: Another Trend from Asia to Watch
3. Pathlore Buys DKSystems: LMS Consolidation Continues
4. What I Learned From My Horse About Training
1. Cellphone Based Novels - Watch This Trend: An interesting new trend has emerged in Shaghai, China. Qian Fuzhang has just published a 4,200 character serial novel that is purchased by readers and delivered to the text messaging function of their cell phones. Readers pay a few cents per episode. Tens of thousands of readers have signed up for this at www.hurray.com.cn
"The storytelling is totally different from the traditional novel, because the technology only allows 70 words per message." said the author. "But, Poems in the Song Dynasty had very few words, but they were very deep."
Imagine using this model with New Hire Orientation and other serial knowledge streams that could be leveraged via cellphones and other mobile technology. Hmmm.
2. Graphic Novels - Another Trend From Asia to Watch: Check out the rising popularity of the Graphic Novel amongst the 12 to 22 age set. I was in a Borders in Nevada and stumbled on a huge section of the bookstore selling these 80 to 200 page softcover novels done in graphic art (comic style) illustration.
It is one of the fastest growing segments of the publishing business.
Learn a bit about it by searching on "Graphic Novels" or check out this one fan site http://www.koyagi.com/
Your next generation of employees will be familiar with this genre. It is interesting to note how it might influence our model for content publishing. I am awaiting a retail organization that will utilize this form for employee training manuals.
3. Pathlore Buys DKSystems: LMS Consolidation Continues: Pathlore Software Corporation today announced that it has acquired DKSystems. This is another merger of two e-Learning and LMS providers in our ever changing field. Information on this announcement can be found at http://www.pathlore.com
4. What I Learned From My Horse About Training: As some of our readers might know, my wife and I have become owners of Thoroughbred Race Horses.
This week was a very good one for us. One of our favorite horses, Matzoh Toga won a big race in Saratoga Springs. And, we had the thrill of one of our grass fillies, Lucifer's Stone, winning a Grade 1 Stakes Race at Belmont. Wow! So, what does horse racing have to do with learning and training?
Actually, I have learned a great deal about learning by watching how our trainer works with her horses. Here are a few snipnets of my learnings:
- Horses are trained a few minutes EVERY day. You don't send a horse to a training class. Instead, each morning they get a training period. Small chucks done often.
- Horses like ritual and repeating cycles. The trainer spends a lot of time to build up a model for the horse of what each learning episode is all about. And, rituals are key.
- Horses sometimes work in company. The trainer will send out several horses to train at the same time, with the understanding they feed off of each other and need to learn a skill in context.
- Sometimes the horse wakes up and does not want to be a racehorse that day!
- Horse trainers develop a wide set of indicators that are pretty good predictors of performance difficulty. For example, eating patterns or stirring in the barn.
- Horses don't perform well right after travel.
Now, I am not saying that each of these is parallel with humans. But, I have learned or relearned a lot more about training from the world of horses than I ever would have imagined. Stay tuned.
Upcoming MASIE Center Events & Programs:
- e-Learning Skills LAB - Saratoga Springs
- Learning Systems Seminar & Roundtable - London, UK
- Membership in MASIE Center e-Learning CONSORTIUM Info and registration at: http://www.masie.com/
#293 - Updates on Learning, e-Learning & Training
48,095 Readers - The MASIE Center - www.masie.com
Free: 701 e-Learning Tips www.masie.com/701tips/
1. Cellphone Based Novels: Watch This Trend
2. Graphic Novels: Another Trend from Asia to Watch
3. Pathlore Buys DKSystems: LMS Consolidation Continues
4. What I Learned From My Horse About Training
1. Cellphone Based Novels - Watch This Trend: An interesting new trend has emerged in Shaghai, China. Qian Fuzhang has just published a 4,200 character serial novel that is purchased by readers and delivered to the text messaging function of their cell phones. Readers pay a few cents per episode. Tens of thousands of readers have signed up for this at www.hurray.com.cn
"The storytelling is totally different from the traditional novel, because the technology only allows 70 words per message." said the author. "But, Poems in the Song Dynasty had very few words, but they were very deep."
Imagine using this model with New Hire Orientation and other serial knowledge streams that could be leveraged via cellphones and other mobile technology. Hmmm.
2. Graphic Novels - Another Trend From Asia to Watch: Check out the rising popularity of the Graphic Novel amongst the 12 to 22 age set. I was in a Borders in Nevada and stumbled on a huge section of the bookstore selling these 80 to 200 page softcover novels done in graphic art (comic style) illustration.
It is one of the fastest growing segments of the publishing business.
Learn a bit about it by searching on "Graphic Novels" or check out this one fan site http://www.koyagi.com/
Your next generation of employees will be familiar with this genre. It is interesting to note how it might influence our model for content publishing. I am awaiting a retail organization that will utilize this form for employee training manuals.
3. Pathlore Buys DKSystems: LMS Consolidation Continues: Pathlore Software Corporation today announced that it has acquired DKSystems. This is another merger of two e-Learning and LMS providers in our ever changing field. Information on this announcement can be found at http://www.pathlore.com
4. What I Learned From My Horse About Training: As some of our readers might know, my wife and I have become owners of Thoroughbred Race Horses.
This week was a very good one for us. One of our favorite horses, Matzoh Toga won a big race in Saratoga Springs. And, we had the thrill of one of our grass fillies, Lucifer's Stone, winning a Grade 1 Stakes Race at Belmont. Wow! So, what does horse racing have to do with learning and training?
Actually, I have learned a great deal about learning by watching how our trainer works with her horses. Here are a few snipnets of my learnings:
- Horses are trained a few minutes EVERY day. You don't send a horse to a training class. Instead, each morning they get a training period. Small chucks done often.
- Horses like ritual and repeating cycles. The trainer spends a lot of time to build up a model for the horse of what each learning episode is all about. And, rituals are key.
- Horses sometimes work in company. The trainer will send out several horses to train at the same time, with the understanding they feed off of each other and need to learn a skill in context.
- Sometimes the horse wakes up and does not want to be a racehorse that day!
- Horse trainers develop a wide set of indicators that are pretty good predictors of performance difficulty. For example, eating patterns or stirring in the barn.
- Horses don't perform well right after travel.
Now, I am not saying that each of these is parallel with humans. But, I have learned or relearned a lot more about training from the world of horses than I ever would have imagined. Stay tuned.
Upcoming MASIE Center Events & Programs:
- e-Learning Skills LAB - Saratoga Springs
- Learning Systems Seminar & Roundtable - London, UK
- Membership in MASIE Center e-Learning CONSORTIUM Info and registration at: http://www.masie.com/
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