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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Yours in learning,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Yours in learning,

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

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

837 - Learning Interruptus; 30 Under 30; Miss Matozball

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

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

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

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

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

Yours in learning,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The learning moments happened throughout the experience, including:

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

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

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

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

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

Yours in learning,

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

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