993 - Google Learning Online, Job Aids Evolving, Last Minute Curation Spots

Elliott Masie’s Learning TRENDS - March 13, 2018.
#993 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology Since 1997.
57,922 Readers - www.masie.com - The MASIE Center.
Host: Curation & Learning LAB - March 21 to 23, Saratoga Springs, NY. 

1. Google Learning Resources/Courses Online.
2. Last Minute Curation LAB Spaces.
3. Job Aids - Personalized and Sharable.
4. ImmersiveTech for Learning - Your Questions Please! 

1. Google Learning Resources/Courses Online: Google has recently created a powerful collection of online learning resources and free courses on topics including Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning and more.  Many of these feature working engineers at Google and I spent many hours in the past week experiencing these. 

Take a few minutes and explore this site: 

Learning with Google AI Resources:
https://ai.google/education/#?modal_active=none 

2. Last Minute Curation LAB Spaces: Next week, we will be hosting a group of learning colleagues at the MASIE Lab in Saratoga Springs for our Curation & Learning LAB.  There are just a few more seats open if you can plan a last minute registration for this engaging and interactive learning experience that I will be hosting: 

Learning & Curation LAB - March 21 to 23, Saratoga Springs, New York USA.
Info and Registration: http://www.masie.com 

3. Job Aids Personalized and Sharable: One topic has been popping up more and more in our conversations with Corporate Learning Leaders:  JOB AIDS.  In fact, several companies have shifted their learning strategies from growing traditional eLearning programs to creating more and different Job Aids - that can be used by employees and customers.  Here are a few of the Job Aid shifts we see: 

- Job Aids that can be used by an experienced worker to teach a skill to a new worker - shoulder to shoulder in the workplace.
- Digital Job Aids that are optimized for mobile phones.
- Job Aids that are personalized - based on a worker’s role, experience and language.
- Job Aids that include short video or animation elements.
- Job Aids that are triggered by verbal requests (ala Amazon’s Alexa)
- Job Aids that are embedded into a ChatBot or Messenger Model 

This is an intriguing expansion of a traditional tool and approach that is rarely talked about in learning circles.  Yet, to bring learning to the worker’s “moment of need” - a new view of Job Aids is evolving. 

4. ImmersiveTech for Learning - Your Questions Please!  We are about to create an updated report on the role of Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, Mixed Reality and other deep technologies for learning.  Our new and free “ImmersiveTech for Learning Report” will be available in the coming months.  

I have a question for Learning TRENDS colleagues.  Can you send me YOUR questions about how VR, AR and other Immersive Technologies could be used for workplace learning?  Our team will use your questions to shape this update of a very popular report we did 15 months ago. 

Send your QUESTIONS to me at emasie@masie.com and we will try to incorporate them into our findings.

Yours in Learning, 

Elliott Masie.
Email: emasie@masie.com .
Twitter: @emasie  . 

MASIE Center Seminars, Events and Services: 

- Curation & Learning LAB - Mar 21 to 23 - Saratoga Springs, NY
- Diversity & Learning LAB - April 10 to 12, Saratoga Springs, NY
- ChatBots & Learning LAB - July 16 to 18, Saratoga Springs, NY
- Learning 2018 - Nov 4 to 7 - Orlando  (Early Registration Now Open)
- Membership in The Learning CONSORTIUM 

Details and Online Registration: https://www.masie.com 

Learning TRENDS is produced by The MASIE Center.  95 Washington Street, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866

992 - Tech@Learning Expansion, AI/Machine Learning Overstatements, Curation Needs Sharpening

Elliott Masie’s Learning TRENDS - March 1, 2018.
#992 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology Since 1997.
57,919 Readers - www.masie.com - The MASIE Center.
Host: Curation & Learning LAB - March 21 to 23, Saratoga Springs, NY. 

1. AI/Machine Learning Overstatements!
2. Curation Stress: Users Want to Optimize with Recommendations.
3. Tech@Learning Expansion of Learning 2018 and a New MASIE Website! 

1. AI/Machine Learning Overstatements!  One of the most difficult things to write or talk about is when exciting topics are exaggerated by media and developers.  AI (Artificial Intelligence) and Machine Learning are so exciting - and yet their usage is often a stretch!  

We clearly are on a pathway for significant deployment of Artificial Intelligence in the workplace and the use of Machine Learning can add a whole new degree of adaption, agility and responsiveness to the deployment of technology for performance and learning. 

Therefore, it is tempting to announce AI as an already-arrived reality. 

Yet, if you scratch the surface of most AI claims - what we have is an intermediate and much more modest step - which is Rules-Based Programming. 

It is wonderful when a system, such as a ChatBot, can have hundreds or even thousands of rules to structure responses to questions or interactions. 

Yet, that is NOT Machine Learning or AI.  It is coming from a Rules-Based Engine. 

A recent report by IDG said: “A key way to tell the difference between AI and rules-based engines, is that a rules-based engine will never improve on its own until someone updates the rules. AI improves its accuracy the more it is used. The more you use it the better it becomes. The adaptability of the model is what makes AI work.”  It is online at: https://tinyurl.com/overstatedai 

There is vast work going on in research and development settings to advance Machine Learning and AI.  But, if claims are made prematurely - to impress a customer or internal client - before the technology delivers the significant difference, we will create a level of distrust towards a major force that is heading into our workplaces. 

Technology WILL have a rapid and profound effect on how workers, managers and enterprises support learning and performance.  Let’s not let industry “Early Hype” get in the way! 

2. Curation Stress: Users Want to Optimize with Recommendations!  We have been interviewing Learning Leaders and Managers about Curation of Content.  There is a growing level of Worker Stress about the ever expanding amount of Content, Context and Collaboration that is flowing.  The worker wants and needs targeted Curation Assistance - to help Sort, Optimize and Target their learning time - when reviewing dozens of content choices available on any topic.  Here are a few of the recommendations we are hearing about Curation: 

- Learners Choose the Communication Format for Curation:  Messenger App, eMail, Embedded Content, Learning Portal or Workplace Collaboration System.
- Learners Want to Receive a Reduced and Targeted Set of Content Options.
- Learners Desire a Recommendation System - Aligning Content to Their Needs and Context.
- Learners Are Blending Enterprise and Personal Curation Tools Informally. 

Watch for expanded Curation Tools to flow into LMS, LCMS and LRS systems in the next year.  And, get ready for 3rd party Recommendation Tools to emerge.  Stay tuned! 

3. Tech@Learning Expansion of Learning 2018 and a New MASIE Website:  It is an important year for us at The MASIE Center.  Learning TRENDS is now 20 years old, Learning 2018 will be our 28th Annual Conference and our Learning LABS were started in 1995.  So, we are excited to launch a new website to highlight our focus, services and open source content. Check us out at: 

- MASIE Center and Learning LABS Website: https://www.masie.com 

We are excited to also announce a new major component of Learning 2018: 

- Tech@Learning 

We will have a wide range of LABS, Technology Galleries, Experiences and Activities addressing the wide range of Tech@Learning.  Participants will be exploring Evolving Learning Systems, Curation Technology, ChatBots, Personalization, Workflow Performance Tech, Wearables and a wide range of Business and Consumer Tech that supports or engages the Learning process.  Details to be announced in the coming weeks. 

