584 - How-To Videos Abound, Tablet Factors, Learning Agility
July 15, 2009 Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - July 15, 2009.
#584 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
54,766 Readers - http://www.masie.com - The MASIE Center.
Host - Learning 2009 - Nov 8-11 - Orlando, Florida
1. How-To Videos Abound!
2. Tablet Form Factors & Learning?
3. Learning Agility, Value Pricing & No Risk.
1. How-To Videos Abound! There is a significant growth happening in the use of short instructional videos. Imagine a 3-minute video that describes how to get the travel voucher approved or how to clean your BBQ grill. We are tracking the interest in and deployment of these “How-To” learning objects, in and outside of the Enterprise. You can visit a number of websites that are aggregating (and sometimes producing) short instructional videos:
http://www.howcast.com (high volume site)
http://www.wonderhowto.com (growing site)
http://www.clipchef.com (cooking example)
Some of these, like HowCast, are produced with an attitude and “edge”, and a standard instructional format. Others are more free form. Either way, the usage of and participation in these sites is growing rapidly. People want to get short bursts of high-value instruction on a wide range of topics.
In the organizational world, I am seeing similar projects. One learning colleague added a site called “WorkAround” to his intranet to show people how to get around rule jams in his organization. Another colleague has added a user-rated “How-To” site to their mix of learning resources.
These videos are being produced without a lot of “Hollywood” and are valuable because they are “grassroots”. Do an experiment in your organization and you will be shocked. Try this sample out - “How To Shop For a Digital Camera”:
http://www.howcast.com/videos/207867-How-To-Buy-a-Digital-Camera
2. Tablet Form Factors & Learning? A short TREND Prediction: Watch the rise of tablet and netbook size form factors for computers that will be used by your learners. Tablets with touch may be released by Apple later this year - also prompting Tablet-like Apps. Start a conversation with your designers about how they may adapt to the smaller screen size and begin to leverage the functions of netbooks and tablets.
3. Learning Agility, Value Pricing & No Risk: Learning 2009 is growing with great excitement. We have over 400 people already registered for our annual event (Nov 8 to 11 - Orlando). Here are a few updates:
* Learning Agility - We have added a special Theme on Learning Agility: Organizational Learning Agility, Learner Agility and Learning Technology Agility. We will present research and applications on this key topic.
* Value Pricing: With constrained and reduced learning budgets in many organizations, we have reduced all of the fees for Learning 2009 to be less than our 2008 Rates.
* No Risk! In addition, since anything can happen in UnCertain Times, we have eliminated all Cancellation Charges.
* Free Learning 2009 Online Academy - This is new follow-up online course, for Learning 2009 attendees only, taught by our Faculty from November to March!
The Learning 2009 site is now updated and live. Check out the range of activities, including a very low-cost post-conference Cruise. Go to http://www.learning2009.com
Elliott Masie
Contact: emasie@masie.com
Upcoming MASIE Center Services & Events:
* Learning 2009: Nov 8 to 11 - Orlando, FL
* Membership in our Learning CONSORTIUM (Over 240 Fortune 1000 Organizations)
Information and Registration at http://www.masie.com