805 - China and Singapore Learning Perspectives
November 26, 2013 Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - November 26, 2013.
#805 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
56,322 Readers - www.masie.com - twitter: emasie - The MASIE Center.
Learning Perspectives from Beijing & Singapore!
Hello (Ni Hao) from Beijing, China where I am delivering a keynote speech at the China eLearning Forum tomorrow morning. A few days ago, I was honored to work for one day with 190 Learning Executives in Singapore. Here are some learning and personal perspectives from conversations and observations:
* Learning and Digital Learning are seen as key economic and career development issues in Asia. People see the digital extension of learning - from online degrees to You Tube knowledge videos to Skype access to expertise - as a powerful tool to democratize access to education and radically shift the working opportunity curve for individuals. There is less focus on the compliance process and more on how a dramatically larger number of people can have a dramatically larger knowledge and career curve.
* Coming to You From a VPN: The internet in China is increasingly available in homes, public places and on my mobile phone. Yet, there are key sites, including Facebook and some social media/search engines, that you cannot access from the “normal” internet. I was advised to get a $10 a month account with a VPN that redirects my access to servers in LA, Seattle or other countries. The IP address is shown as a foreign address and I can access my Facebook account or watch Hulu from my hotel room. In fact, I am reaching the Learning TRENDS server through my VPN. Ah, the multiple sides of any policy.
* The MOOC as a Transformational Structure: While few people have actually taken a Massive Open Online Course, there is much work underway to create versions of the MOOC offered by traditional, newly-formed and non-degree granting colleges. My colleagues here in Asia see the MOOC as a way of breaking out of the 20-people-at-a-time limitation of the classroom and leveraging more social and collaborative design into “e” courses.
* Thirst for New Instructional Design Models: I have had dozens of conversations with colleagues intrigued about new models of learning design, moving beyond ADDIE and reflecting a greater role for learner impact on choices. They want more micro-level “modules” with smaller elements of content and testing, and a model that would tie these together into a course, program or style of study. Many asked about “Daily Learning Models” where each learner receives a “Suggested Mini-Content Segment” each day predicated on his/her role, learning objectives and changes in the business.
* US - Get Global Ready: I am struck at how different the “Global” readiness of colleagues and citizens here is compared to that of my peers in the United States. Here are a few “global readiness” differences:
- Airport Language Arrival: Four to five languages were reflected in the signs and speaking languages of airport staff. I arrived in Beijing and was in line with a person from Spain and a couple from Russia. They were able to interact and transact in their own languages.
- Plugs in the Hotel: While I always carry several adapters on international trips, I have never had to use them as the hotels have global ready electrical plugs. Right by my bed were two USB plugs for digital device recharging. Ask global visitors to New York City about the difficulty of getting an adapter for their room.
- Global Work: There is a culture of working globally and awareness of not only currency, but also traditions, holidays and more about other cultures. I have had eight suggestions for where I might have Turkey on Thursday as my colleagues (many of whom have not traveled abroad) wanted me to not “miss” my Thanksgiving. Two asked if I could do “Black Friday” online for sales the day after Turkey Day. Working globally requires a strong sense of respect for the divergent traditions and cultures of new colleagues.
As learning professionals, we have a role in advocating for and building a stronger, global-ready workforce and workplace. Increasingly, technology will allow organizations to access expertise from anywhere and our business and knowledge relationships will have to be globally ready. Advocate for more language training in schools and promote awareness of the global aspects of your customers, colleagues and partners in the workplace.
After spending time with several hundred learning colleagues tomorrow in Beijing, I will make my way over to Vietnam, Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
It is a great honor to meet and collaborate with learning colleagues in each of these countries. From our conversations about Big Learning Data to sharing the vision of how to best mix face-to-face with technology in learning designs, I always come away with new ideas, new stories and, most of all, new friends.
Have a Great Turkey Day and talk to you all soon.
Ni Hao & Yours in learning,
Elliott Masie
Host, Learning 2014
email: emasie@masie.com
twitter: @emasie
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