846 - Learning Trends Video Now Streamable

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - September 23, 2014.
#846 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
56,681 Readers - www.masie.com - twitter: emasie - The MASIE Center.
Host: Learning 2014 - Oct 26-29 - Orlando. 1,257 Registered Already.

MASIE Briefing Streamable Now: Learning Trends in 2014.

We just hosted over 1,800 colleagues online for our 60 Minute Learning Trends in 2014 Video. Several hundred folks were not able to get online due to server jam. So, here is the complete, no-charge, one hour briefing addressing: Personalization, Compliance, Video in Learning, LearningTech, Connected Classrooms, Social Learning, Gamification, 50 Plus and Big Learning Data. To view the briefing, please visit:

http://www.learning2014.com/trends914

Yours in Learning,

Elliott Masie
Chair, The Learning CONSORTIUM
Host, Learning 2014

MASIE Center Seminars, Events and Services:
* Learning 2014 - October 2014 - Orlando, Florida.
* Membership in The Learning CONSORTIUM
Info and Registration: http://www.masie.com - twitter: emasie

845 - 110 Foot Curved Screen? Ambiguity and Learning

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - September 22, 2014.
#845 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
56,674 Readers - www.masie.com - twitter: emasie - The MASIE Center.
Host: Learning 2014 - Oct 26-29 - Orlando. 1,207 Registered Already.

1. AMBIGUITY: Embrace & Honor the Grey Area for Learning.
2. 110 Foot Screen? Engagement!
3. Free Video Briefing on Trends & Challenges in 2014: Tuesday, September 23rd from 1 to 2 PM (Eastern Time).

1. AMBIGUITY = Embrace & Honor the Grey Area for Learning: Most instructional design is about the RIGHT answer. Standard Operating Procedures define that CORRECT approach to a problem. The vast majority of eLearning modules test out for the learner’s ability to check the RIGHT box.

But, sometimes there is not a RIGHT vs WRONG answer. Increasingly, in our rapidly changing world, AMBIGUITY may be the reality. Even with a standard procedure, there may be six “DEPENDS” statements. CLOs are reporting the need for their new hires to have emotional intelligence to deal with the AMBIGUITY of a situation. Yet, we don’t really have the language to embrace and honor the reality of AMBIGUITY.

Yesterday, this became clear to me in a great conversation in a coffee shop in Manhattan. Six strangers were discussing world events at a Manhattan cafe. Our conversations focused on both EBOLA and ISIS in the Middle East. We were six adults, all clearly news aware and verbal. As we explored our perceptions of the challenges of ISIS and the risk of EBOLA, it became clear to me that we don’t easily know how to say, “We don’t know”. Media news shows create the opposite sides of an issue. But, there rarely is a GREY area representative. Only when the six of us verbalized the commonality of our shared (and diverse) AMBIGUITY about each of these topics were we able to listen and learn from each other more clearly. 

I left the coffee shop considering how we might better embrace AMBIGUITY into our learning designs and activities. Would love your thoughts. Send me an email to emasie@masie.com

2. 110 Foot Screen? Engagement! Today, I ordered a very BIG piece of technology. Larger than a big iPhone. Actually, larger than any technology I have ever used at an event.

Today, I ordered a 110 Foot Wide, 24 Foot Tall, Curved Video Projection Screen for Learning 2014. Why?  Engagement!
 
There will be 1,600 learning colleagues from around the world at the General Sessions for keynote speakers like Chef Bobby Flay, Robin Roberts from ABC News and Sir Ken Robinson.

I want to create a HIGH ENGAGEMENT, Rich Video Experience - even for the person sitting at the very back of the room. We will use many cameras, including overhead ones over Bobby Flay’s stove, that will then be projected in a large and varied fashion to engage the audience.

Actually, we could have as many as 24 different video images, but that would be overwhelming. However, we will be able to mix Graphics, Live Questions from the Audience, A Graphical Capture from California, Cameras and even Remote Feeds from around the world.  And, it will be Large, Bright and Curved, taking the entire width of the Learning 2014 Ballroom.

We are one of the first conferences in the world to use this technology and we will mix it with other Engagement tools and strategies. Check out a mock-up picture of this 110 Foot Screen here: http://www.learning2014.com/index.php/item/110-foot-screen-engagement.html I welcome ideas for creatively producing content experiences on it. Send me a note to emasie@masie.com

3. Free Video Briefing Trends & Challenges in 2014: Last call for our upcoming live video (with over 1,600 colleagues attending from around the world). You and your colleagues are invited to this free, interactive video that will be on Tuesday, September 23rd from 1 to 2 PM (Eastern Time).

This year, we will address these topics:

- Learning Personalization: Just in Time, Just for Me, Just Enough!
- Compliance and Learning Crisis
- Video in Learning: From TED to User Content to Live Chat
- LearningTech: Wearables, Apps and More
- The Connected Classroom: Stretching the Class
- Gaming & Gamification
- Collaborative & Social Learning
- 50+ & Learning: Boomers in the Workplace
- Big Learning Data & Metrics

To reserve a space in this briefing, please go to http://www.Learning2014.com/2014trends

Yours in Learning,

Elliott Masie
Chair, The Learning CONSORTIUM
Host, Learning 2014

MASIE Center Seminars, Events and Services:
* Learning 2014 - October 2014 - Orlando, Florida.
* Membership in The Learning CONSORTIUM
Info and Registration: http://www.masie.com - twitter: emasie

844 - 50 Plus and Learning with AARP; Really Short Video Clips; iWatch for Learning?

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - September 15, 2014.
#844 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
56,653 Readers - www.masie.com - twitter: emasie - The MASIE Center.
Host: Learning 2014 - Oct 26-29 - Orlando. 1,139 Registered Already.

