762 - Learning Personalization; Simplicity in Apps; Legal Issues with Telework
February 19, 2013 Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - February 19, 2013.
#762 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
55,894 Readers - www.masie.com - twitter: emasie - The MASIE Center.
Host: Learning Directions Blended Seminars
1. Personalization of Learning: A Key Learning Direction!
2. Simple App: Less is More :)
3. TeleWork Legal Issues:
1. Personalization of Learning - A Key Learning Direction! The learner is growing in his/her assumptions of Personalization choices and actions as they approach workplace learning. Personalization is one of the major Learning Directions that The MASIE Center is tracking in 2013.
Personalization of Learning has several key dimensions that are altering both learner behaviors and organizational approaches to design:
* Scope and Sequence Choices! Traditional instructional design placed scope (the range of content delivered) and sequence (the order of content) to the designer. The 2013 Learner has a growing desire to make minor or major changes in the scope or sequence of their learning content. Some want to go directly to the Step by Step details while other learners want to start with a framework or conceptual blast. Likewise, some learners stay focused on the detailed curriculum while others will find and consume non-designed content from internal or external sources. Design must increasingly add a Personalization component to the articulation of a course.
* Leverage and Index Previous Knowledge: Our learners want the learning function to acknowledge and leverage their already existing knowledge on the targeted content. Personalizing the content for these learners would increase their ability to either “test out” of a module they already know or link the language of a new procedure to a process they learned in a previous situation. Malcolm Knowles always referred to the adult learner as a student that wants their previous knowledge continually acknowledged.
* Learning Systems & Personalization: Learning Officers are asking deeper questions of their LMS and LCMS to add Personalization to their approaches to learning delivery and tracking. How do we shift the LMS to add personalized content choices and sequences to the students in a program?
Personalization of Learning is one of the top themes that we will be exploring in depth at our Learning Directions sessions to be offered in March and April across the US and in the UK. Details at www.masie.com
2. Simple App: Less is More :) We have been studying simplicity in the design of mobile apps at The MASIE Center. One that I started to use recently is a weather alert app for my iPhone called Dark Sky. This app uses GPS to determine my location and, when pressed, shows me in large type what the weather is RIGHT NOW and in ONE HOUR. In other words, before heading out, I can check and in a glance see if is raining, snowing or storming in real time. Another click shows me the predicted weather for each segment of the next 12 hours or allows me to see real time and predicted radar screen pictures for this area.
The simplicity of Dark Sky shows a usability approach to the presentation of data to the user. Getting to a one glance visual is often key. Other weather apps are loaded with more data and content, but is more really less? And, is less really more? We need more simplicity in performance based learning.
3. TeleWork Legal Issues: As we roll out our TeleWork 2013 event, the legal issues that increased teleworking raises is fascinating. For example:
* How does the employment contract for a teleworking employee differ from an office-present employee? Do we specify total hours worked and with what flexibly?
* What are the legal dimensions of evolving the teleworking choices for an employee on maternity leave? How do these conform or conflict with disability regulations?
* Seating and safety for teleworkers is also a “hot” issue. What are employer liabilities for any injuries resulting from bad furniture purchased and used by employees?
* Selection for learning, collaboration or promotion will be analyzed for home based vs. office based employees! Are there differences in your practices?
Take advantage of our early registration discount rate for TeleWork 2013, June 23 to 25 in Saratoga Springs, NY. Details and registration at http://www.telework2013.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.
* TeleWork 2013 - June 23 to 25 - Saratoga Springs, NY.
* Learning 2013 - November 2013 - Orlando, Florida.
* Membership in The Learning CONSORTIUM
Info and Registration: http://www.masie.com - twitter: emasie