Finally, we are pleased to highlight 3 Learning Innovation LABS to be held in Saratoga Springs in the coming 3 months: 

- Curation & Learning LAB - March 21 to 23 - Optimizing Content for the Learner (Several seats still available)
- Diversity & Learning LAB - April 10 to 12 - The Role of Learning in Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging
- ChatBots & Learning LAB - May 1 to 3 - Exploring ChatBots & Smart Speakers in the Workplace 

Details and Registration at https://www.masie.com 

Yours in Learning, 

Elliott Masie.
Email: emasie@masie.com .
Twitter: @emasie  . 

MASIE Center Seminars, Events and Services: 

- Curation & Learning LAB - Mar 21 to 23, Saratoga Springs, NY
- Diversity & Learning LAB - April 10 to 12, Saratoga Springs, NY
- ChatBots & Learning LAB - May 1 to 3, Saratoga Springs, NY
- Learning 2018 - Nov 4 to 7 - Orlando  (Early Registration Now Open)
- Membership in The Learning CONSORTIUM 

Details and Online Registration: https://www.masie.com 

Learning TRENDS is produced by The MASIE Center.  95 Washington Street, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866

991 - A Personal Note: Heading to Germany with New Passport & Father's Legacy

Elliott Masie’s Learning TRENDS - February 9, 2018.
#991 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology Since 1997.
57,917 Readers - www.masie.com - The MASIE Center.
Host: ChatBots for Learning LAB - Feb 21 to 23, Saratoga Springs, NY. 

1. A Personal Note: Journey to Germany Tonight - New Passport & Father’s Legacy!
2. Meeting with Online Educa in Berlin!
3. Reminder: ChatBots for Learning LAB in 2 Weeks - 6 Spaces Left! 

1. A Personal Note: Journey to Germany Tonight - New Passport & Father’s Legacy!:  In the twenty years that I have been writing Learning TRENDS there are some personal moments that I have shared. 

Tonight, I fly to Germany for 2 Unique Experiences.  First, I will enter Germany with my new German Passport.  My father was forced to flee Nazi Germany in 1938 and come to the United States.  At the end of the war, a law was passed to allow people who had to flee in WWII and their children to apply for a “2nd” passport from Germany.

I submitted the application and in September was Naturalized as a German Citizen - honoring the pain and disruption caused by the Nazi era.  We lost almost 20 relatives in the Camps.  And, it was a powerful moment to go the German Consulate in NY and receive my passport. 

I am proud to be an American Citizen and will use that passport for most of my travels.  But, I will enter Frankfurt tomorrow morning and use my new German Passport.  It will be a time to reflect and honor my father and the millions of people who were not able to leave.  Our family never had hate towards Germany - it was a horrible time and there were horrible people who did unthinkable things in the war.  My father always called himself an American who was born and raised in Germany.  

And, spirits work in a wonderful way.  Just one month ago, two people from Germany discovered letters that their grandfather had received and written to my father - who was a Mineral Engineer - and we will get together in Berlin to share more memories.  

My last time to Berlin was as the Wall was coming down between East and West Germany.  Tomorrow, a personal wall will come down as I think of Hans Heinrich Masie as I use my German Passport. 

2. Meeting with Online Educa in Berlin:  The other great thing that will happen this week is a meeting that I will have with one of the real leaders in the Global Learning World. 

Rebecca Stromeyer is  the head of Online Educa Berlin - a major learning event in Europe.  And, she is the organizer of learning innovation efforts in Africa and around the world. 

We will meet on Monday to share our perceptions of the ever changing world of Learning and Technologies.  I am excited to connect with Rebecca and learn from her unique and wide experiences.  Learning is ever more global and we must connect with new peers and mentors across boarders - as our learners are increasingly boundary free.  Here is the Online Educa site: https://oeb.global/ 

3. ChatBots for Learning Expanding! In two weeks I will host our first ChatBots for Learning LAB - also featuring a focus on Smart Speakers (e.g. Alexa or Google Assistant for Work). 

The research that my team has being doing on the potential for leveraging ChatBots for Learning - as active performance support and workflow support tools - is mind boggling.  The ability to leverage structured and machine-learning-aided ChatBots for employees (and customers) who need to perform a task or learn a readiness is very exciting. 

We have 5 spots remaining in our ChatBots for Learning Lab from Feb 21 to 23.  Go to http://www.masie.com for complete info and online registration.  Each participant will also receive 2 Smart Speakers and loads of take-home resources. 

Yours in Learning, 

Elliott Masie.
Email: emasie@masie.com .
Twitter: @emasie  . 

MASIE Center Seminars, Events and Services: 

- ChatBots for Learning LAB - Feb 21 to 23- Saratoga Springs, NY
- Curation & Learning LAB - Mar 21 to 23 - Saratoga Springs, NY
- Diversity & Inclusion LAB for Learning - April 10 to 12, Saratoga Springs, NY
- Learning 2018 - Nov 4 to 7 - Orlando (Very Early Registration Now Open)
- Membership in The Learning CONSORTIUM 

Details and Online Registration: http://www.masie.com 

Learning TRENDS is produced by The MASIE Center.  95 Washington Street, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866

990 - Messaging Apps and Learning, From Slides to Wikis, ChatBots Expanded

Elliott Masie’s Learning TRENDS - February 7, 2018.
#990 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology Since 1997.
57,915 Readers - www.masie.com - The MASIE Center.
Host: ChatBots for Learning LAB - Feb 21 to 23, Saratoga Springs, NY. 

1. What’s App: Messaging Apps and Learning?
2. From Slides to Wikis: No Elliott PowerPoints In LABS!
3. ChatBots for Learning Expanding! 

1. What’s App: Messaging Apps and Learning? Keep your workplace learning eyes focused on the rise of Messaging Apps.  Think about the number of your employees that have been shifting in their communication, collaboration, task management and personal scheduling.  Here are a few trends: 

* Rapid Decrease in Workers Sending eMail.
* Steady Decrease in Workers Checking eMail Continually.
* Decreased Use of Posted Social Media Internal Sites.
* Mixed Use of Twitter for Corporate Employee Connections.
* Radical Increase in Corporate Messaging Platforms - What’s App, Slack, Jive, WeChat (China).
* Growth of Enterprise Messaging Apps: Facebook, Google, Skype, Zoom.

It is fascinating to watch how “learning and performance” are evolving around these Messaging Apps. 

Some are incorporating ChatBots to allow a worker to ask a question or knowledge-need-query and get an immediate reply or escalation.  In fact, the convergence of Messaging and ChatBots could have a deep impact on curriculum development - as we stack knowledge to be just a message away vs. delivered in a class setting. 

Messaging Apps will also play a key role in Curation as workers are prompted with key content or context through their App vs. a visit to the Portal Site. 

We will also see ways of building our content flow into Messaging App-Ready formats.  (See item #3 Below) 

2. From Slides to Wikis: No Elliott PowerPoints In LABS!  I took a big move as a classroom teacher, running my first LAB last week without any PowerPoint.  Instead of giving out a Deck of Slides the first day (and more each subsequent day), I announced we were in a “No Slide Setting”. 

Instead, we used a real-time curated Wiki for the 46 members of our LAB. 

All graphics and charts were added to the Wiki as we used them.  I had two MASIE Center team members in the LAB who captured real-time notes from the sessions.  They were posted on the Wiki within 30 minutes.  And, we added the video capture of our Guest Expert Interviews to the Wiki. 

I loved being Beyond Slides.  Try it! 

3. ChatBots for Learning Expanding! In two weeks I will host our first ChatBots for Learning LAB - also featuring a focus on Smart Speakers (e.g. Alexa or Google Assistant for Work). 

