Video: Learning Extender and Disrupter

TO: Learning, Training, Performance and Technology Colleagues
FROM: Elliott Masie, The MASIE Center

You and your colleagues are invited to a small and hands-on program that I will be leading on the changing role of Video and Learning in Saratoga Springs:

Video and Learning LAB.
Exploring the Changing and Disruptive Role of Video and Learning.
May 19-21, 2014 - The MASIE Center, Saratoga Springs, NY.

Complete details and online registration at http://www.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.
* Video & Learning LAB.
* Membership in The Learning CONSORTIUM
Info and Registration: http://www.masie.com - twitter: emasie

822 - Big Data Too Big, Meet Me at ASTD, Video for Learning Shifts

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - April 23, 2014.
#822 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
56,449 Readers - www.masie.com - twitter: emasie - The MASIE Center.
Host: Video and Learning LAB & Seminar - May in Saratoga Springs.

1. When is Big Learning Data Too Big?
2. Meet Me at ASTD Conference in DC.
3. Video for Learning - Shifts & Moves.
4. Robin Roberts Book Released.

1. When is Big Learning Data Too Big? An interesting question arose in our conversations about Big Learning Data:

When is Big Learning Data too Big?

The question is framed around the ability of an individual or an organization to process really large amounts of data. Can a learning designer or even a learner “handle” really large amounts of data? When is someone (or even an organization) handicapped by the size, scope and variety of data that is available to reflect learning patterns and outcomes?  When do we want a tight summary vs. a scatter gram of many data points?

As we grow the size, volume and variety of Big Learning Data elements, we will also need to respect the ability (or challenge) of people to process the data. A parent may hear that their kid has a B- in mathematics - and want a lot more data. But, the same parent does not want 1,000 data elements covering 500 sub-competencies. The goal is to find a way to reflect Big Learning Data to an individual in a fashion that enables them to make better sense of the process - and have a “Continuum” that they can move to get more or less data as a situational choice.

Sometimes we get too small in data.  I gag when I read about a company claiming a 1,034% ROI on learning investments.  What does that reflect?  Does that include wage costs, soft costs, manager costs etc.? It is an impressive Big Learning Number with VERY SMALL validity.  Let’s continue an honest conversation about when Big Learning Data is too Big or Small.

2. Meet Me at ASTD Conference in DC: I am honored to be presenting and exhibiting at the ASTD International Conference in Washington, DC from Sunday, May 4th to Wednesday, May 7th. I would love to connect with any Learning TRENDS readers or your colleagues attending the ASTD Event:

* Session: Monday, May 5 - 4:30-5:30pm M301 - Big Learning Directions & Big Learning Data - Ballroom A.
* Learning 2014 & MASIE Center Booth 438. I will be in the booth for learning conversations throughout the event.

Or, send me an email to emasie@masie.com and let’s try to meet.  See you in DC.

3. Video for Learning - Shifts & Moves. As we track the use of Video for Learning in the workplace, here are a few of the shifts that are emerging:

- Video Outside the LMS: A large percentage of companies are placing video clips outside the LMS - without adding viewing to the learning record.
- Video Templates: Just as PowerPoint yielded a series of templates for presentations, we are now seeing Video Brand Templates emerging.
- Animated Whiteboards Soar: Colleagues like Dan Pink made whiteboard animations quite popular with his presentations. There are now online packages to automate the production of these quick sketch segments.
- High Def and Low Overhead: Organizations are pushing the high definition quality while reducing the overhead and time of production.
- Open Video Blends: Adding corporate content as a blend with “open” content from TED and other sources for a unique mix.

These are just a few of the topics that we will investigate in our twice a year offered “Video and Learning LAB” that I will be hosting in Saratoga Springs from May 19 to 21st.  There are just 10 seats available for this session. Content and online registration at http://www.masie.com

4. Robin Roberts Book Released: Yesterday, as we released the Learning 2014 Keynote Speakers, it was also the day that Robin Roberts’s book was launched: “Everybody’s Got Something”. Details at http://www.learning2014.com/blog/item/robertsbook

Yours in learning,

Elliott Masie
Host, Learning 2014

email: emasie@masie.com
twitter: @emasie

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

Robin Roberts, Chef Bobby Flay and More About Learning

TO: Learning, Training & Performance Colleagues
FROM: Elliott Masie, Host & Curator – Learning 2014

We are honored to invite you and your colleagues to participate in Learning 2014, focused on the changing, evolving and sometimes disruptive shifts in the world of workplace and workforce learning.