1. 50 Plus & Learning: Collaboration with AARP.
2. Really Short Videos for Learning: 6 Seconds to 3 minutes?
3. iWatch Implications for Learning.
4. Free Video Briefing Trends & Challenges in 2014:

1. 50 Plus & Learning - Collaboration with AARP: As you may know, over the past few years I have organized and sponsored a 30 Under 30 Learning Leaders Program. It has been a delight to support and work with rising learning leaders in the first decade of their careers.  But, what about those of us that are in the older generation?

We are pleased to announce a 50 Plus & Learning project at Learning 2014. We are excited to announce that AARP will co-host a series of “50 Plus” & Learning elements at Learning 2014! Representatives from AARP will help lead sessions and conversations with event participants about the various opportunities and challenges that come with working and learning once employees are “50 Plus”. We look forward to featuring AARP as a co-host and cooperating organization at Learning 2014!

In addition, we will ask several key questions about 50 Plus & Learning:

- What happens as our more senior employees decide to NOT retire?  What happens to their development plans and the career plans of younger colleagues in their teams?
- What shifts in learning style, preference or approach of more senior employees?  How do they adapt as their learning approaches may shift?
- What are emerging models for 50 Plus employees in the workforce and how do different generations best collaborate in corporate culture?
- How do 50 Plus use or desire to use technology differently?

Details on our 50 Plus & Learning efforts at: http://www.learning2014.com/50plus

2. Really Short Videos for Learning - 6 Seconds to 3 minutes? The length of corporate video is getting shorter and shorter. Decades ago, it was common to have a 90 minute video. We then entered the 60 minute version, followed by the 30 minute video.  In the past few years, the length has dropped to 18 minutes, a la TED Video Length. But, recently we have seen corporate video for learning experiment with the very short length - like 6 seconds a la the app that creates 6 second segments - to 3 minute short video clips.

Why? The role of video may be to tell a quick story, provide a few seconds of context or to add a multi-media element to a text segment. The MASIE Center has been experimenting with shorter video and even micro-video clips.

We are honored to feature 2 sessions and a lab on creating Micro-Video segments at Learning 2014 - led by Eric Pokorny from Starbucks.  Info about Learning 2014 at http://www.learning2014.com

3. iWatch Implications for Learning: The recently announced iWatch from Apple may have intriguing implications for Workplace Learning. We will be working with a few app developers to explore the role of the iWatch for Learning. Imagine a few experimental uses of an iWatch (or similar wearable from other providers):

* Wearable Performance Support: Provide a workplace “learning at the moment of need” GPS functionality.
* Collaboration Adviser: Monitor and provide feedback on collaboration patterns in the workplace.
* Stress and Bio Feedback Loops: What topics trigger higher levels of stress in a learner - and how can content be adaptable?
* Motion Based Content: Imagine a series of gestures that would be sensed by the iWatch and shape content/context choices for the learner.
* Location Specific Content: Where you are could shape what you see and how you respond.

I am looking for several Learning TRENDS readers that would like to be part of the discussion about the iWatch and Learning.  Send me a note to emasie@masie.com

4. Free Video Briefing Trends & Challenges in 2014: You and your colleagues are invited to this free interactive video that will be on Tuesday, September 23rd from 1 to 2 PM (Eastern Time).

This year, we will address these topics:

- Learning Personalization: Just in Time, Just for Me, Just Enough!
- Compliance and Learning Crisis
- Video in Learning: From TED to User Content to Live Chat
- LearningTech: Wearables, Apps and More
- The Connected Classroom: Stretching the Class
- Gaming & Gamification
- Collaborative & Social Learning
- 50+ & Learning: Boomers in the Workplace
- Big Learning Data & Metrics

To reserve a space in this briefing, please go to http://www.Learning2014.com/2014trends

Yours in Learning,

Elliott Masie
Chair, The Learning CONSORTIUM
Host, Learning 2014

MASIE Center Seminars, Events and Services:
* Learning 2014 - October 2014 - Orlando, Florida.
* Membership in The Learning CONSORTIUM
Info and Registration: http://www.masie.com - twitter: emasie

843 - Video Briefing: Learning Trends in 2014

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - September 12, 2014.
#843 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
56,642 Readers - www.masie.com - twitter: emasie - The MASIE Center.
Host: Learning 2014 - Oct 26-29 - Orlando. 1,109 Registered Already.

Free Video Briefing by Elliott Masie - Learning Trends & Challenges in 2014!

Each year, I present a live video briefing on Learning Trends & Challenges. You and your colleagues are invited to this free interactive briefing that will be on Tuesday, September 23rd from 1 to 2 PM (Eastern Time).

This year, I will address these topics:

- Learning Personalization: Just in Time, Just for Me, Just Enough!
- Compliance and Learning Crisis
- Video in Learning: From TED to User Content to Live Chat
- LearningTech: Wearables, Apps and More
- The Connected Classroom: Stretching the Class
- Gaming & Gamification
- Collaborative & Social Learning
- “50+” & Learning: Boomers in the Workplace
- Big Learning Data & Metrics

I will present a free video briefing on these topics, with real-time questions and comments from the audience.

To reserve a space in this briefing, please go to http://www.Learning2014.com/2014trends

Yours in Learning,

Elliott Masie
Chair, The Learning CONSORTIUM
Host, Learning 2014

MASIE Center Seminars, Events and Services:
* Learning 2014 - October 2014 - Orlando, Florida.
* Membership in The Learning CONSORTIUM
Info and Registration: http://www.masie.com - twitter: emasie

841 - Brain Science, 8 Seconds for Questions, Love Letters

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - September 8, 2014.
#841 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
56,639 Readers - www.masie.com - twitter: emasie - The MASIE Center.
Host: Learning 2014 - Oct 26-29 - Orlando. 1,017 Registered Already.