The research that my team has being doing on the potential for leveraging ChatBots for Learning - as active performance support and workflow support tools - is mind boggling.  The ability to leverage structured and machine-learning-aided ChatBots for employees (and customers) who need to perform a task or learn a readiness is very exciting. 

We have 6 spots remaining in our ChatBots for Learning Lab from Feb 21 to 23.  Go to http://www.masie.com for complete info and online registration.  Each participant will also receive 2 Smart Speakers and loads of take-home resources. 

Yours in Learning, 

Elliott Masie.
Email: emasie@masie.com .
Twitter: @emasie  .

MASIE Center Seminars, Events and Services: 

- Curation & Learning LAB - Mar 21 to 23 t - Saratoga Springs, NY
- ChatBots for Learning LAB - Feb 21 to 23- Saratoga Springs, NY
- Diversity & Inclusion LAB for Learning - April 10 to 12, Saratoga Springs, NY
- Learning 2018 - Nov 4 to 7 - Orlando (Very Early Registration Now Open)
- Membership in The Learning CONSORTIUM 

Details and Online Registration: http://www.masie.com 

Learning TRENDS is produced by The MASIE Center.  95 Washington Street, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866

989 - Diversity & Inclusion for Learning, Bumpers in Bowling, Designing a LAB

Elliott Masie’s Learning TRENDS - January 28, 2018.
#989 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology Since 1997.
57,904 Readers - www.masie.com - The MASIE Center.
Host: ChatBots for Learning LAB - Feb 21 to 23, Saratoga Springs, NY. 

1. Diversity & Inclusion for Learning Departments.
2. Bumpers in Bowling: Support & Success.
3. Preparing for a Learning LAB: A Different Design Process. 

1. Diversity & Inclusion for Learning Departments: We are honored to announce a new program for the learning field: 

Diversity & Inclusion LAB.
Learning & Development’s Role: Today & Tomorrow!
Jayzen Patria: Host & Facilitator.
April 10-12, 2018 - Saratoga Springs, NY USA.
Details: http://www.masie.com/diversity . 

Jayzen Patria is a noted speaker, facilitator, corporate learning leader and performance consultant helping transform organizations through the power of their people finding their authentic voice and bringing their full selves to work.  Jayzen has been featured at national conferences, including Mika Brzezinski’s Know Your Value, TEDx, SXSW, Creating Change, Out & Equal, Models of Pride, and our annual Learning Conference. 

This is a unique program - designed for Learning Professionals, Learning Leaders and Talent Departments - to explore the role, today and tomorrow, for Learning Departments in the development of Diversity & Inclusion efforts. 

Complete details at http://www.masie.com/diversity 

2. Bumpers in Bowling - Support & Success: I spent the afternoon at a bowling alley - for the first time in about 7 years.  And, with a push of a button, bumpers were raised - eliminating the gutter ball.  So, each of us was able to bowl without the fear of scoring 0 in a frame - as the bumpers were a performance support tool. 

Over the course of the next 90 minutes, my bowling skills started to come back and I had traditional success in rolling the ball down the alley and hitting the pins directly.  And, the bumpers “saved” me several times and even became part of a strategy for bouncing the ball off the bumper at an angle. 

The bumpers improved the total experience for each of us bowling this afternoon.  And, I walked away with better spirits as a result of “bumper support.” 

It made me wish for more “bumpers” in the world of workplace learning and performance.  If we could only press a button and get more support and safety rails to pop up as we learned or re-learned key skills or knowledge sets. 

If only… 

3. Preparing for a Learning LAB - A Different Design Process: From time to time, I have shared my design process for designing a class, prepping for a Keynote Speech, or interviewing a Celebrity.  Today, let me share the radically different model for “Preparing and Designing a LAB Session”.

On Tuesday morning, I will host a group of 47 corporate learning professionals who are coming to Saratoga Springs for a 2 1/2 day intensive LAB on Curation and Learning. 

My design process is quite different than if I were teaching a class.  The LAB focus is on Activities, Experiences, Collective Knowledge and a radically deeper use of external learning resources and experts. 

I have the overall content map for what we will explore in the ever changing world of Curation in Corporate Learning and Workplaces.  But, the final design for the LAB is focused on this process: 

* Learning Experiences:  What are the interactive small-group experiences that will immerse the group of learners in the content - pushing and stretching their perspectives?  I designed about 12 experiences that will stretch across the 2 1/2 days.

* Projects: Active assignments that will push each participant individually and in small groups to explore Curation from the Finding, Sorting, Ranking, Recommending, Prompting, Integrating and User Experience Perspectgives.

* Personalization:  Comments from about 25 of the participants have come in, which I am using to re-shape and focus the content on their take-back-home needs and issues.

* External Experts:  There will be 15- to 20-minute interactive, live video interviews with Chief Learning Officers and Learning Experts, including the CLO of McDonald’s, Innovation Experts, and other people who will react in real time to the participants’ questions and curiosities. 

There is NO PowerPoint stack for the LAB.  Instead, we will use a real-time curation tool in the form of a Wiki.  There will be ongoing SMS text polls, small group options to use Smart Speakers, VR, ChatBot and Consumer Curation tools throughout the LAB. 

The Design Process actually takes longer than putting together a more linear class.  There are more “branches” and “what ifs”.  And, the commitment to harvest a great deal of the curation knowledge from the experiences of the participants, external experts, Masie Center team members and myself as host/facilitator is quite different and a more demanding and exciting design process.  I am truly more of a Learning Producer in this model and the reaction from the thousands of participants who have been in our LABs is quite validating. 

We are planning to offer additional labs in the coming months, including another Curation & Learning LAB, ChatBots & Learning LAB, and the new Diversity & Inclusion LAB.  Details for each one are at http://www.masie.com 

Yours in Learning, 

Elliott Masie.
Email: emasie@masie.com .
Twitter: @emasie  . 

MASIE Center Seminars, Events and Services: 

- Curation & Learning LAB - Mar 21 to 23 t - Saratoga Springs, NY
- ChatBots for Learning LAB - Feb 21 to 23- Saratoga Springs, NY
- Diversity & Inclusion LAB for Learning - April 10 to 12, Saratoga Springs, NY
- Learning 2018 - Nov 4 to 7 - Orlando (Very Early Registration Now Open)
- Membership in The Learning CONSORTIUM 

Details and Online Registration: http://www.masie.com 

Learning TRENDS is produced by The MASIE Center.  95 Washington Street, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866

988 - Where Has All The Learning Gone? CES Report #2

Elliott Masie’s Learning TRENDS - January 10, 2018.
#988 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology Since 1997.
57,898 Readers - www.masie.com - The MASIE Center.
Host: ChatBots for Learning LAB - Feb 21 to 23, Saratoga Springs, NY. 

“Where Has All the Learning Gone?” Report #2 from Consumer Electronics Show - Las Vegas: 

Hello from Las Vegas - There are now almost 176,000 people attending this year’s Consumer Electronics event - from all over world - exploring thousands of new and evolving technologies.  As a media person covering this event, I have been focusing on the learning elements of emerging technologies and the implications of new tech on the workplace.  Here is a big personal observation: 

Where Has All the Learning Gone?” My friend and performer, Peter Yarrow (Peter, Paul & Mary) sings a powerful song about “Where Have All the Flowers Gone”.   I thought about the song yesterday as I visited almost 400 exhibits and technology demonstrations. 