This year, our Learning 2014 Keynote Speakers will include:

* Robin Roberts, the co-anchor of ABC’s Good Morning America, sharing her experiences as a journalist and anchor covering breaking news events, interviews with world leaders and her courageous and public battle with breast cancer and a bone marrow transplant.
* Chef Bobby Flay, providing us with a real-time demonstration and conversation about the connection between Cooking and Learning. Bobby will create a cool dish in our Learning 2014 Kitchen and share his experiences about design and learning.
* Sir Ken Robinson, one of the most viewed TED Speakers, will lead a one-hour discussion with Elliott Masie and Learning 2014 participants on “The Learning Revolution” and how it will impact the workplace and workforce.

We will explore key themes including: Learning Personalization, Video Clips & Content, Engagement, Compliance & Learning, Collaboration & Social, Mobile in the Workplace, Leadership Shifts, Massive & MOOCs, Big Learning Data and more. Our sessions will be high engagement conversations, benchmarking, and colleagues sharing with colleagues.

In addition, Learning 2014 will be loaded with hundreds of high engagement activities and conversations focused on the ever-changing world of learning.

Early Registration Discounts and Group Discounts now available. Information and online registration at http://www.learning2014.com

Yours in learning,

Elliott Masie
Learning 2014 Host & Curator

email: emasie@masie.com
twitter: @emasie

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

821 - Rethinking Webinars, Mobile Knowledge, Video from Train

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - April 15, 2014.
#821 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
56,444 Readers - www.masie.com - twitter: emasie - The MASIE Center.
Host: MOOC’s in Corporate Learning LAB - July in Saratoga Springs, NY.

1. Rethinking Webinar Design - Your Ideas Please.
2. Mobility with Knowledge in the Hand.
3. Video of My Cross Country Train Trip.

1. Rethinking Webinar Design - Your Ideas Please: Webinars are increasingly popular for distributing content and context to large numbers of distributed workers without the cost of travel.  Yet, webinars are suffering from a weakened brand in many organizations.  Here are some common complaints/brand descriptions:

* Attrition Before Arrival: In some companies, as few as 40% of individuals registered for a webinar actually show up.
* Departure Before Completion: We track early departure, after 12 minutes, as increasing in recent years.
* 2 or 3 Multi-Tasks: Many learners, including me, often engage in 2 or 3 other activities during the webinar.
* Low Engagement: Webinars are meant to be live to facilitate learner engagement. But, it is often quite low or just symbolic.
* PowerPoint Obsession: What is the right role for slides or PowerPoint during the webinar, especially as we add live video to the screen?
* Decreased Brand Sparkle: In many companies, the brand of a webinar is dropping, reflecting decreased learner value.

Bob Mosher, the Learning Advocate at The MASIE Center, is heading up our project to take a collaborative look at rethinking and redesigning the webinar.  We are interested in your comments and perspectives.  Could you send a note to mosher@masie.com with your thoughts about webinar redesign.

2. Mobility with Knowledge in the Hand: I have spent the last few days in Los Angeles in dialogue with a wide range of younger colleagues, most of whom are avid users of mobile phones.  I took some time with each to talk about their view of the mobile device and how they use it for learning:

* Not a single person was doing “mobile learning” in terms of constructed learning activities.
* Search was the single most commonly used function, beyond text messaging.
* Few of my colleagues had made a phone call in the last five days. They use their devices for content, messaging and apps, but rarely for calls.
* They actively see the mobile device as a core part of their memory and knowledge system.  They consciously keep large amounts of their own memory in the memory of the device. 
* They each wish for more focused performance or job assistance apps.  Their apps are for shopping, entertainment, travel and community.  Each colleague wishes for apps that are more deeply mapped to his/her role, job, career or job outcome.
* Work IT security issues actually hamper their use of mobile devices to support work.  Firewalls, security validation and other issues often kept them from using the mobile device as a work assistant.

