463 - Affordances vs. Cool Innovations!!!

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - August 29, 2007.
#463 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
53,695 Readers - http://www.masie.com - The MASIE Center.
Host of Learning 2007 - Oct 21-24 - Orlando, Florida, USA.
-- Over 1,416 Colleagues Registered Already --

Learning Rant: It's About Affordances, NOT Just Cool "Innovations"!!!
By Elliott Masie

I am getting tired of hearing about the latest and coolest "learning or technology" innovation ... without hearing about what it "affords" us as learners or learning professionals.

Don't get me wrong. I have been experimenting with new media, new technologies and new methods for decades. But, lately there is a frenzy of fascination and way too much hype about the innovation "de jour", including wikis, Second Life, PodCasting, Web 2.0 and more. And, much of this frenzy does not map back to the requirements of learning development and design.

What does the new technology "afford" us the ability to do that we could not do before as learning professionals? Does it enable us to provide faster, better, less expensive, more collaborative, more global or more impactful learning experiences?

We need to create a more behavioral approach to our consideration of learning "innovations" and technologies. For example, I am intrigued by the rise of a 3D web, including the emerging set of Virtual Worlds. So, what do they afford us as learning professionals?

It is career-threatening to think that if we build a cool-looking Virtual World and let our characters roam around or fly over things, that it will result in increased job performance. While it is interesting to see how I can create a cool-looking avatar, what does it "afford" us in terms of different learning opportunities? Does it really allow the learner to manipulate a real object to gain accurate, 360 perspective or is it just "cool"??

I was the keynoter yesterday at a government conference in DC, focused on Simulations, Gaming and the 3D Virtual Worlds for Learning. The concept of "affordances" resonated well with this group. We talked about looking at each piece of new "disruptive" technology with an eye to these
affordances:

* Learning Affordances.
* Collaborative Affordances.
* Analysis Affordances.
* Design Affordances.

We need to also make sure that each new "innovation" is fully accessible.

This includes accessibility to the full range of generations and the full range of company locations. A simulation can be built that is as easy-to-use as the Wii, or it can require a 43-year-old to learn the keyboard commands of a video game. Make it accessible!

I would love to hear from fellow Learning TRENDS readers about your take on the issue of "affordances". Send me a note to emasie@masie.com and I will post them next week. Let's keep experimenting with a behavioral eye!

We are adding several sessions at Learning 2007, to be held in Orlando from Oct 21 to 24, focused on Learning Affordances and Avoiding the Hype in Innovations! We invite you to join us: http://www.learning2007.com

Upcoming MASIE Center Events:
* Performance Support LAB: Sept 10 to 12 - Saratoga Springs.
* Learning 2007: Oct 21 to 24 - Orlando, Florida.
* Membership in our Learning CONSORTIUM.
Information at http://www.masie.com
Email for Elliott to emasie@masie.com

Dan Pink Interview: A Whole New Mind - Free PodCast

Dear Learning Colleagues:

We have just recorded an interview with Dan Pink, the author of "A Whole New Mind". Dan has articulated six key aptitudes that learners will need in our changing world:

* Design!
* Story!
* Symphony!
* Empathy!
* Play!
* Meaning!

I recently interviewed Dan Pink about his work, which has huge implications for the learning field. You can listen to this free, 11-minute audio PodCast at:

http://www.learning2007.com/danpink

Hope you enjoy!

Elliott Masie

Back to School Thoughts?

TO: Learning & Training Colleagues
FROM: Elliott Masie

I still think of the year starting in early September! That's when school restarted. (Yes, I was one of those kids that really looked forward to classes by the end of August). I'd buy a new batch of school supplies and my mom would get me a new shirt to mark the occasion. And I still do! I go get a new notebook, make new plans and mentally think about the start of my "learning year" as the day after Labor Day!

What about YOU? Do you think about your year "starting" in early September? Do you take a deep breath and start new projects? What are some of your fond "back to school" memories?

Send them to me in a quick note to emasie@masie.com

I'll roll them up into a special Back to School edition of my newsletter in just a few days.