Learning is Everywhere But Rarely Branded!  There are buildings and aisles filled with Health Tech, Retail Tech, Automobile Tech, Video Tech, Security Tech, Sports Tech, Home Tech, Travel Tech and more.  So, one might expect that one could find dedicated areas for education and/or learning?  Nope. 

The technologies that are popping intoo the marketplace  often include the sub-processes for learning and education.  Phrases like these are in the literature and from the mouths of the technology innovators. They say proudly - “Our Product Does:” 

* Inform!
* Coach!
* Guide!
* Simulate!
* Assess!
* Connect!
* Correct!
* Predict!
* Engage!
* Prevent!
* Facilitate! 

Yet, few say that their innovations are about “Learning” and there are few groups that target learning or education as part of their go-to-market strategy.  In some ways, it flows from the sense that retailers do not directly target education as a category in their stores.  And, some would wrongly state that customers are not ready to spend on education-focused products that would assist performance or careers. 

But, we may need to look at our field’s branding and engagement with the evolving technologies to better Brand and Position Learning, Education and Skills as some of the investments that individuals and enterprises will make to enhance and optimize people and processes. 

So, “Where Has All the Learning Gone?”  EdTech and Learning Professionals should recognize these shifts and opportunities: 

* The worker (or consumer) is rarely wanting to “go back to school” - so they may avoid things that look and feel like class.  They jump on a TED Talk Video (that has awesome design and outcome structure) but don’t want to take a small class on the same item.  

* Learning will be embedded and integrated into more and more products and environments.  Our expertise as learning producers could be seen in building the coaching framework for a health product that informs or builds skills for the patient.  Yet, that product will not be sold or even seen as an Education or Learning product. 

* Learning will be triggered more and more by customers’ curiosity, actions, data and other elements.  Sure, we will continue to build and deliver Compliance and Job-Specific Requirements - but learning will be less about a single event that one registers for.  Learning must be woven into spaces and cultures and larger product sets. 

* There is a marketplace for enhancing and developing Skills, Career Paths, Education Points and Personal Development.  But, the Consumer side of the market is undernourished and poorly focused.  I can imagine an amazing building at a future CES that is focused on how we, as consumers and workers, will Optimize our Learning and Performance. 

Stay tuned for a report tomorrow on Technologies that may impact Learning and Development in the years ahead.  I am going to the VR and Mixed Media areas and also diving deeper into the Health and Safety areas of CES.

If you have any questions, please send me a note to emasie@masie.com 

More perspectives to come.

Yours in learning, 

Elliott Masie
Email: emasie@masie.com
Twitter: @emasie 

MASIE Center Seminars, Events and Services: 

- Curation & Learning LAB - Jan 31 to Feb 1 - Saratoga Springs, NY (Wait List Only)
- ChatBots for Learning LAB - Feb 21 to 23
- Learning 2018 - Nov 4 to 7 - Orlando (Very Early Registration Now Open)
- Membership in The Learning CONSORTIUM 

Details and Online Registration: http://www.masie.com 

Learning TRENDS is produced by The MASIE Center.  95 Washington Street, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866

CES Report #1: Goodbye Keyboards, Try vs. Buy, Update Culture, Other Trends

Elliott Masie’s Learning TRENDS - January 8, 2018.
#987 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology Since 1997.
57,898 Readers - www.masie.com - The MASIE Center.
Host: ChatBots for Learning LAB - Feb 21 to 23, Saratoga Springs, NY. 

Report #1 from Consumer Electronics Show - Las Vegas - Tech Trends & Impressions: 

Hello from Las Vegas - where over 120,000 people are gathering for a week of immersion in the changing world of Technology.  I arrived from very cold New York City on Sunday and have already been to 6 hours of briefings, demonstrations and conversations.  I will share more as the week progresses, but here are my first impressions: 

* Goodbye Keyboards: Almost every technology exhibited or demonstrated here was saying goodbye to keyboards.  Voice, Gestures, Screen Touches, Biometric ID and other non-typing methods are being focused.  Even a new car from China was featuring five hand motions that drivers would use in addition to steering.  We will need to map how this impacts learner interaction with content, LMS and collaboration tools. 

* Try Before Buy/Act: A less talked about Trend that I sensed was the growing desire of people to use technology to extend their ability to “Try” or simulate in deeper realities a proposed action or purchase.  Retailers are demonstrating how stores might become more “lab” based and allow a customer to play with possible cosmetics or clothing with a simulation mirror - prior to making a final decision.  The growth of technology that will enable high detail simulation has huge impacts for the learning field. 

* Update Culture: Historically, as soon as one bought a piece of technology it would already be out of date.  Our new automobile was made less current by the day - until we traded it in for a newer model.  The conversations here are focused on moving from Replace to Update - with an assumption of real time updating of systems and apps - based on feedback and innovation.  Each change also brings a “Moment of Need”, which will push designers to embed and surround Updates with transparent learning resources. 

* Adding Data and Technology to Medicine/Health: Fascinating conversations about the application of “Hyper-Personalization” - linking bio/gene analysis of a patient with a very different mix of technology, behavioral and pharmaceutical interventions.  Deep dialogue around the use of “Cognitive Health Management” to handle addiction issues.  As learning professionals we will need to bring a behavioral perspective to the application of technology as interventions.  For example, when does coaching need to be from an actual person or could it be as effective from the “system”? 

* “Machine Learning” as THE Buzz Word for Unfinished Innovations: I have been gagging on how often and strangely the phrase “Machine Learning” is invoked by technology innovators to say that the new technologies will work dramatically better as they roll out the “Machine Learning” elements “soon”.  Clearly AI and Machine Learning are advancing - but the use of this term has been out of control.  We are on a pathway to leveraging Big Data and AI and Machine Learning - BUT please don’t use it as a cover story for what we have not created now.  Same advice for our learning suppliers and system developers. 

* Video With Many Formats:  I will spend time with video companies today as they demonstrate the ability to create a video more simply, enhance it with augmented editing and be able to deploy it in many forms and formats - often driven by the users themselves.  Learners are more likely to watch a short video than take a longer eLearning module, so let’s look at our own agility in designing and deploying agile video formats. 

This was just the first day.  And, my brain is rolling and so excited to interact with colleagues from around the world.  I will be shooting video segments and posting them in the days ahead.  If you have questions or are at CES, please send me an email to emasie@masie.com 

Yours in learning, 

Elliott Masie
Email: emasie@masie.com
Twitter: @emasie 

MASIE Center Seminars, Events and Services: 

- Curation & Learning LAB - Jan 31 to Feb 1 - Saratoga Springs, NY (only 2 spaces left)
- ChatBots for Learning LAB - Feb 21 to 23
- Learning 2018 - Nov 4 to 7 - Orlando (Very Early Registration Now Open)
- Membership in The Learning CONSORTIUM 

Details and Online Registration: http://www.masie.com 

Learning TRENDS is produced by The MASIE Center.  95 Washington Street, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866

986 - Learning at CES Tech Show; Curated Art Frames and Graduate Researcher Wanted

Elliott Masie’s Learning TRENDS - January 3, 2018.
#986 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology Since 1997.
57,895 Readers - www.masie.com - The MASIE Center.
Host: ChatBots for Learning LAB - Feb 21 to 23, Saratoga Springs, NY. 

1. Heading to Consumer Electronics Show - Technology for Learning?
2. Curation in Action - Meural Picture Frame of Endless Art.
3. “Chatbots, Smart Speakers & Learning” - The Voice of Curiosity.
4. Graduate Research Intern/Associates Wanted at MASIE Center. 