1. How to Engage Every Brain by Ann Herrmann-Nehdi.
2. Wait Eight Seconds for Questions.
3. 1,017 Registrations & Groups Galore.
4. MASIE Productions: “Love Letters” with Carol Burnett, Alan Alda & More.

1. How to Engage Every Brain by Ann Herrmann-Nehdi: We are honored to feature articles by our Featured Speakers at Learning 2014. The first one is by Ann Herrmann-Nehdi, one of the leading authors and innovators in the arena of Brain Science and Learning. Her article, How to Engage Every Brain, is online at http://www.learning2014.com/index.php/item/how-to-engage-every-brain.html

2. Wait Eight Seconds for Questions: Recently, I was interviewed by a magazine and asked about the best tip I ever received about learning. I recounted a tip from Dr. Roger Johnson from U of Minnesota back in 1977 when he said, “Wait at least 8 seconds after asking for questions from a group of learners - before you say anything else as an instructor!” Turns out, the average instructor asks, “Are there any questions?” and only waits about 3 seconds. It takes the audience a few more seconds to process your request, formulate questions in their minds, scan the room for other people’s responses and decide to actually ask. Count to 8 and you will see an amazing difference.

3. 1,017 Registrations & Groups Galore: We are honored to be taking dozens of registrations every day for Learning 2014, to take place in Orlando from Oct 26 to 29th.  Today, we crossed the 1,000th registration mark.  And, as I write this, we are up to 1,017.  In addition, there are now over 30 groups of participants from corporations coming together - with meetings before, during or after the event.  Hotel space is quickly filling. Take advantage of our Early Registration Rate at http://www.learning2014.com

4. MASIE Productions: “Love Letters” with Carol Burnett, Alan Alda & More: Learning TRENDS readers may know that MASIE Productions is also producing several plays and musicals on Broadway. On Saturday, previews begin for “Love Letters”, which we are co-producing. Every 4 weeks, 2 stars will be featured. These include: Carol Burnett, Alan Alda, Mia Farrow, Brian Dennehy, Stacy Keach, Diana Rigg, Candice Bergen, Anjelica Huston and Martin Sheen. Two stars each night will read “Love Letters” in a powerful and moving show. Details at: http://lovelettersbroadway.com/

Yours in learning,

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

MASIE Center Seminars, Events and Services:
* Learning 2014 - October 2014 - Orlando, Florida.
* Membership in The Learning CONSORTIUM
Info and Registration: http://www.masie.com - twitter: emasie

840 - Movie Attendance Down, LearningTech, Skillsoft Buys SumTotal

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - September 2, 2014.
#840 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
56,635 Readers - www.masie.com - twitter: emasie - The MASIE Center.
Host: Learning 2014 - Oct 26-29 - Orlando. 872 Registered Already.

1. Movie Attendance Down: What’s Happening?
2. LearningTech: Wearables, iBeacons, Drones.
3. SumTotal Bought by Skillsoft.

1. Movie Attendance Down: What’s Happening? Sales of summer movie theater tickets were down.  Actually, they were down quite a bit.  And, it may be an interesting compass pointer for how we are consuming content.

The film industry had its worst summer in North America, still the world’s No. 1 movie market, since at least 1997, after adjusting for inflation. Between the first weekend in May through the end of August, ticket sales in the United States and Canada are expected to total roughly $3.9 billion, a 15 percent decline from the same stretch last year, according to Rentrak, a box office data company.

Some of the decline might be due to weak titles or all too familiar sequels. But, there is also a larger shift in how people are choosing and consuming content.

This summer, I watched several TV and Movie series that went straight to streamable format - like “Orange is the New Black.” I wanted to control the when, where and how long my viewing would be.  More and more, we are choosing our laptops, smart phones and tablets as alternatives to the theater or even home TV.  The personalization preferences of learners, along with widespread use of high tech, high definition, large TVs at home is impacting some of the decrease in theater attendance.

Let’s map this to changes in how our employees are opting for learning content at the workplace. If they can access content from their tablets or even from home in the living room, the desire to attend some face-to-face classes will ebb. The learner (and viewer) will demand more content, better content, shorter content, and more agile delivery that is time/place/device agnostic and more. At Learning 2014, my keynote will focus deeply on Learning Personalization. 

Note: Ironically, I am heading over to the theater this evening for a movie. I want to watch something large in a big room with fresh popcorn and lose myself in that world for a while. Just remember, the theater has become just one of many choices for viewers. And, the same is true for many learning formats.

2. LearningTech: Wearables, iBeacons, Drones: I am pleased to announce a new series of sessions called LearningTech at Learning 2014. This year, we will focus on these emerging technologies and explore how they MIGHT impact designs for learning. Here is a sample:

* LearningTech: Wearables for Learning?
* LearningTech: iBeacons and Discoverables for Learning?
* LearningTech: Ariel Photographic Drones for Learning?

Check out our recent article and pictures on LearningTech at: http://www.learning2014.com/index.php/item/learningtech.html

3. SumTotal Bought by Skillsoft: The merger and acquisition pattern for Learning Management Systems continues with the recent announcement that Skillsoft is Acquiring SumTotal. At the same time, SumTotal is adding signification expansion into Talent areas. Details of this latest deal at: http://www.skillsoft.com/about/press_room/Skillsoft_Annoucement_Presentation_final.pdf

Yours in learning,

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

MASIE Center Seminars, Events and Services:
* Learning 2014 - October 2014 - Orlando, Florida.
* Membership in The Learning CONSORTIUM
Info and Registration: http://www.masie.com - twitter: emasie

839 - Fresh Onboarding Designs; 170 Learning Sessions; Summer Reading List

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - August 26, 2014.
#839 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
56,619 Readers - www.masie.com - twitter: emasie - The MASIE Center.
Host: Learning 2014 - Oct 26-29 - Orlando. 837 Registered Already.