Yours in learning,

Elliott Masie

Upcoming MASIE Center Events:
* Performance Support LAB: Sept 10 to 12 - Saratoga Springs.
* Learning 2007: Oct 21 to 24 - Orlando, Florida. (Over 1,335 registered)
* Membership in our Learning CONSORTIUM.
Information at http://www.masie.com
Email for Elliott to emasie@masie.com

462 - Holy Cow - Rizzuto the Teacher; Learning and Market Shifts

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - August 15, 2007.
#462 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
53,684 Readers - http://www.masie.com - The MASIE Center.
Host of Learning 2007 - Oct 21-24 - Orlando, Florida, USA.
-- Over 1.336 Colleagues Registered Already --

1. Holy Cow - My Baseball Teacher Passes!
2. Learning Departments Impacted by Market/Sales.
3. Content Management System Decision Session.

1. Holy Cow - My Baseball Teacher Passes: It was Strike 3 for my baseball teacher yesterday. Phil Rizzuto, the NY Yankee shortstop, announcer and my teacher about baseball and storytelling, died. When I was a small kid in NYC, I would listen in the dark to Yankee broadcasts on radio late at night. Phil Rizutto created stories and excitement with his voice and famous expression - including "Holy Cow". He taught me to enjoy baseball and more importantly, about the power of passion in storytelling. He will be sorely missed!

2. Learning Departments Impacted by Market/Sales: Almost every week, I find myself in a conversation with a senior Learning manager from a major corporation who is under pressure due to changes in sales, revenue or stock market price. While organizations have always reacted swiftly to changes in their financial positions, there is way more immediate pressure on Learning managers to respond, including:

* Direct engagement (and pressure) to rapidly restore sales figures.
* Constriction of investment decisions for new learning systems or efforts, due to swings in stock market price.
* Rapid response capacity being developed by learning departments and lines to business to react to changing revenues, exchange rates and interest marketplace.

As we ask for learning to be aligned to business, we will also get increased business pressure from revenue and market shifts. It is the goal and consequence of being closer to the "performance" line.

3. Content Management System Decision Session: Our readers have asked us to add several additional sessions to the Learning 2007 program, focused on Learning Content Management Systems decisions. We are organizing learning stories and discussions focused on a 360-look at how companies are creating and managing increasing large collections of learning content. Cushing Anderson from IDC will be our host for these dialogues. Join over 1,336 of your colleagues at Learning 2007 - Oct 21 to 24 - http://www.learning2007.com


Upcoming MASIE Center Events:
* Performance Support LAB: Sept 10 to 12 - Saratoga Springs.
* Learning 2007: Oct 21 to 24 - Orlando, Florida.
* Membership in our Learning CONSORTIUM.
Information at http://www.masie.com
Email for Elliott to emasie@masie.com

461 - Smile/Facial Expression Training; Goodbye to Authorware; PitCrew Training Available

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - August 12, 2007.
#461 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
53,673 Readers - http://www.masie.com - The MASIE Center.
Host of Learning 2007 - Oct 21-24 - Orlando, Florida, USA.
-- Over 1.336 Colleagues Registered Already --

1. Smile/Facial Expression Training by Gaming.
2. Goodbye to Authorware!
3. Performance Support LAB: Seats Available.
4. NASCAR Race Car PitCrew Training at Learning 2007!

1. Smile/Facial Expression Training by Gaming: Want to have a nicer smile or livelier facial expression? If you live in Japan and have a Nintendo DS handheld game player, you could exercise your facial muscles to change your expressiveness!

"A digital camera that comes with the new "Face Training" game fits into the dual-screen, handheld machine to show live video of the player's own face on the right screen while an animation of a woman's face illustrates exercises on the left screen. The 16 types of exercises called "facening," designed by beauty expert Fumiko Inudo, take about two to 10 minutes each to complete. said Nintendo Co., the Kyoto-based maker of Pokemon and Super Mario games."