1. Heading to Consumer Electronics Show - Technology for Learning?  There are over 100,000 people coming to Las Vegas next week for the “Gadget” or Consumer Electronics Show.  I’m “covering” the event as a Media Analyst and will file daily text and video clips - focusing on emerging technologies that may impact Learning, Performance and the Workplace.  Here are some technologies that I will be exploring: 

* Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence.
* Shifts in Video Capture and Sharing.
* Curation Technology.
* Collaboration Tech and Processes.
* Smart Speakers and ChatBot Tech.
* Language Translation.
* Voice and Facial Recognition.
* Mobile Apps, Platforms and Futures.
* Robotics and Automation at the Workplace.
* Personalization Systems.
* Cyber Security and Emergency Models.
* Content Management.
* And Many More Cool Items. 

Watch for a daily Elliott Masie Learning TRENDS from CES Report, starting on Sunday night, January 7th. 

I would love to get any Questions or Curiosity Notes from Learning TRENDS colleagues.  Send them to me at emasie@masie.com 

2. Curation in Action - Meural Picture Frame of Endless Art.  What a cool Curation Holiday Gift that arrived!  The Meural Picture Frame is an amazing digital display, 30 inches by 20 inches, that will display any of over 10,000 classical or modern paintings or photos from the world’s best museums.  

A few minutes of setup to the WiFi and my Meural became a highly personalized museum in the living room.  I selected collections of an era, a specific artist, a theme or used someone else’s art “playlist”. 

It is curation at its best!  A personalized and individualized selection from an almost limitless collection.  Check it out at http://www.meural.com 

3. “Chatbots, Smart Speakers & Learning” - The Voice of Curiosity: My other holiday project was to deepen the exploration of “Smart Speakers” that will become ChatBots for vocal questions and prompting in the workplace.  I explored the use of these interactive speakers, connected to intelligence search engines, that could do anything from data finding to playing a requested song or video: 

* Alexa from Amazon (including Alexa for Work)
* Google Assistant (including the new Google Home)
* Cortana from Microsoft (embedded into a Harmon Karden speaker)
* Apple’s Siri (and the about to be released HomePod)
* Jibo Robot (with facial and 360 motion elements) 

Asking a question (or being prompted by a push statement from the Smart Speaker) - and getting a pathway to knowledge or context is fascinating.  By the end of the week, I had assigned a Content IQ and an Emotional IQ to each of these Smart Speakers.  There are “Skill Modules” that will work initially on just one system but quickly, we will see “Skill Modules” that could live on multiple systems. 

This will be deeply featured at our new ChatBot for Learning LAB in February in Saratoga Springs.  Each participant will work with and interview leaders from each of the Technology Providers creating Smart Speakers and ChatBots.  And, you will take home 2 devices to continue your exploration with colleagues.  Details at http://www.masie.com 

4. Graduate Research Intern/Associates Wanted at MASIE Center:  We are looking for a Graduate Student from anywhere in the world who would want to spend several months at The MASIE Center in Saratoga Springs doing innovation research on Learning and the Workplace.  You will work with key learning leaders from major global organizations and collaborate with Elliott Masie and our other learning fellows.  There is a limited support grant for this opportunity.  Send a letter and resume to emasie@masie.com 

Yours in learning, 

Elliott Masie
Email: emasie@masie.com
Twitter: @emasie 

MASIE Center Seminars, Events and Services: 

- Curation & Learning LAB - Jan 31 to Feb 1 - Saratoga Springs, NY
- ChatBots for Learning LAB - Feb 21 to 23
- Learning 2018 - Nov 4 to 7 - Orlando (Very Early Registration Now Open)
- Membership in The Learning CONSORTIUM 

Details and Online Registration: http://www.masie.com 

Learning TRENDS is produced by The MASIE Center.  95 Washington Street, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866

985 - ChatBots for Learning, Gadget Show in Vegas, Curation eBook

Elliott Masie’s Learning TRENDS - December 16, 2017.
#985 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology Since 1997.
57,881 Readers - www.masie.com - The MASIE Center.
Host: Curation & Learning LAB - Saratoga Springs, NY Jan 30 to Feb 1. 

1. ChatBots for Learning?
2. Consumer Electronics Show in Vegas - Let’s Meet & Report Out!
3. Learning eBook Downloading. 

1. ChatBots for Learning?  I am thrilled to announce a brand new LAB for The MASIE Center, that I will lead and facilitate on the rapidly changing world of ChatBots at Work: 

ChatBots for Learning LAB.
+ “TalkTech” Support
February 21 to 23, 2018 - Saratoga Springs, NY USA
Details: http://www.masie.com 

ChatBots will allow your employees and customers to type (or speak) a short question to a system - and a rapid response comes right back. ChatBots for Learning is a 2 1/2 day intensive LAB for a small group of learning professionals or innovators, where we will explore, experiment and assess the roles that ChatBots can play in workplace learning.  In addition, we will dive into the world of “TalkTech”, looking at how Amazon’s Alexa, Apple’s Siri, Microsoft’s Cortana and Google’s Assistant will add voice and video to the ChatBot equation. 

Each participant will receive two TalkTech devices to bring back to the workplace and continue their ChatBot discovery experiments.  MASIE Fellows Richard Culatta and Bob Mosher will join us by live video as well as experts from technology companies rolling out ChatBots and TalkTech technologies. 

Space is limited.  Details at http://www.masie.com 

2. Consumer Electronics Show in Vegas - Let’s Meet & Report Out! Every few years I go to the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas at the start of January to check out emerging and evolving technologies. And, it is awesome to catch up with other Learning Professionals who are attending the show. I will be there for several days during the week of January 8, 2018.  

As a Media Analyst, I will be attending briefings on new technologies, automation, media formats, EdTech, systems and even “smart” cars.  We will post a few video reports that I will shoot from Vegas. 

If you are planning to be at the Consumer Electronics Show and would like to get together for a chat or walk-around, please send a note to me at emasie@masie.com   

3. Learning eBook Downloading: We continue to have thousands of colleagues downloading our recent eBook: 

“Curated Content & Conversations from Learning 2017”
Open Source eBook - No Cost
https://www.learning2017.com/curated 

Hope you will access and share this 30-page interactive ebook with links to video and curated content from our keynoters, speakers and participants at Learning 2017. 

Yours in learning, 

Elliott Masie
Email: emasie@masie.com
Twitter: @emasie 

MASIE Center Seminars, Events and Services: 

- Curation & Learning LAB - Jan 31 to Feb 1 - Saratoga Springs, NY
- ChatBots for Learning (+ “TechTalk” Support) LAB - Feb 21 to 23 - Saratoga Springs, NY
- Learning 2018 - Nov 4 to 7 - Orlando (Very Early Registration Now Open)
- Membership in The Learning CONSORTIUM 

Details and Online Registration: http://www.masie.com 

Learning TRENDS is produced by The MASIE Center.  95 Washington Street, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866

984 - Amazon Book Store? Conversational Support for Learning, EdTech Week in NY

Elliott Masie’s Learning TRENDS - November 29, 2017.
#984 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology Since 1997.
57,874  Readers - www.masie.com - The MASIE Center.
Host: Curation & Learning LAB - Saratoga Springs, NY Jan 30 to Feb 1. 