1. Fresh Look at OnBoarding & Orientation Designs.
2. 170 Learning Sessions at Learning 2014.
3. Summer Reading List?

1. Fresh Look at Onboarding & Orientation Designs: Almost every day, I facilitate a briefing with the learning leaders of one of our 230 Learning CONSORTIUM corporate members. Our conversations are steered by each company’s key interests, challenges or changes in learning approaches.  One theme has been popping to the top of almost every briefing:

“Can we take a fresh design look at employee onboarding, orientation or position shifting learning activities?”

While organizations are adding new learning technologies and methodologies, the world of “Welcome to Your New Role” interventions has not radically evolved. Organizations are seeking new ways to structure the early experiences of new hires as well as assist as employees step up to new roles.  It is helpful to “take apart” the elements of orientation/onboarding:

* Induction Activities - Welcome to Our Culture.
* Information About the Organization.
* Compliance/Regulatory/HR Requirement Exposures.
* Exposure to Leaders and Mission.
* The “Language” of the Organization/Role.
* Skills Assessment/Competency Mapping.
* Connection to Colleagues/Communities/Mentors.
* Skills for Accessing IT and Systems.
* Tips for Success.

As we look at each element, organizations can ask Timing, Intensity and Delivery design questions. Can that topic be handled by streamed video even before the person accepts the role? Is that most effective on Day One or should it wait until the employee has 3 weeks in the job? How do we add Personalization to the process? What are the metrics to measure the effectiveness of changing the Onboarding process?

In the coming months, The MASIE Center will be looking at shifts in how organizations are radically changing Orientation and Onboarding.  We are eager to chat with organizations that are designing for shifts in this field - ala Zappos - where they offer an incentive for early departure of people in the wrong roles. Send me a note to emasie@masie.com if you have some projects or experiments to share.

2. 170 Learning Sessions at Learning 2014.  We are in the final stages of designing almost 170 learning sessions, workshops, labs and conversations for Learning 2014 (Oct 26 - 29 in Orlando). Today we are able to post the list with a large sample of the sessions and organizations that are facilitating these learning options. Go to: http://www.learning2014.com/sessions1

3. Summer Reading List? As the summer comes to an end in North America (sigh??), I am always curious about the books that learning colleagues have read - in the living room or on the beach. Mine this summer included:

* Make It Stick: The Science of Successful Learning.
* “They Say / I Say”: The Moves That Matter in Academic Writing.
* The Star Agency (Science Fiction)

Please send me your list and we will make an aggregated list of books from our Learning TRENDS readers.  Send to emasie@masie.com

Yours in learning,

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

MASIE Center Seminars, Events and Services:
* Learning 2014 - October 2014 - Orlando, Florida.
* Membership in The Learning CONSORTIUM
Info and Registration: http://www.masie.com - twitter: emasie

838 - Throwable Microphones, Internal Google Ads, Publishing Skills for Leaders

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - August 18, 2014.
#838 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
56,614 Readers - www.masie.com - twitter: emasie - The MASIE Center.
Host: Learning 2014 - Oct 26-29 - Orlando. 793 Registered Already.

1. A Throwable Soft Microphone?
2. Google/Yahoo-Like Ads for Workplace Learning Push.
3. Publishing Skills for Leadership Development.

1. A Throwable Soft Microphone? My “cool” technology of the month just arrived at The MASIE Center.  Imagine a soft, throwable pillow - with a high definition microphone inside - to be tossed to a participant at a large meeting as an alternative to the “mike on a stand” model. It was developed at a University in Finland and is both useful and playful.  I did a quick video of the Catchbox in action - http://tinyurl.com/catchbox

2. Google/Yahoo-Like Ads for Workplace Learning Push: It is time for organizations to leverage the idea of Google/Yahoo/Bing/Facebook-like ads internally to “push” knowledge and learning segment notices to workers based on both their current browsing actions and performance objectives.  Here are some examples:

* A worker is searching online for leadership development.  While the search engine will display external references or ads for 3rd party videos, why not push internal video segments - perhaps on the sidebar.
* When a worker asks a key question in a browser, why not display the names and contacts for several internal Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) that they can contact?
* Periodically, ads for content linked to follow-up actions from their latest Performance Review would appear on the side or embedded within core content.
* Using “ads” to increase the role of internal social networks for collaboration and mentoring.  “Elliott, ask Sarah about her experience with this project last year.”

Implementing this will require work with IT, corporate communications and even Knowledge Management groups.  But, the power of “ads” to provide visibility for internal learning assets, resources and programs is key.

3. Publishing Skills for Leadership Development: One skill that needs to be added to the Leadership Development curriculum within organizations is Publishing. Increasingly, rising leaders must develop/hone/improve their publishing skills in many ways, including these two:

* Video Blogging: A leader takes a trip to South Africa to work with colleagues and clients. How can he/she use a mobile device to create a report to team members, sharing the insights and experiences from this trip?
* Article Publishing: What are effective ways to write articles for the team that reflect perspectives and approaches from the leader’s point of view?

Increasingly, leaders are managing distributed teams and global opportunities. Publishing skills can be developed with models, practice, feedback and targeted leadership development. Try it! It works!