Check out the picture of this at:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20181097/from/ET/

2. Goodbye to Authorware! An era is coming to an end with Adobe's recent announcement that they will discountinue development on Authorware, one of the original e-Learning and CBT authoring systems. While they will continue to sell the last edition, this basically ends a long history for Authorware. Adobe points to their own (and other) rapid development tools and more generic media authoring systems such as Flash and Dreamweaver as the natural successors to Authorware.

On a personal note, this was the first PC-based authoring system that I learned to use more than a dozen years ago. There are many organizations with massive collections of Authorware content who will be impacted by this shift. It once again points to the value of developing (in industry-wide standards) languages and specifications (eg. XML and SCORM) to facilitate easier continuity.

The Adobe FAQ on this decision is:
http://www.adobe.com/products/authorware/productinfo/faq/eod/#a9

3. Performance Support LAB and Seminar: There are a few seats still available in our intensive Performance Support LAB and Seminar, to be held in Saratoga Springs from Sept 10 to 12th. This LAB focuses on "Learning at the Moment of Need" - including electronic performance support, sidekicks and job aides that are an extension of traditional training and learning.

Taught by MASIE Fellows Conrad Gottfredson and Bob Mosher, this is a "deep dive" and practical briefing on Performance Support. Information and registration at http://www.masieweb.com/pslab

4. NASCAR PitCrew Training at Learning 2007: We are so pleased to announce the return of the NASCAR PitCrew Training Experience at Learning 2007.
You and your colleagues can learn how to change the tires of a real racecar, through cooperation, timing and feedback, in as little as 30 seconds. Thanks to PIT Instruction & Training for sending instructors, a car and equipment to Learning 2007. We will have a competition between teams with some cool prizes.

Sign up now for Learning 2007 and join over 1,336 of your colleagues who are already part of Learning 2007. Go to http://www.learning2007.com

Upcoming MASIE Center Events:
* Performance Support LAB: Sept 10 to 12 - Saratoga Springs.
* Learning 2007: Oct 21 to 24 - Orlando, Florida.
* Membership in our Learning CONSORTIUM.
Information at http://www.masie.com
Email for Elliott to emasie@masie.com

Horses and Learning? 4 Minute Video

TO: Learning & Training Colleagues
FROM: Elliott Masie, The MASIE Center

RE: Video: Horses & Learning?
http://www.masieweb.com/horses

As many of you may know, in addition to our role in the Learning & Training field, we own some thoroughbred racing horses. I wanted to share a bit of the fun and excitement that we experience each August in Saratoga Springs, when our horses (and 2,500 others) come here for a month of racing and hopefully, learning and performance.

4 Minute Video and PodCast:

http://www.masieweb.com/horses

Have a great and healthy summer!

Elliott Masie
email: emasie@masie.com

460 - Maleria No More - Support from Learning Field; Future of Meetings PodCast

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - August 3, 2007.
#460 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
53,658 Readers - http://www.masie.com - The MASIE Center.
Host of Learning 2007 - Oct 21-24 - Orlando, Florida, USA.
-- Over 1.175 Colleagues Registered Already --

1. Maleria No More - Support from Learning Profession.
2. The Future of Meetings - 5 Minute Video PodCast.

1. Maleria No More - Support from Learning Profession: We are pleased to announce that our Learning CONSORTIUM and Learning 2007 will take on the issue of malaria by supporting Malaria No More through a series of donations, projects and activities in the coming year.

In October, Learning 2007, a gathering of 2,500 global corporate learning managers will make a donation of $25,000 to purchase one mosquito bed net on behalf of each attendee to kick off their support for the cause. The annual Learning conference at DisneyWorld will feature Melinda Doolittle, a finalist in American Idol and active supporter of Malaria No More.

Malaria kills more than 1 million people a year, including 3,000 African children each day. That's one child every 30 seconds-more than HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and cancer combined. Insecticide-treated bed nets prevent malaria by protecting people from the mosquito bites that transmit the disease.

"Education is critical to ending the more than 1 million deaths malaria causes each year," said Scott Case, COO of Malaria No More. "We're excited to partner with Learning 2007 in this life-and-death effort."

