Friday
Dec092005
371 - Learning Report from Middle East Trip
December 9, 2005
Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - Dec 9, 2005.
#371 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
51,743 Readers - http://www.masie.com - The MASIE Center.
Learning 2006 - Nov 5 to 8 - Orlando, Florida - www.learning2006.com
Report on Learning Futures - Middle East Visit By Elliott Masie
I am wrapping up a very intense and learning filled trip to the Middle East. We have been working with Learning CONSORTIUM members in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Dubai, as well as meeting with government education officials in these countries. Here are some random observations and personal learnings at the end of a trip:
* Strong interest in using blends of e-Learning and classroom delivery in the Middle East in order to provide scalability and reach.
* Experimentation on the use of e-Learning to provide equal access to higher education and corporate education to female populations in areas where culture makes it difficult to teach in a mixed gender classroom. We had dialogues on parallel instruction and on-line collaboration.
* One of the core drivers for expanded e-Learning in Saudi Arabia is travel time and risk, as well as the desire to provide in-country access to education without having to migrate for extended periods of time.
* Global Learning Challenges including creating new models for multi-language and multi-cultural learnings. How can individuals learn in both English and their native languages to provide the highest levels of cognitive processing.
* Saudi Aramco: One of the most advanced and widespread implementations of e-Learning that I have seen worldwide. Deep acceptance and deployment of learning throughout the company. Almost 185 learning professionals throughout the company attended an e-Learning Forum I hosted in Saudi Arabia. Strong leadership support and integration with business drivers.
* Emirates Airlines: Fastest growing airline in the world is deploying a wide range of e-Learning, "Extreme Learning" and blended solutions.
Employees from over 120 countries are high consumers of e-Learning offerings. Emirates is deploying new models of learning throughout the organization and it is a core value of both the company and the Dubai Emirate.
* Integration with ERP Solutions such as SAP is a top level priority in the Middle East, as organizations are advanced in their desire to measure and align learning activities with business outcomes.
* I asked a group of 150 professionals in Saudi Arabia what would be their first step in learning something new, and 143 said they would start with Google!
* Strong interest in "Nano-Learning", the deployment of small learning segments.
* Throughout the Middle East Region I received many questions and concerns about the wisdom of continued U.S. military engagements in Iraq. Most nationals felt that the Arab countries should and would step up to the key roles after a wise and planned U.S. departure.
The MASIE Center and The Learning CONSORTIUM is planning a new international event in Dubai in the third quarter of 2006 called "Learning Futures - Global Learning". If you would like advanced information, please send a note to mollie@masie.com
Regards from the Middle East,
Elliott Masie
Upcoming MASIE Center Events:
* Extreme Learning Lab - Saratoga Springs, NY - Jan 25 - 26, 2006.
* Learning 2006 - Orlando, Florida - Nov 5 - 8, 2006.
Information and Registration: http://www.masie.com
#371 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
51,743 Readers - http://www.masie.com - The MASIE Center.
Learning 2006 - Nov 5 to 8 - Orlando, Florida - www.learning2006.com
Report on Learning Futures - Middle East Visit By Elliott Masie
I am wrapping up a very intense and learning filled trip to the Middle East. We have been working with Learning CONSORTIUM members in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Dubai, as well as meeting with government education officials in these countries. Here are some random observations and personal learnings at the end of a trip:
* Strong interest in using blends of e-Learning and classroom delivery in the Middle East in order to provide scalability and reach.
* Experimentation on the use of e-Learning to provide equal access to higher education and corporate education to female populations in areas where culture makes it difficult to teach in a mixed gender classroom. We had dialogues on parallel instruction and on-line collaboration.
* One of the core drivers for expanded e-Learning in Saudi Arabia is travel time and risk, as well as the desire to provide in-country access to education without having to migrate for extended periods of time.
* Global Learning Challenges including creating new models for multi-language and multi-cultural learnings. How can individuals learn in both English and their native languages to provide the highest levels of cognitive processing.
* Saudi Aramco: One of the most advanced and widespread implementations of e-Learning that I have seen worldwide. Deep acceptance and deployment of learning throughout the company. Almost 185 learning professionals throughout the company attended an e-Learning Forum I hosted in Saudi Arabia. Strong leadership support and integration with business drivers.
* Emirates Airlines: Fastest growing airline in the world is deploying a wide range of e-Learning, "Extreme Learning" and blended solutions.
Employees from over 120 countries are high consumers of e-Learning offerings. Emirates is deploying new models of learning throughout the organization and it is a core value of both the company and the Dubai Emirate.
* Integration with ERP Solutions such as SAP is a top level priority in the Middle East, as organizations are advanced in their desire to measure and align learning activities with business outcomes.
* I asked a group of 150 professionals in Saudi Arabia what would be their first step in learning something new, and 143 said they would start with Google!
* Strong interest in "Nano-Learning", the deployment of small learning segments.
* Throughout the Middle East Region I received many questions and concerns about the wisdom of continued U.S. military engagements in Iraq. Most nationals felt that the Arab countries should and would step up to the key roles after a wise and planned U.S. departure.
The MASIE Center and The Learning CONSORTIUM is planning a new international event in Dubai in the third quarter of 2006 called "Learning Futures - Global Learning". If you would like advanced information, please send a note to mollie@masie.com
Regards from the Middle East,
Elliott Masie
Upcoming MASIE Center Events:
* Extreme Learning Lab - Saratoga Springs, NY - Jan 25 - 26, 2006.
* Learning 2006 - Orlando, Florida - Nov 5 - 8, 2006.
Information and Registration: http://www.masie.com
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