Yours in learning,

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

MASIE Center Seminars, Events and Services:
* Learning 2014 - October 2014 - Orlando, Florida.
* Membership in The Learning CONSORTIUM
Info and Registration: http://www.masie.com - twitter: emasie

837 - Learning Interruptus; 30 Under 30; Miss Matozball

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - August 13, 2014.
#837 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
56,593 Readers - www.masie.com - twitter: emasie - The MASIE Center.
Host: Learning 2014 - Oct 26-29 - Orlando. 729 Registered Already.

1. Learning Interruptus?
2. 30 Under 30 Learning Leaders Announced.
3. Miss Matzoball Runs Tomorrow.

1. Learning Interruptus? This is a strange title to an article about a growing phenomenon in the world of digital learning. Learners start videos, begin eLearning modules, enroll in multi-segment MOOCs - and they don’t continue or complete them.  Often I start a video, pause to take a phone call, and never remember to return and complete. There are multiple types of Learning Interruptus modes. Some are intentional departures and some are pauses that never lead to return or completion. I have just written an article about the growing trend of Learning Interruptus, along with some interventions that learning producers and learning technology can use to assist learners.  Check out “Learning Interruptus” at http://tinyurl.com/learninginterruptus

2. 30 Under 30 Learning Leaders Announced: We are pleased to announce the selection of The Learning 2014 30 Under 30 group of rising learning leaders. This diverse, global set of learning professionals under the age of 30 will be featured, highlighted and a key part of our Learning 2014 activities - including serving as mentors and facilitators. Check out their profiles and backgrounds at: http://www.learning2014.com/index.php/item/30-under-30-selected.html

3. Miss Matzoball Runs Tomorrow: Learning TRENDS readers may know that MASIE Stables has some thoroughbred race horses. Tomorrow, the first one that we bred ourselves, Miss Matzoball, has her first race ever at Saratoga Racetrack. As a learning professional, this first race is interesting. While she has been in training for many months and has exercised at different speeds and configurations with her great trainer Roy Lerman, tomorrow will be her first experience racing for a 1/2 mile with 9 other top level horses at high speed and competition. So, as owners, we set our expectations in the learning zone. May she have a fun face, come out healthy and learn much in the process (notice I am not predicting any specific level of race results).  If you want to watch live, she is running at about 2:30 in Race 5 with Joe Bravo as the jockey. You can follow the race or even listen live at: http://www.nyra.com  Wish her good luck as a learner.

Yours in learning,

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

MASIE Center Seminars, Events and Services:
* Learning 2014 - October 2014 - Orlando, Florida.
* Membership in The Learning CONSORTIUM
Info and Registration: http://www.masie.com - twitter: emasie

836 - A Kidney Stone Learning Experience, Bobby Flay on Cooking Throwdowns

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - August 4, 2014.
#836 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
56,587 Readers - www.masie.com - twitter: emasie - The MASIE Center.
Host: Learning 2014 - Oct 26-29 - Orlando. 711 Registered Already.

1. Elliott’s Kidney Stone - A Learning Operation :)
2. Bobby Flay at the Races - Cooking, Learning & Throwdowns.

1. Elliott’s Kidney Stone - A Learning Operation: This is going to be a different flavor of Learning TRENDS, where I share a story about how a Kidney Stone became a learning operation and experience.

Last Tuesday, I spent the day at the Saratoga Hospital, including 2 hours under general anesthesia, having my first Kidney Stone removed. The week before, the pain in my back was an early indicator, then confirmed with a Cat Scan, that I had developed a pretty large Kidney Stone in my kidney. It was measured by the scan to be 1 1/2 centimeters, the size of small stone.  It was too large to pass naturally and too large to do external shock waves, so my urologist went inside with a camera and a laser to disintegrate this stone.

Why does it end up in my Learning TRENDS? Because, it was a deep and intriguing learning experience for me - along with some lessons for my future health.  To start, the hospital did an incredible job. I was invited to go to Mayo Clinic for the procedure, but after conversations with doctors and the president of the hospital, I decided they would give me great care - ideal for a one-day, outpatient procedure.

The learning moments happened throughout the experience, including:

* Almost every person I told about my Kidney Stone had a personal or nearby story to share about how painful they are to pass. And, interestingly, most people described it in terms that referenced some of the pains of pregnancy.  
* The hospital was sharply aware of the digital nature of most patients, including me. So, they shared content with me digitally, set up my wireless access at the hospital and were digitally aligned with me - for information, content, context and even access to other patient’s experiences.
* At the hospital, the day of prep, waiting and recovery were filled with learning dialogues. Once the nurses figured out that I was a learner, they gave me a continual flow of information that I asked for.  And, my smart phone was used throughout the day to learn more where necessary.
* The operation went great and I was discharged in the afternoon with supplies, charts and even a digital picture of my cool looking stone before they blasted it.
* Strangely, I will share it as it was cool to see my own Big Medical Data in graphical form: http://tinyurl.com/masiestone
* And, I walked out of this process aware of my need to drink WAY MORE water. I am aiming for 8 large glasses a day. We even just added a water bottle for every participant coming to Learning 2014.

My “aha’s” are that medical situations are always learning moments - often without a design or a facilitator. We bring our own approaches to learning and medical organizations are coping with a more wired and more connected set of patients and families. I am doing great - up and about in 24 hours and back at work in a few days.  I am less one Kidney Stone and richer from the learning readiness of my caregivers and the ever wired world of content, context and collaboration.  