We need to change our conversation away from “M-Learning” or “Mobile Learning”. Instead, let’s fully engage, innovate and explore how a range of mobile devices, in the hands of workers and customers, can be fully enabled for assisting performance at work.  We must widen our BYOD (Bring Your Own Devices) approaches to make content and collaboration more device enabled.  And, let’s apply a usability model to assess the best enabling approaches with workplace mobile use.

3. Video of My Cross Country Train Trip: As I mentioned last week, my trip from Chicago to Los Angeles involved a 2 1/2 day train ride on Amtrak.  I used my new, very high-def video camera (Cannon VIXIA Mini) to make a 4 minute sample of my ride across America: http://vimeo.com/91977484 

For once, I changed the ending of this video from “Yours in Learning” to “Yours in Training”. 

Yours in learning,

Elliott Masie
Host, Learning 2014

email: emasie@masie.com
twitter: @emasie

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

820 - LA by Train; Massive Collaboration; Mergers in Learning; Masie Sessions

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - April 11, 2014.
#820 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
56,434 Readers - www.masie.com - twitter: emasie - The MASIE Center.
Host: OJL - On The Job Learning LAB - April in Saratoga Springs.

1. Heading to Los Angeles by Train!
2. Collaboration & Massive Together.
3. SkillSoft and KnowledgeAdvisors Acquired.
4. MASIE Center Sessions Announced.

1. Heading to Los Angeles by Train! Readers of TRENDS know that I have a fun interest in taking long distance train rides.  So, tomorrow (Saturday, April 12th), I will fly to Chicago and, at 3 PM, board the Amtrak Southwest Chief for a 2 1/2 day wonderful train ride to Los Angeles.  I get a small bedroom with great windows and for several days I enjoy the views of America as the train runs along the rails.  I would love to connect with any colleagues by either phone or a quick hello at the train stations during my journey across America.  If you are along the way, send me an email to emasie@masie.com - with a phone number - and we can connect along the way.  And, if you are in Chicago and want to meet for a few hours before my 3 pm trip, send a quick note. 

Why trains?  Well, I am not afraid of flying and, in fact, do hundreds of thousands of miles of air flights. But, there is a relaxing, stimulating and reflective process of experiencing a long rail journey with great views, interesting folks on board and a large sense of history out the windows.  I am on wireless most of the way and look up both GPS and local history to understand the sights I pass along the way.  Plus, it is a great way to do some reading and planning - and I am finalizing a big announcement in a few days about the keynoters and themes for Learning 2014.  So, wish me well and get in touch if you want to connect.  All aboard!

2. Collaboration & Massive Together: There were many learnings about the world of massive design and delivery during our recent MOOCs in Corporate Learning Symposium and Lab.  I wanted to share a “word cloud” done by the 70 global participants on our 3rd day, as they looked at the futures of MOOCs.  Note the size of the word “Collaboration”.

Word Map: http://www.learningmoocs.com/index.php/item/collaboration-design.html

We are excited to announce the next edition of MOOCs & Corporate Learning.  It will be held in Saratoga Springs on July 9-11. Information and registration at http://www.learningmoocs.com

3. SkillSoft and KnowledgeAdvisors Acquired: In recent weeks, several learning and education companies have been acquired or merged.  Here are two announcements to follow and track:

* SkillSoft Acquired by Charterhouse Capital Partners for 2 Billion Dollars:  http://www.skillsoft.com/about/press_room/press_releases/march_14_14_release.asp -
* KnowledgeAdvisors Acquired by CEB for 52 Million Dollars: http://knowledgeadvisors.com/about-us-2/

Stay tuned for more mergers and buyouts in the ever-changing learning world.

