Wednesday
Aug292007
463 - Affordances vs. Cool Innovations!!!
August 29, 2007
Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - August 29, 2007.
#463 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
53,695 Readers - http://www.masie.com - The MASIE Center.
Host of Learning 2007 - Oct 21-24 - Orlando, Florida, USA.
-- Over 1,416 Colleagues Registered Already --
Learning Rant: It's About Affordances, NOT Just Cool "Innovations"!!!
By Elliott Masie
I am getting tired of hearing about the latest and coolest "learning or technology" innovation ... without hearing about what it "affords" us as learners or learning professionals.
Don't get me wrong. I have been experimenting with new media, new technologies and new methods for decades. But, lately there is a frenzy of fascination and way too much hype about the innovation "de jour", including wikis, Second Life, PodCasting, Web 2.0 and more. And, much of this frenzy does not map back to the requirements of learning development and design.
What does the new technology "afford" us the ability to do that we could not do before as learning professionals? Does it enable us to provide faster, better, less expensive, more collaborative, more global or more impactful learning experiences?
We need to create a more behavioral approach to our consideration of learning "innovations" and technologies. For example, I am intrigued by the rise of a 3D web, including the emerging set of Virtual Worlds. So, what do they afford us as learning professionals?
It is career-threatening to think that if we build a cool-looking Virtual World and let our characters roam around or fly over things, that it will result in increased job performance. While it is interesting to see how I can create a cool-looking avatar, what does it "afford" us in terms of different learning opportunities? Does it really allow the learner to manipulate a real object to gain accurate, 360 perspective or is it just "cool"??
I was the keynoter yesterday at a government conference in DC, focused on Simulations, Gaming and the 3D Virtual Worlds for Learning. The concept of "affordances" resonated well with this group. We talked about looking at each piece of new "disruptive" technology with an eye to these
affordances:
* Learning Affordances.
* Collaborative Affordances.
* Analysis Affordances.
* Design Affordances.
We need to also make sure that each new "innovation" is fully accessible.
This includes accessibility to the full range of generations and the full range of company locations. A simulation can be built that is as easy-to-use as the Wii, or it can require a 43-year-old to learn the keyboard commands of a video game. Make it accessible!
I would love to hear from fellow Learning TRENDS readers about your take on the issue of "affordances". Send me a note to emasie@masie.com and I will post them next week. Let's keep experimenting with a behavioral eye!
We are adding several sessions at Learning 2007, to be held in Orlando from Oct 21 to 24, focused on Learning Affordances and Avoiding the Hype in Innovations! We invite you to join us: http://www.learning2007.com
Upcoming MASIE Center Events:
* Performance Support LAB: Sept 10 to 12 - Saratoga Springs.
* Learning 2007: Oct 21 to 24 - Orlando, Florida.
* Membership in our Learning CONSORTIUM.
Information at http://www.masie.com
Email for Elliott to emasie@masie.com
#463 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
53,695 Readers - http://www.masie.com - The MASIE Center.
Host of Learning 2007 - Oct 21-24 - Orlando, Florida, USA.
-- Over 1,416 Colleagues Registered Already --
Learning Rant: It's About Affordances, NOT Just Cool "Innovations"!!!
By Elliott Masie
I am getting tired of hearing about the latest and coolest "learning or technology" innovation ... without hearing about what it "affords" us as learners or learning professionals.
Don't get me wrong. I have been experimenting with new media, new technologies and new methods for decades. But, lately there is a frenzy of fascination and way too much hype about the innovation "de jour", including wikis, Second Life, PodCasting, Web 2.0 and more. And, much of this frenzy does not map back to the requirements of learning development and design.
What does the new technology "afford" us the ability to do that we could not do before as learning professionals? Does it enable us to provide faster, better, less expensive, more collaborative, more global or more impactful learning experiences?
We need to create a more behavioral approach to our consideration of learning "innovations" and technologies. For example, I am intrigued by the rise of a 3D web, including the emerging set of Virtual Worlds. So, what do they afford us as learning professionals?
It is career-threatening to think that if we build a cool-looking Virtual World and let our characters roam around or fly over things, that it will result in increased job performance. While it is interesting to see how I can create a cool-looking avatar, what does it "afford" us in terms of different learning opportunities? Does it really allow the learner to manipulate a real object to gain accurate, 360 perspective or is it just "cool"??
I was the keynoter yesterday at a government conference in DC, focused on Simulations, Gaming and the 3D Virtual Worlds for Learning. The concept of "affordances" resonated well with this group. We talked about looking at each piece of new "disruptive" technology with an eye to these
affordances:
* Learning Affordances.
* Collaborative Affordances.
* Analysis Affordances.
* Design Affordances.
We need to also make sure that each new "innovation" is fully accessible.
This includes accessibility to the full range of generations and the full range of company locations. A simulation can be built that is as easy-to-use as the Wii, or it can require a 43-year-old to learn the keyboard commands of a video game. Make it accessible!
I would love to hear from fellow Learning TRENDS readers about your take on the issue of "affordances". Send me a note to emasie@masie.com and I will post them next week. Let's keep experimenting with a behavioral eye!
We are adding several sessions at Learning 2007, to be held in Orlando from Oct 21 to 24, focused on Learning Affordances and Avoiding the Hype in Innovations! We invite you to join us: http://www.learning2007.com
Upcoming MASIE Center Events:
* Performance Support LAB: Sept 10 to 12 - Saratoga Springs.
* Learning 2007: Oct 21 to 24 - Orlando, Florida.
* Membership in our Learning CONSORTIUM.
Information at http://www.masie.com
Email for Elliott to emasie@masie.com
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