It was a difficult decision to see if I would post on Facebook that I was going under this procedure.  On the advice of a friend of mine who does global social media, he urged that I wait until it was over and then post the update. Hundreds of colleagues and friends looked at the stone, wrote notes and were part of my spirit uplifting. So, in that spirit, feel free to check out the stone and drink lots more water.  Here is a great website from the National Kidney Foundation with info: http://www.kidney.org/atoz/content/kidneystones.cfm

2. Bobby Flay at the Races - Cooking, Learning & Throwdowns: This weekend there were big horse races in Saratoga Springs. I ran into a fellow horse owner and one of our keynote speakers at Learning 2014, Bobby Flay. He and I talked about the world of cooking shows. It was fascinating to hear about how many of the shows, including his own, have shifted into a competition and gaming model where the contestants compete on both skill and agility in cooking under time pressure.  So, I am starting to think about how we could do a Learning Design Throwdown at Learning 2014 - or another model where learning designs are done in a compressed and competitive fashion. Got any ideas?  Send them to me at emasie@masie.com

Bobby Flay will be exploring the world of cooking and learning - and the elements that are the same about both fields.  We will have a kitchen on the stage and Bobby will cook - with several participants - some cool dishes and explore how design, context and personalization are a part of cooking - and also of learning. Info at http://www.learning2014.com

Yours in learning,

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

MASIE Center Seminars, Events and Services:
* Learning 2014 - October 2014 - Orlando, Florida.
* Membership in The Learning CONSORTIUM
Info and Registration: http://www.masie.com - twitter: emasie

835 - The Gamification Game

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - July 28, 2014.
#835 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
56,577 Readers - www.masie.com - twitter: emasie - The MASIE Center.
Host: Learning 2014 - Oct 26-29 - Orlando. 634 Registered Already.

Announcing: The Gamification Game! Gamification and Learning Explored.

The word Gamification evokes many responses from Learning Professionals:

* It would be very cool to use competition, rewards and games to engage workers in workplace learning.
* Is Gamification really a deep game or a just a quick blast that is limited in impact?
* Gamification can be a software layer living on top of a learning activity - integrated easily.
* Does Gamification scale and sustain?
* How do Introverts respond to Gamification that is often socially tilted?
* Where is the evidence on learning impacts of Gamification?
* Is Gamification always linked to digital badges or rewards, and is there a non-digital version of Gamification?
* How do Gamification systems play with LMS systems?

I am fascinated and challenged by the conversations about Gamification. And, there is a need for us to look at the evidence to explore when Gamification works or even interferes with workplace learning.

On a personal level, I LOVE the role that Gaming can play in increasing engagement for some people on some tasks. I have played chess as a child, crossword puzzles as an adult and am fascinated with games used in learning and simulation areas.

Gamification software is popping up, often targeted at Customer Engagement or Participation Engagement in a corporate collaborative space. Gamification is often linked to “badges” or public awards for degrees of involvement. And, many companies are experimenting with Gamification wrapped around internal social networks or innovation contests.

So, what should we do at Learning 2014 (Oct 26 to 29) to explore and examine the role of Gamification and Learning? Many conferences are using functions in a mobile app (like our Engage app) that provide points for people talking to suppliers or networking with others. But, we wanted to go deeper and explore what works or does not work with Gamification, exploring a wider set of Games, Gamification Packages and Methods.

We are announcing “The Gamification Game” at Learning 2014. Throughout the conference, we will provide multiple options, experiences and discussions for participants to use, evaluate and explore different Gamification approaches. The “Game” part of this is to explore what is REAL, what is HYPE, what is NOT YET ad what is TOMORROW in this world.

“The Gamification Game” will be a vendor-neutral look at these engagement and contest models - with an eye to how they are applied to learning activities. We will use high tech, low tech and even a few games aimed at the introverts in the community. You and your colleagues are invited to participate in “The Gamification Game” and help move the dialogue forward!

Complete details at http://tinyurl.com/gamificationgame

Yours in learning,

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

MASIE Center Seminars, Events and Services:
* Learning 2014 - October 2014 - Orlando, Florida.
* Membership in The Learning CONSORTIUM
Info and Registration: http://www.masie.com - twitter: emasie

834 - Leadership Development Shifts, Making Learning Personal, Learning Retreats

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - July 23, 2014.
#834 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
56,562 Readers - www.masie.com - twitter: emasie - The MASIE Center.
Host: Learning 2014 - Oct 26-29 - Orlando. 527 Registered Already.

1. Leadership Development Trends - Patterns & Shifts.
2. Making Learning Personal - An Article.
3. Retreats for Learning Colleague Groups.

1. Leadership Development Trends - Patterns & Shifts: My scans on trends in Leadership Development have been revealing some intriguing and divergent shifts:

* Significant Reduction in Face to Face Classroom Leadership Time - (25.9% of organizations)
* Radical Increase in use of TED Videos in Leadership - (42.6% of organizations)
* Growth and Expansion of Assessment & Feedback Tools - (41.5% of organizations)
* Significant Increase in Total Time per Learner in Leadership Activities - (27.8% of organizations)

A summary of our early findings, along with a model of Elements of Leadership Development, available at: http://tinyurl.com/masieleaders

2. Making Learning Personal - An Article: I recently wrote a column for Chief Learning Magazine on “Making Learning Personal”.  The shift and demand for Learning Personalization is both growing and challenging to learning organizations.  My article is online at: http://www.learning2014.com/index.php/item/making-learning-personal.html

3. Retreats for Learning Colleague Groups: Over 27 companies and government agencies are organizing Retreats for their learning professionals at Learning 2014. Groups including Farmers Insurance, Southwest Airlines, GE, Axalta and Accenture are bringing groups of learning colleagues to Orlando for Learning 2014 - as we provide discounts, space and additional time for them to participate in the conference activities, network with other organizations and also meet together before, during or after the event. It is a highly cost effective and intense model for bringing learning teams together from across the nation or globe.  Contact cathy@masie.com for details on Group and Retreat programs.

