760 - OK, I Binge - Media Duration; Video in the Classroom

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - February 1, 2013.
#760 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
55,887 Readers - www.masie.com - twitter: emasie - The MASIE Center.
Host: Learning Directions Blended Seminars

1. OK, I Binge! - Shifts in Media Consumption.
2. Logitech Business Camera - Skype for the Classroom!
3. Learning CONSORTIUM Memberships Available.

1. OK, I Binge! - Shifts in Media Consumption: Yes, I will publicly admit that I binge! I binge view TV shows.

In the “old days” I would wait each week for the next episode of a favorite TV show and watch it at the designated time. I have fond memories of anticipating the arrival of the next “West Wing”, “Hill Street Blues” or “Mary Tyler Moore Show”. It was both fun and frustrating when the show had a deep mystery element  and there was at least a week to ponder who did it or what was next.

Now, I binge! Using on-demand video, I will consume an entire season of a TV series in a very short time frame.  Once, when I was home alone for the weekend, I watched an entire season of 24 with just occasional breaks for food. Or, my binging might be stretched over a few days or weeks, but the compression factor is sometimes very attractive to me as a viewer. The TV series becomes a 15 hour marathon that the compulsive Elliott thrives upon. I have even gone back and done a binge consumption of an entire season of “Car 54 Where Are You”, a goofy comedy that I watched as a kid.

It is fascinating to see how binge viewing is growing. At the same time as we are consuming 3 minute short video spots on YouTube, there is also an occasional appetite for binge viewing. Just today, Netflix, which has started to produce TV shows as well as stream them, announced a binge viewing decision. In a departure from television tradition, the entire season of “House of Cards” — all 13 episodes, nearly 13 hours of tense Capitol Hill drama — will be available at once, with the click of a button.

There may be an impact on the world of corporate learning as well. A number of longer online programs have been historically offered over a “semester” or at least a few weeks. The assumption was that the learner would stretch his or her engagement over time. We are now seeing the trend of learners who want to take a more “binge learning” model, transforming the intensive weekend boot camp type experience into a 15 to 20 hour binge learning experience. This is not for everyone or for every topic, but part of “Learning Personalization” will be increased demand and delivery of agile schedules.

As we explore the concept of “binging”, or perhaps it’s better to say “intensity”, of learning, our designs have to adapt for learning processing, focusing time, assessment, feedback, social/collaborative interaction and more. We have never called 3 days in a management classroom a binge so why not see a learner take 3 days in a cafe or home-based office for a highly intensive, digitally connected learning experience? We can’t lower the competency bar, but this will be an interesting arena for design innovation.

As you try out video binging (from on-demand or a DVD) for entertainment, start to consider when an intensive 10 to 12 hours of learning might also be attractive, enhancing and extending your knowledge gain. The MASIE Center’s Learning LAB, in association with our Learning CONSORTIUM, will be conducting experiments in the coming months on “knowledge binges”. Stay tuned!

2. Logitech Business Camera - Skype for the Classroom! I almost never endorse or highlight a product, as Learning TRENDS is vendor-neutral, but we have been on a quest for a simple technology that has finally arrived.

We wanted a camera with High Definition capability that could be remotely Pointed, Titled and Zoomed (PTZ) and also work perfectly with Skype and Gmail Video as well as be a capture camera for content.  Why? In all of our classrooms, we have multiple large Plasma/LCD Screens and want to add cameras for video conferencing, class capture and knowledge clips. While we could mount a nice single-focus camera, the PTZ capability was missing.

Logitech BCC950 Conference Cam Video Conferencing Camera is perfect! We have tested it in multiple settings and are delighted with the focus, quality and ease of use in a classroom or meeting room. It has extensions that allow it to be mounted apart from the base and it would be ideal to add video capacity to a classroom - in our effort to evolve to the “connected classroom”. The price is around $220 and we have purchased several for our Center. Here is one supplier: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/877890-REG/Logitech_960_000866_BCC950_ConferenceCam_Video_Conferencing.html

3. Learning CONSORTIUM Memberships Available: We have several spots available for membership in the MASIE Center’s Learning CONSORTIUM. Join over 230 global companies in ongoing Learning LAB experiments, work on emerging learning issues and participate in a collaborative to design the future of workplace learning. Currently we have LAB’s underway in “Big” Learning Data, Kiosks as Learning Resources, eBooks and other key topics. Details at http://www.masie.com

Yours in learning,

Elliott Masie
email: emasie@masie.com
twitter: @emasie

MASIE Center Seminars, Events and Services:
* Learning Directions Seminar: Blended and in 6 Cities Globally.
* Learning 2013 - November 2013 - Orlando, Florida.
* Membership in The Learning CONSORTIUM
Info and Registration: http://www.masie.com - twitter: emasie