1. Amazon Has a Book Store - Curation in Retail.
2. Typed and Talked Curiosities - Conversations with ChatBots & Devices.
3. NY EdTech Week: Exploring the Surge in Learning Ventures.
4. Curation & Learning LAB in Saratoga. 

1. Amazon Has a Book Store - Curation in Retail: This weekend, I had quite a surprise while walking around New York City.  In Columbus Circle there was a small and very different bookstore - from Amazon. 

I ventured in to see why and how Amazon was entering the store market for selling books.  The next half hour was intriguing.  The store was designed as a Curation Experience.  The shelf content was largely determined by interest and sales in the online space.  The books were organized to trigger an association model for me, the buyer.  For example, several key business books were on a shelf - next to 5 other books that a reader of the popular one might want to explore. 

I bought more books than I expected and came away with a list of 4 others to order online.  My checkout was instant, linking my credit card to my Amazon Prime account - and giving the same discount I would have online. 

The space was smaller than one of the big bookstores but the intimacy and stimulation was driven by a unique leveraging of personal and community curation.  It will be interesting to watch what Amazon and others do with this approach in other retail areas. 

2. Typed and Talked Curiosities - Conversations with ChatBots & Devices: One of the growing interests in the Learning field is the deployment of “Conversational Technologies” to enable the workforce to either type in a chatbot format or talk to a device - with immediate questions or curiosities.  

The MASIE Center will be experimenting with a range of ChatBots and implementations of Amazon’s Alexa, Google Home and Apple’s Siri - to explore how chatbots and verbal search could impact workplace learning readiness. 

I would love to hear from colleagues that are experimenting with these conversational technologies and would be interested in discussing their experiences and projects.   Reach out to me at emasie@masie.com 

3. NY EdTech Week -  Exploring the Surge in Learning Ventures.  We are honored to be a part of a very unique event that will happen in New York City from December 18 to 20th.   Our SecondAccent Project is one of the featured learning ventures at this dialogue about the surge in start-ups and new businesses in learning and education.  For the past few months, SecondAccent from the MASIE Center has been hosted at NYU in an Accelerator program for new ventures.   Here is the announcement about NY EdTech Week: 

NY EDTECH WEEK attracts 1500+ technology innovators, early-stage investors, entrepreneurs, policymakers, media representatives, researchers, and educators to foster new partnerships and exchange best practices in education technology. The festival will offer the best of New York City — connections, customers, capital, and culture — centered at NYU’s Greenwich Village campus with activities taking place around the city.  Info at: www.nyedtechweek.com 

4. Curation & Learning LAB in Saratoga:  We are pleased to announce the January 2018 dates for our popular lab that focuses on the process, technologies and direction of curation at the workplace: 

Curation & Learning LAB at The MASIE Center.
Hosted by: Elliott Masie with Remote Faculty and Resources.
Dates: January 30 to Feb 1, 2018.
Location: Saratoga Springs, NY, USA. 

Yours in learning,

Elliott Masie
Email: emasie@masie.com
Twitter: @emasie 

MASIE Center Seminars, Events and Services: 

- Curation & Learning LAB - Jan 31 to Feb 1 - Saratoga Springs, NY
- Learning 2018 - Nov 4 to 7 - Orlando (Very Early Registration Now Open)
- Membership in The Learning CONSORTIUM 

Details and Online Registration: http://www.masie.com 

Learning TRENDS is produced by The MASIE Center.  95 Washington Street, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866

983 - Learning Videos, Curation LAB Announced & Facial ID Implications

Elliott Masie’s Learning TRENDS - November 21, 2017.
#983 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology Since 1997.
57,861  Readers - www.masie.com - The MASIE Center.
Host: Curation & Learning LAB - Saratoga Springs, NY Jan 30 to Feb 1. 

1. Video from Learning 2017 - Curated & Online in Open Source.
2. Announcing: Curation & Learning LAB in Saratoga.
3. iPhoneX - First Impressions of Visual Recognition & Cameras.
4. Thanksgiving Day Greetings to TRENDS Colleagues. 

1. Video from Learning 2017 - Curated & Online in Open Source:  We are pleased to announce the publishing of our first wave of Curated Video Content from Learning 2017.  We have selected video clips from many of the speakers and they are online at: 

Learning 2017 Curated Content:
https://www.learning2017.com/index.php/2017Curation 

We will add additional content from the event in the weeks to come.  Thanks to our faculty and the production team here at The MASIE Center for reviewing, editing and formatting the video content. This is our ongoing commitment to Curate content from our events for both attendees and the wider field. 

2. Announcing - Curation & Learning LAB in Saratoga:  We are pleased to announce the January 2018 dates for our popular lab that focuses on the process, technologies and direction of curation at the workplace: 

Curation & Learning LAB at The MASIE Center.
Hosted by: Elliott Masie with Remote Faculty and Resources.
Dates: January 30 to Feb 1, 2018.
Location: Saratoga Springs, NY, USA. 

I am honored to host this dynamic and interactive lab.  We host several of these a year and they always fill up.  For 3 days, we will dive deep into how to Optimize the ever expanding selection of content (internal, licensed, community-based and open source) for both the organization and the learner. 

Details and registration at: https://www.masie.com/curation/curation-invite.html 

3. iPhoneX - First Impressions of Visual Recognition & Cameras: After one day of using and testing the new Apple iPhoneX - here are a few impressions and potential implications for workplace performance: 

* FaceID: The facial recognition features are both fascinating and also a bit “freaky”.  As you set up the iPhoneX, a deep facial photo is captured with 180 Degree rotation.  This then forms the basis of an instant recognition of you, the user, even in the dark, rather than use the traditional password or touch ID.  The first few hours of use were new and then it seemed natural that the phone could instantly sense the identity of me, the user. 

If this technology is widely accepted and grows to other phone and device platforms, it can be a shift in how much time is spent on password recognition, password recall and cyber security.  Remember that this is a new feature for Apple and in early use on other technology networks - it will evolve and grow.  

I am intrigued how a device, other than a phone, would instantly know which worker is operating it, and shift the format of use, language of instructions or level of performance support.  Stay tuned. 

* Higher and Higher Def & Augmented Cameras:  There are higher definition cameras in the iPhoneX and also the first round of augmented reality features that allow the user to both shoot a video and add content/context embedded in the capture.  We are expecting to see a rise in the ease and scope of Augmented Reality video knowledge clips.  Imagine a worker shooting a 3 minute clip of a work process and then added animated or interactive elements on top - that represent knowledge elements.  Stay tuned! 

4. Thanksgiving Day Greetings to TRENDS Colleagues:  May our colleagues that are celebrating Thanksgiving this weekend have a warm, healthy holiday.  Best wishes to you and your family/friends. 

Yours in learning, 

Elliott Masie
Email: emasie@masie.com
Twitter: @emasie 

MASIE Center Seminars, Events and Services: 

- Curation & Learning LAB - Jan 31 to Feb 1 - Saratoga Springs, Ny
- Learning 2018 - Nov 4 to 7 - Orlando (Very Early Registration Now Open)
- Membership in The Learning CONSORTIUM 

Details and Online Registration: http://www.masie.com 

Learning TRENDS is produced by The MASIE Center.  95 Washington Street, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866

982 - Hello from India, 20th Anniversary of TRENDS and Learning 2017 Curation

Elliott Masie’s Learning TRENDS - November 13, 2017.
#982 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology Since 1997.
57,859  Readers - www.masie.com - The MASIE Center. 

1. 20th Anniversary for Learning TRENDS!
2. Hello from India - Learning Conversations
3. Curating Learning 2017! 