Yours in learning,

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

MASIE Center Seminars, Events and Services:
* Learning 2014 - October 2014 - Orlando, Florida.
* Membership in The Learning CONSORTIUM
Info and Registration: http://www.masie.com - twitter: emasie

833 - Leadership Development Pulse Survey, Disney and JetBlue Behind the Scenes Tours

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - July 18, 2014.
#833 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
56,553 Readers - www.masie.com - twitter: emasie - The MASIE Center.
Host: Learning 2014 - Oct 26-29 - Orlando. 507 Registered Already.

1. Leadership Development Shifts? 5 Minute Pulse Survey.
2. Disney & JetBlue Behind the Scenes Tours Announced.
3. Norm Kamikow, CLO Publisher, Dies.

1. Leadership Development Shifts? 5 Minute Pulse Survey: Leadership Development courses, retreats, high-potential and coaching approaches are shifting in organizations around the world! New design models, a distributed workforce and changing expectations of rising leaders are part of the shift.  Please take 5 minutes to respond to The MASIE Center Pulse Survey on Leadership Development Shifts. This is an anonymous scan of how organizations are changing or not changing their leadership development approaches.  We will publish a summary in one week:

5 Minute - Leadership Development Shifts Pulse Survey.
http://www.masie.com/leaders2014

2. Disney & JetBlue “Behind the Scenes” Tours Announced: We are pleased to offer 2 optional, low-cost “Behind the Scenes” tours of Disney and JetBlue for participants at our Learning 2014 program in Orlando on Sunday, October 26th:

* Disney Business Behind the Magic Tour: You will have the unforgettable opportunity to go behind the scenes and experience time-tested Disney business philosophies at one of the leading business operations in the world firsthand.  This 3-hour tour features the five core principles taught by Disney Institute and shows how they come to life each day at the Walt Disney World® Resort for Cast Members and Guests.

* JetBlue Tour: A two hour visit of the JetBlue training facility in Orlando providing a peek behind the flight deck door. During this unique opportunity you will tour the facility and see the equipment used for simulation based training. In addition you will have the opportunity to network and speak with some of JetBlue University’s training department and learn about some of the programs offered to their employees.

Space is limited and only open to registered Learning 2014 participants. Details and reservation forms at: http://www.learning2014.com/tour

3. Remembering Norm Kamikow, CLO Publisher: Sadly, a key leader in the learning industry, Norm Kamikow, the founder and publisher of CLO Magazine, passed away suddenly on Monday. Norm has been an important publisher, convener and collaborator for decades in the learning and talent fields.

Over the years, Norm has added new publications, events and research services to the learning field. I have been honored to be a regular columnist in CLO Magazine and keynoter at his conferences.  Norm has moved our field forward, supported knowledge sharing amongst learning implementers and been a valued partner in our field.  We will miss Norm’s humor, directness and optimism.

Yours in learning,

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

MASIE Center Seminars, Events and Services:
* Learning 2014 - October 2014 - Orlando, Florida.
* Membership in The Learning CONSORTIUM
Info and Registration: http://www.masie.com - twitter: emasie

832 - CEO on Skills, Curiosity and Learning, I Was Wrong

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - July 15, 2014.
#832 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
56,544 Readers - www.masie.com - twitter: emasie - The MASIE Center.
Host: Learning 2014 - Oct 26-29 - Orlando. 507 Registered Already.

1. Curiosity Rules and Rocks Learning?
2. “I Was Wrong…”
3. CEO on Skills & Workforce - Nick Pinchuk from Snap-on!

1. Curiosity Rules and Rocks Learning? One of the words that we don’t hear a lot in the world of workforce learning is CURIOSITY! You will find it throughout the literature in K-12 education, but it drops out of most corporate learning conversations.

Yet, Curiosity is the Largest Predictor of Learning. From my years as a classroom trainer, I would be able to almost immediately “read” the eyes and spirit of participants to sense their level of Curiosity on the topic. If Curiosity was HIGH, then a decent learning design would work. But, if Curiosity was LOW or MISSING, forget it!  Madeline Hunter, one of my heroes on instructional design, would argue that we must concentrate on Curiosity at the start of any structured learning experience.

As learners are given more control and personalization, Curiosity will be even more powerful. I would love to hear from Learning TRENDS readers on how you think about, design for and integrate Curiosity into your learning activities and strategies.  Send me a note to emasie@masie.com and I will share a summary next week.

2. “I Was Wrong… “: Last weekend, I wrote a chapter for a new book from Larry Israelite called “Lies About Learning - Part 2”.  My topic was Lies about Learning Technology.  So, I added several sections about “lies” that I ended up telling - either through over-enthusiasm or not applying a sense of affordance to analyze the real impact of a new technology.  In other words, sometimes I got lost in the hype.  Here are 3 of my confessions of “lies about learning” that I helped tell:

* Second Life: I predicted that organizations would significantly adopt visual worlds like Second Life as a replacement for conference calls, webinars and even face-to-face meetings.  Didn’t happen that way!
* SCORM for Reusability: I was part of the team that pushed the corporate adoption of SCORM in the 1990s.  I thought it would lead to widespread simpler design and higher reuse of content.  Didn’t happen that way!
* The Perfect Learning Portal: I had 26 CEOs of LMS companies on a stage at my TechLearn Conference in early 2000 and I predicted that a great learning portal would dominate the learner’s perspective.  Didn’t happen that way!