In addition to the starting gift, corporations and individuals participating in Learning 2007 will make contributions to the cause and will collaborate on learning-related solutions to help spread the word about the catastrophic impact of malaria.

"We are very excited to be supporting the great work of Malaria No More.
Our field represents educators who provide workplace based learning to millions of employees around the world. As educators, we recognize the importance of learning and prevention in addressing the critical disease of malaria. Our member's organizations will be adding additional resources, energy and expertise to the effort," said Elliott Masie, host of Learning 2007.

We are proud to be working with and supporting Maleria No More. Their website is http://www.malarianomore.org

2. The Future of Meetings - 5 Minute Video PodCast: The meeting industry and the learning industry are combining forces to take a fresh look at how meetings will evolve in the near future. I recently returned from the Meeting Professionals International meeting in Montreal, where we videotaped a short 5 minute PodCast on the future of meetings, including an interview with Bruce McMillian, CEO of MPI. View this short report at http://www.learning2007.com/mpireport

Upcoming MASIE Center Events:
* Performance Support LAB: Sept 10 to 12 - Saratoga Springs.
* Learning 2007: Oct 21 to 24 - Orlando, Florida.
* Membership in our Learning CONSORTIUM.
Information at http://www.masie.com
Email for Elliott to emasie@masie.com

459 - Validated Identity for Trust; Wharton/Univ of Penn Leads Business Learning Case

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - July 31, 2007.
#459 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
53,654 Readers - http://www.masie.com - The MASIE Center.
Host of Learning 2007 - Oct 21-24 - Orlando, Florida, USA.
-- Over 1,045 Colleagues Registered Already --

1. Validated Identity Key to Trusted Collaboration.
2. Wharton/University of Pennsylvania Leads Business Learning Case Study with 2,500.

1. Validated Identity Key to Trusted Collaboration: This is a bit of an "Elliott Rant". I am increasingly worried about the validation of identity on the web - and the impact on collaboration, trust and the learning power of social networking.

I recently went to a board in a related industry and there were several discussions underway. Unfortunately, the contributions were signed with "webnames" like EngineerGuy and Frosty8765. Without knowing who you are, it is impossible for me to contextualize your contribution. While I am convinced of the Wisdom of the Crowds, I am not sure that an unsourced Crowd is safe and wise.

Consider the possibility of a Validated Identity model of collaboration. A person could choose to have their identity validated by a trusted agency or group. Your email would be tagged that you are who you say you are, at least in terms of name and a few demographics (eg. location or organizational affiliation). In a non work context, it might include gender or age, so that your children can safely network with real and safe peers.

Then, email inbound or on-line web contributions could be sorted by those with validated identities and those that are not. Personally, I am not interested in receiving email or reading much from unidentified sources for most of my professional work.

As we grow the use of user contributed content, it will become more and more important to know the source of contributions.

2. Wharton/University Penn Leads Business Case Study with 2,500: I am honored to announce that Wharton and the Graduate School of Education at University of Pennsylvania will be leading 2,500 of your colleagues through a fascinating real-time case study at Learning 2007. I have always wanted to bring the intensity of an MBA classroom discussion and the research perspective on education to our conference. This year, that dream comes true, as Doug Lynch, the leader of the new PhD and Masters programs for Learning Leaders at Wharton/University of Pennsylvania, brings his team to Orlando. We will be confronting you with a real-time examination of key learning and business issues for you to discuss and examine, along with relevant academic research.

Doug will join me as a Keynoter, looking at the key elements of Learning Leadership and will take our entire group through this unique case study.

He will be joined by other faculty, Advisory Board Members and the current PhD and Masters students in this program, who will lead breakout dialogues. It is time for our "learning field" to more actively collaborate with higher education to raise the discussion about learning.
Registration for Learning 2007 is available at http://www.learning2007.com

Upcoming MASIE Center Events:
* Performance Support LAB: Sept 10 to 12 - Saratoga Springs.
* Learning 2007: Oct 21 to 24 - Orlando, Florida.
* Membership in our Learning CONSORTIUM.
Information at http://www.masie.com
Email for Elliott to emasie@masie.com