First of all, Hello from India! I received a number of notes from Learning TRENDS readers asking where our occasional notes were in the last few weeks. Between an amazing Learning 2017 and then a two-week trip to India for some Learning Projects and Reflection, my fingers have been off the TRENDS keyboard. But, it is also our Learning TRENDS Anniversary - so here is a quick note from Goa, India! 

1. 20th Anniversary for Learning TRENDS! In 1997, I started a simple irregular email blast, which became Learning TRENDS, to share some observations with learning and business colleagues around the world. 

Over the past 20 years, we have had tens of thousands of readers and collaborators receive and react to my Learning TRENDS emails. I’ve always tried to follow the rule of sending it when I had something to share or comment on - rather than a regular schedule. 

Over the 20 years, I have experimented with rich text, graphic-intensive, and other formats and keep coming back to simple plain text, usually 3 items, and sending it by email as well as posting it at http://trends.masie.com. We have posted all TRENDS at that site. 

We have turned down over 500 offers from companies to advertise on the page or “buy” an article. My code of conduct is to never endorse a product or to take any revenue from the Learning TRENDS project. It is a great way to keep in touch with our colleagues and certainly helps us let the world know about our Learning events and projects.

Much has evolved over the 20 years. “Learning” is the descriptor rather than “training”. Tech is assumed to be a part of the learning mix. And, people have joined, left, retired, been promoted and evolved.  

I am excited for future Learning TRENDS notes and postings. I hope that you will come along for the ride. If you have any comments to share, send me a note to emasie@masie.com.  

2. Hello from India - Learning Conversations: Spending two weeks in India focusing on Learning and also taking time for personal and professional reflection.

Colleagues from our host Accenture and other companies in the Bangalore area were wonderful in sharing the role and growth of learning in India. There were wonderful conversations about a range of topics including: 

* Learning Sourcing Shifting: Many groups “outsourced” elearning coding to India for years. Now, there is a strong sense of learning innovation and development happening in this country - and organizations are shifting to a more global approach.

* Learning Tech Expanding to Virtual, Collaborative, ChatBots and More. We visited awesome labs where the next generation of learning - for colleagues around the world - is being developed.

* Strong Focus on Brain Science and Holistic Approaches to Learning/Performance. Wonderful conversations about the growth of brain science as it applies to learning assumptions. And, rich integration of emotional, societal and cognitive dimensions in learning strategies.

Stay tuned for a detailed report that I will compile after coming back to the United States next week. 

3. Curating Learning 2017! Learning 2017 was amazing! There were 1,814 global colleagues engaging in over 190 sessions and experiences. Keynoters included Michelle Obama, John Lithgow and a host of Chief Learning Officers and other innovators. We had our own Learning song called “Right Now” and 7 participants were part of a dance to it.

My team is pulling together an Open Source Curation of Learning 2017. Over the next few weeks we will post videos, content curation segments, and even an illustrated booklet focusing on the learning content and conversations. 

And, I will be sharing a video summary of the key Learning Points that came out of the 3 1/2 days of Learning 2017. These will be posted on our http://www.learning2017.com site and I will highlight them in a future Learning TRENDS. 

Thanks to all who attended and we are honored to curate the content for a wider audience of colleagues around the globe. 

Yours in learning,

Elliott Masie
Email: emasie@masie.com
Twitter: @emasie 

MASIE Center Seminars, Events and Services: 

- Membership in The Learning CONSORTIUM
- Learning 2018 - Nov 4 to 7 - Orlando (Very Early Registration Now Open) 

Details and Online Registration: http://www.masie.com 

Learning TRENDS is produced by The MASIE Center.  95 Washington Street, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866

981 - Producing and Learning: Blends, Logistics & Energy

Elliott Masie’s Learning TRENDS - October 18, 2017.
#981 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology Since 1997.
57,854  Readers - www.masie.com - The MASIE Center.
Host of Learning 2017 - Oct 22 to 25 - Orlando - 1,814 Registered Already 

Hello from Orlando, where we are preparing for the arrival and engagement of over 1,800 learning colleagues from around the world this weekend, as we kick off Learning 2017. 

Here are a few backstories, tidbits and learnings from this process.  It is the 27th annual event for The MASIE Center and each year folks ask about how it all comes together - so here are a few perspectives: 

* Large events are more like weddings than anything else. We are balancing the planning for almost 9,000 food services, 190 sessions, buses and TV elements.  The conference planning is always balancing the needs of the content and experiences with the realities of serving 1,800 different people in a way that just “works”.  For us, working with Disney as our primary partner is key.  They don’t even blink when we lay out our requirements and ideas.  But, each change has implications for both logistics and the experience of the participants. 

* Food has become a major arena for personal choices to surface.  People are more and more specific about what they will eat or not eat.  We try to accommodate almost any request - but food specifications are often more frequent than content requests. :) 

* Hosting a Former First Lady of The United States (FFLOTUS) as one of our featured speakers adds a whole new layer of logistics.  I have gotten to know the Secret Service team in this area and worked with Mrs. Obama’s Advance Team.  The goal is to focus on our great one hour conversation on the stage - and to do that with care, safety, planning, security and humor.  It is all about good planning, communication and agile implementation. 

* Arts, Music, Theater and More Create Experiences: We have commissioned a song for the event all about learning, “Right Now”.  And, we have choreographed a dance called Learning Right Now, which will be performed with a Broadway dancer and 7 of our participants who have bravely volunteered to learn and perform it in front of almost 2,000 people. We have John Lithgow, an amazing actor, who will perform a one act play, and also talk about Storytelling. 

* Technology and Innovation:  Add Watson, the IBM Robot, the MIT Lab doing brain science research on learning modes, Learning TV to every hotel room as a wakeup show, Digital Signs and real time word clouds from mobile phone text messages.  We will have fun and stretch the technology. 

* Experiences, Experiences and Experiences: In the old days, we would think about conferences as a matrix of classes and sessions.  Now, we start from the Experience side of the equation.  How do we build a community that can have a range of learning experiences along the way? 

* Failure will Happen:  There will be things that will not work, and some will fail.  In fact, you can’t be a Producer without welcoming the role of failure.  If nothing fails, you didn’t push the envelope.  The key is to share the learnings and failures along the way - with yourself, your team and the participants. 

* The Best Learning isn’t Programmed: We are using LearningTown Connections as our brand to focus on the ability of each participant to connect with new colleagues and create their own 1 on 1 or small group experiences.  Take a walk around the lake with a new learning buddy rather then going to the breakout session in early afternoon.  Buy a book and read it - thinking about learning. 

* Learning Gives Back: We are honored to donate funds from the event for 4 socially important groups: 

- TED Ed - for their new Idea Accelerator Project
- True Colors Fund - for support of LGBTQ homeless teenagers
- Assistance to Puerto Rico in Education Recovery and Transition
- eLearning for Kids - global free learning resources 

* Curation is Key: We are going to curate content, context and community learning throughout the event and share it openly after the event. 

On a personal level, producing Learning is a deep process of thinking, reflecting, change, fun, stretching and engaging with a wide community of colleagues. 

Special thanks to our team at The MASIE Center who make this all happen: Cathy, Steve, Brooke, AnneMarie, Lauren, Mollie, Lindsey, Joy, Bob, Richard and folks that join for the event including Davonne, Cary, Lori, Brian, Chris, Ben, Nigel, Emily, Ed and many more. Each of them makes Learning happen and they will celebrate the experience personally in the week ahead. 