Yes, many predictions were on target and some ended up evolving in even better ways. But, it was healthy to say, with some hindsight, “I was wrong!”  At Learning 2014, we will have several “I was wrong” activities.  Honesty is a key element of being a learner. :)

3. CEO on Skills & Workforce - Nick Pinchuk from Snap-on!  I am honored to announce a Special Keynote Speaker at Learning 2014: Nick Pinchuk, the CEO and Chair of Snap-on International.  Nick will be sharing a CEO’s perspective on skills: employee skill importance, skills for customers, and skills for developing a future workforce.  Nick is also the Chair of the Skills for America Future Advisory Board and a fierce advocate for CEOs to claim a direct stake in skill building and development.  Read about his role at: http://www.learning2014.com/index.php/item/nick-pinchok-ceo-on-skills.htm

Yours in learning,

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

MASIE Center Seminars, Events and Services:
* Learning 2014 - October 2014 - Orlando, Florida.
* Membership in The Learning CONSORTIUM
Info and Registration: http://www.masie.com - twitter: emasie

831 - Join Me in a Learning MOOC; Dept of Education Dialogue, Next Generation Medicine

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - July 9, 2014.
#831 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
56,523 Readers - www.masie.com - twitter: emasie - The MASIE Center.
Host: Learning 2014 - Oct 26-29 - Orlando. 429 Registered Already.

1. Learning Leaders MOOC by Harvard & edX: Join Me!
2. Dept. of Education Dialogue on Learning Yesterday.
3. Next Generation Medicine Keynote: Marc Hodosh.

1. Learning Leaders MOOC by Harvard & edX: Join Me! This morning I started a new, no cost MOOC on Leaders of Learning, taught by Richard Elmore, the Gregory R. Anrig Professor of Educational Leadership at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. This is a six lesson course, focused on Leaders of Learning - in all sectors.  The core is focused on our own theories of learning:

“Explore and understand your own theories of learning and leadership. Gain the tools to imagine and build the future of learning.”

I would like to invite fellow Learning TRENDS readers to consider taking part or all of this MOOC. It is built on the edX platform, developed by Harvard and MIT, and we would love to have a cohort of corporate learning professionals learning and reacting to both the content and also the MOOC process.  To sign up (with no costs), just go to: http://tinyurl.com/leadermooc

And, send me an email with your name and contact info to emasie@masie.com   Let’s collaborate together online and learn about learning and the Harvard MOOC model together.

2. Dept. of Education Dialogue on Learning Yesterday: Yesterday was a very exciting day for our Learning CONSORTIUM and The MASIE Center. We were honored to spend the day at the US Dept of Education with 10 Chief Learning Officers and Corporate Learning Leaders - in a dialogue with the senior leadership of the Education Department.  Secretary Arne Duncan spent time with the group, we had deep dialogues about skills development, competencies, “micro-credentials”, extending workforce development to address the long term unemployed and ways that we can share knowledge about learning across all learning sectors, including K-12, Higher Education, Vocational and our world of Corporate Education.

We were also honored to have senior members of the White House National Economic Council, members of the Labor Department and the leaders of policy and research that impacts learning and education in the United States.  The members of our team included the learning leaders from the largest retail, insurance, restaurant, consulting and media companies.  We developed a series of action steps that we will spearhead through The MASIE Center that will include:

* Building a Request for Learning Apps - small and low cost apps to support learning and performance on a focused topic or skillset.  Together, we will help create a competition and marketplace for learning apps - that would span the full learning world.
* Sharing Research Across the Learning Silos - higher education and K to 12 are facing some of the same issues as corporate - as they explore learning personalization, learning compression, competency assessment and other shifts in learning methods and technologies.  We need to create real-time shared findings and innovations across the learning sectors.
* Upskilling Partnerships - the corporate and government members of our dialogue shared ways that we can create more “upskilling” opportunities for the long term unemployed and non-promoted worker segments.  How can new models of apprenticeships and alternative learning technologies address this issue - that impacts our society and economy.

Special thanks to Secretary Arne Duncan, Assistant Secretary Johan Uvin, and Richard Culatta, Director, Office of Educational Technology along with Byron Auguste, Deputy Director of the National Economic Council for this non-partisan and highly stimulating meeting. We will be sharing the results, projects and conversations in the weeks ahead with the larger learning field.

3. Next Generation Medicine Keynote: Marc Hodosh.  I am honored to announce another one of our Keynoters for Learning 2014. Marc Hodosh is a remarkable analyst and inventor in the worlds of science and medicine innovation. Marc will lead an interactive keynote on “Next Generation Medicine” - as technology, social knowledge and expanding/personalizing data reshapes the future of medicine. Many health and medicine elements expand the knowledge and learning aspects of health - from wearable devices, to mobile health coaching to personalized health treatments.  Marc is hosting and producing a new television series focused on these changes and he will bring these exciting perspectives to Learning 2014.

Marc led the Archon X PRIZE for Genomics, a $10 million competition to inspire rapid and cost effective genome sequencing technology; which followed the successful $10 million Ansari Space X PRIZE. He has been a consultant to inventor Dean Kamen at DEKA Research & Development and is also Chairman of Dean’s FIRST Robotics competition in the Boston region, which inspires high school students to pursue careers in science & technology. In addition Marc and Elliott share a new passion for flying and exploring the role of Drones and Flying Photography in expanding perspectives and learning.

Here is the bio on Marc and we are so honored to have him as one of our keynoters at Learning 2014 - Oct 26 to 29, 2014: http://www.learning2014.com/blog/item/medicine

Yours in learning,

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

MASIE Center Seminars, Events and Services:
* Learning 2014 - October 2014 - Orlando, Florida.
* Membership in The Learning CONSORTIUM
Info and Registration: http://www.masie.com - twitter: emasie