4. MASIE Center Sessions Announced for Spring 2014:

Here is the list of new and continuing programs offered by The MASIE Center for Learning Professionals:

* On-The-Job Learning (OJL) LAB - By Bob Mosher & Conrad Gottfredson - April 23 to 25 (Saratoga Springs).
* Video and Learning LAB - By Elliott Masie - May 19 to 21 - (Saratoga Springs).
* Learning Directions Briefing - April 29th - Led by Elliott Masie - (Houston).
* Learning Directions Briefing - April 16th - Led by Elliott Masie - (San Jose).
* MOOCs & Corporate Learning: Symposium & Lab - July 9 to 11 - (Saratoga Springs).

Complete information and registration for all of these programs at http://www.masie.com

Yours in learning,

Elliott Masie
Host, Learning 2014

email: emasie@masie.com
twitter: @emasie

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

819 - Fewer Commas, Mobile Movements, Sensible Sneakers

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - April 1, 2014.
#819 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
56,427 Readers - www.masie.com - twitter: emasie - The MASIE Center.
Host: OJL - On The Job Learning LAB - April in Saratoga Springs.

1. Comma is Evaporating: Text & Twitter Reduce Comma Use.
2. Mobile Phone Micro Movements: Reacting to User Stress.
3. Sensible Shoes: Can Classroom Trainers Wear Colorful Sneakers?

1. Comma is Evaporating - Text & Twitter Reduce Comma Use: A recent study on writing and composition has revealed a major decline in the use of the commas. “Recent trends indicate a 48% decline in the use of commas in sentence construction. People are being influenced by the short nature of a text message or tweet - reducing sentence length and almost wiping out use of the comma.”

In addition, the Institute on Writing Construction has asked if the reduced use of commas would help or hurt the learning process for workers.  Often, a writer adds several subtle modifications to a sentence, each with a comma, raising complexity but perhaps hurting the comprehension level of a new learner.

The MASIE Center has agreed to participate in a study with the Institute on Writing Construction and will be monitoring and analyzing comma use in both formal writing and also peer-to-peer texting. Our hunch is that learners want shorter and less modified statements such as “Press the Blue Button” rather than “There are several options, including the blue button and other alternatives, open to you as a new user.”

2. Mobile Phone Micro Movements - Reacting to User Stress: Most of the new smartphones have a movement monitor that can sense micro movements of users as they read or watch a message or video.

This movement sensor was added originally to automatically align the screen shot with the way in which the mobile device was being held. However, new apps are emerging that will monitor your hand movements as you read a screen, watch a video or send a message. Decades of research has shown that as the users’ stress rises, their hands provide a “TELL”, indicating stress or dishonesty. Poker players have mastered watching for these movements in the hands of their competitors, which reveal a bad hand or really stupid bet.

Learning may become more adaptive and responsive as our authoring systems can tap into the real-time movements of each user, filtering any normal, everyday shaking caused by habits or disease. Imagine if a user with higher movements would get an automatic offer of assistance or even if the typeface would become larger when their micro movements increase. Learners may even learn to use micro movements as a request for more detail or assistance.

3. Sensible Shoes - Can Classroom Trainers Wear Colorful Sneakers? While many corporations have standards and even rules requiring business shoes for employees, we are mapping a recent change in how classroom teachers and trainers are dressing.

Colorful sneakers, when worn by a trainer, add several pluses to the classroom environment:

- Sensible shoes like sneakers encourage trainers to walk more in class, show more energy and reflect enthusiasm for their material.
- Learners enjoy and closely monitor the color choices for their trainers’ shoes. These add a sense of connection and humor to the classroom, which can be powerful, even when teaching difficult topics.
- Colorful sneakers are often ventilated to allow more air to pass over the trainer’s toes, which increases their energy and personal presence in the classroom.

There are difficult aspects, however. When wearing sneakers with orange, green and blue elements, coordination with the rest of your business attire can be challenging. For example: http://tinyurl.com/colorfulsneakers

——-

Each year on April 1st in the United States, we celebrate April Fool’s Day with several “TRENDS” that may not be totally real, yet!  Hope you enjoyed these and have a great April 1st. Feel free to send me a note to emasie@masie.com

Yours in learning,

Elliott Masie
Host, Learning 2014

email: emasie@masie.com
twitter: @emasie

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