While we are almost there, some folks will want to register at the last minute. We have added some nearby hotel rooms and you can still join our 1,814 colleagues. Go to http://www.learning2017.com 

Yours in learning, 

Elliott Masie
Email: emasie@masie.com
Twitter: @emasie 

MASIE Center Seminars, Events and Services:

- Learning 2017 - October 22 to 25  Orlando, Florida USA - Over 1,814 Colleagues Registered Already!
- Membership in The Learning CONSORTIUM 

Details and Online Registration: http://www.masie.com 

Learning TRENDS is produced by The MASIE Center.  95 Washington Street, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866

980 - TED Idea Accelerator, Tech for Girls in War-Torn Areas, xAPI Book

Elliott Masie’s Learning TRENDS - September 19, 2017.
#980 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology Since 1997.
57,714  Readers - www.masie.com - The MASIE Center.
Host of Learning 2017 - Oct 22 to 25 - Orlando - 1,458 Registered Already 

1. TED Idea Accelerator: New Learning Program!
2. Technology for Girls in War-Torn Countries.
3. xAPI Book: Investigating Performance.
4. Brain Scans with MIT Learning Experiment. 

 1. TED Idea Accelerator: New Learning Program! We are honored to announce a MASIE Center grant to TED for a new learning program: TED Idea Accelerator. They will be featured at a Keynote and several LAB sessions at Learning 2017. Here is a blurb from Logan Smalley, the TED-Ed Director, about this program: 

“Be among the first to experience an exciting new learning program being developed by TED. The TED Idea Accelerator aims to spark and celebrate the best ideas in companies and schools around the world. You’ll get a sneak peek of the program in a Learning 2017 General Session, and later you’ll be able to experience the TED Idea Accelerator in person with the TED-Ed team.” 

Info at: http://www.learning2017.com 

2. Technology for Girls in War-Torn Countries: Another wonderful resource is Metra Mehran from Afghanistan.  She is a Fulbright Scholar and very focused on how Technology can Enable & Empower Girls in War-Torn Countries.  Metra will be presenting at Learning 2017 about this critical issue.  Details at: http://tinyurl.com/metra2017 

3. xAPI Book: Investigating Performance: I just finished reading a book about xAPI, “Investigating Performance - Design and Outcomes with xAPI” by Janet Laane Effron and Sean Putman.  

For those of you who are not familiar with xAPI, here is the Wikipedia Definition: The Experience API (xAPI), is an e-learning software specification that allows learning content and learning systems to speak to each other in a manner that records and tracks all types of learning experiences. 

It is a growing project and experiment and I wanted to dive deeper to better understand both the Technical Aspects of xAPI and how it could impact the use of learning content/activities/experiences to drive workplace performance. 

The book dives deep and also gives good perspectives on the changing world of xAPI.  It is a valuable resource: http://tinyurl.com/ybmd8vag 

4. Brain Scans with MIT Learning Experiment: In a few days, I will be heading over to MIT’s Digital Learning group and have a planning session about a joint experiment focused on Brain Scans during Micro Learning activities. 

We will be monitoring brain scans of over 100 learners while they take a set of micro-learning lessons via video.  Yes, they will be wearing brain wave monitoring headsets, which will track the brain science reaction to content segments of various lengths. 

On Friday, we will conduct a test trial with students at the University in planning for two days of learner testing in a Brain Wave LAB that will be set up by MIT at Learning 2017.  Dozens of learners will take segments of learning and the MIT scientists will correlate the length of micro learning video programs with brain reaction.  And, we will publish the first wave of results at the end of the conference.  Details at: http://tinyurl.com/masiemitlab 

Yours in learning, 

Elliott Masie
Email: emasie@masie.com
Twitter: @emasie 

MASIE Center Seminars, Events and Services:

- Learning 2017 - October 22 to 25  Orlando, Florida USA - Over 1,458 Colleagues Registered Already!
- Membership in The Learning CONSORTIUM 

Details and Online Registration: http://www.masie.com 

Learning TRENDS is produced by The MASIE Center.  95 Washington Street, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866

979 - After the Hurricane TRENDS Note

Elliott Masie’s Learning TRENDS - September 13, 2017.
#979 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology Since 1997.
57,704  Readers - www.masie.com - The MASIE Center.
Host of Learning 2017 - Oct 22 to 25 - Orlando - 1,314 Registered Already 

1. A Note After the Hurricane - Talent and Learning Responses.
2. Disney and Orlando Check In.
3. Learning 2017 Updates: TED Ed, Watson Robot and Learning Theme 

1. A Note After the Hurricane - Talent and Learning Responses: Our heart goes out to colleagues and others recently impacted by Hurricane Irma.  I have been in dialogues with Talent, HR and Learning leaders from organizations that are either directly hit by the hurricane or are offering support and supplies for others. 

Some of the immediate responses include: 

* Advance Payroll Deposits:  Organizations are advancing two weeks or more payroll to impacted employees’ bank accounts to provide some resources for immediate reactions and relocations.
* Extension of Vacation and Leave in Impacted Areas.
* Shifting of Roles, Schedules and Training Events.
* Creating Volunteer Relocations for Employees to House Impacted Colleagues.
* Building Buddy Systems: Connecting Every Team Member to Others
* Rolling in HR and Support Services.
* Retail Stores Shipping Suppliers and Transportation to Impacted Areas. 

We have been highlighting the need for Talent, HR and Learning leaders to build Emergency Readiness programs to prepare for Weather, Terror, Cyber and Other Disruptions.  It would be good for our teams to take these events, including recent Hurricanes in Florida, Caribbean, Texas and beyond, to build a Readiness Strategy, working with security, IT and other expert resources in and outside of our organizations. 

2. Disney and Orlando Check In: While the storms went through Orlando, there was no significant disruption to operations at Disney.  We have been in touch with our hosts at the Coronado Springs Hotel and all is up and running.  The Parks closed down during the Hurricane and hotels hosted inbound emergency power crews from other parts of the country that are working in the Florida region.  Now, the parks and hotels are open and we took several dozen new registrations for Learning 2017 yesterday. 

3. Learning 2017 Updates - TED Ed, Watson Robot and Learning Theme: Here are quick updates from Learning 2017 - as we are still adding additional speakers and experiences to the over 190 sessions scheduled for Oct 22 to 25 in Orlando: 

* TED is creating a new Professional Learning offering and we are excited to give the Learning 2017 colleagues a sneak preview of this exciting program.  The MASIE Center is providing a $10,000 grant to TED for this innovation.
* IBM Watson’s Robot is coming to Learning 2017.  Guillermo Miranda, the IBM Chief Learning Officer, will bring along a Watson Robot to give a glance into the expanding world of Machine Learning and AI.
* Val Vigoda, an amazing songwriter and performer, is building a Learning Theme that you will hear played at the Opening Session of Learning 2017.  The key phrases will focus on how learning is changing in 2017.  Stay tuned! 

We now have 1,314 colleagues registered for Learning 2017.  Info at http://www.learning2017.com 

Yours in learning, 

Elliott Masie
Email: emasie@masie.com
Twitter: @emasie 

MASIE Center Seminars, Events and Services:

- Learning 2017 - October 22 to 25  Orlando, Florida USA - Over 1,314 Colleagues Registered Already!
- Membership in The Learning CONSORTIUM 

Details and Online Registration: http://www.masie.com 

Learning TRENDS is produced by The MASIE Center.  95 Washington Street, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866