495 - One Laptop Per Child, Learning Systems '08 Opens

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - Dec 27, 2007.
#495 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
54,069 Readers - http://www.masie.com - The MASIE Center.
Host, Learning Systems ‘08 - April 10 & 11 - Las Vegas, NV

1. One Laptop Per Child - A Learning Laptop!
2. Learning Systems ‘08 - Registration Opens!


1. One Laptop Per Child - A Learning Laptop! The One Laptop Per Child machine, designed by MIT Media Lab, for children in the third world arrived at The MASIE Center as we were winding down our trip to Africa.


Here is a quick review of the laptop, which is quite impressive. There is also a link to a video by the designer. Here is the URL:

http://masieafrica.blogspot.com/2007/12/one-laptop-per-child-africa.html


2. Learning Systems ‘08 Registration Opens Today: Our annual event focused on learning systems is now open for registration. Over 400 organizations have participated in this Vendor-Neutral User Group.


Learning Systems ‘08
April 10 and 11 - Las Vegas, Nevada
http://www.learningsystems08.com

This year, we will focus on YOUR key learning systems:


* Learning Management Sysetms (LMS)
* Learning Content Management Systems (LCMS)
* Content and Document Management Systems for Learning
* Collaboration and Rapid Authoring Systems
* Compliance and Talent Management Systems

We have sold out this event every year, so please register early. Info and on-line registration at http://www.learningsystems08.com

Upcoming MASIE Center Events and Services:
- Performance Support LAB & Seminar: Jan. 30 - Feb 1, Saratoga Springs, NY.
- Learning Leaders Academy: March 10 - 12, Saratoga Springs, NY.
- Learning Systems ‘08 Conference: April 10 and 11, Las Vegas, NV.
- Learning 2008: Oct. 26-29, Orlando, Florida.
Information and Registration: http://www.masie.com

494 - User Content, Simple Videos for Learning

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - Dec 20, 2007.
#494 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
54,069 Readers - http://www.masie.com - The MASIE Center.
Host, Learning Systems ‘08 - April 10 & 11 - Las Vegas, NV

Special Learning TRENDS from Senegal, Africa!

1. User Content - 2008 Trend.
2. Simple Videos - How We are Producing Rapid Content.

1. User Content - 2008 Trend: Watch for a dramatic increase in the amount of “User Created Content” used by organizations in 2008. Simply, these are short segments in audio, video or just text that are created by actual users focused on key tasks and stories in the workplace. User Created Content is not the same as, nor will it replace, all formal content. BUT, there is now an appetite and growing capacity for organizations to rapidly capture and distribute content from the workplace. Here are just a few examples:

* Orientation Videolets: 3 minute video stories from current employees about key issues and topics - made available to new hires, before or right after they are employed.
* Sales Debriefings: Short video or audio segments done by key salespeople as they debrief a successful or failed sales attempt - and published hours later.
* Remedial Segments: Augment authored modules with short supplements that focus on remedial learning — have users reteach the toughest content from their perspectives.

2. Simple Videos - How We are Producing Rapid Content: I have received several hundred emails from TRENDS readers during this trip to Africa, asking how we are shooting, editing and then distributing the video so quickly from the remote villages of Africa. Here is the process:

* Camera: I brought a new, high definition digital video camera from SONY. I choose to shoot the content in higher definition than can be webcast so that it has use as a Hi-Def DVD as well as a webcast.
* Editing: Each day, I transfer the content from the DV tapes to my MacBook Pro via a Firewire connection. Using the iMovie application from Apple, the clips are automatically transfered to the laptop. Then, I create a storyboard, edit and shorten the clips, add some still photos and even do a few titles and voiceovers. I have been able to get a 6 minute finished segment edited in about 1 hour.
* Posting: I can then post and publish it in a few ways. iMovie has a direct connection to a Mac publishing space. But, I do it in two steps. I create a MP4 version and FTP it to my office and website. If needed, I or my staff can convert it into Flash.

The time from shooting to publishing is usually less than 2 hours, with minimal costs and labor. I am not a professional editor and I will have Lauren, our designer, do a final edit of all of the video from our trip once I am back in Saratoga. But, the good news is that I can publish and share it in almost real time. I have even made specialized versions of key segments to send as email to an individual person.

The next step in my learning curve will be to add more “meta-data” and develop more templates to make editing even faster.

If you would like to see some more of the video that we have published:

http://www.masieweb.com/fieldlessons
blog: http://masieafrica.blogspot.com

I hope that you have had a few minutes to follow our Learning Gives Back journey to Africa. We really appreciate your support.

Send me an email to: emasie@masie.com


Upcoming MASIE Center Events and Services:
- Performance Support LAB & Seminar: Jan. 30 - Feb 1, Saratoga Springs, NY.
- Learning Leaders Academy: March 10 - 12, Saratoga Springs, NY.
- Learning Systems ‘08 Conference: April 10 and 11, Las Vegas, NV.
- Learning 2008: Oct. 26-29, Orlando, Florida.
Information and Registration: http://www.masie.com

493 - Learning in the Field; Ahead to 2008

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - Dec 17, 2007.
#493 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
54,064 Readers - http://www.masie.com - The MASIE Center.


Special Learning TRENDS from Mali, Africa!


1. Learnings from the Field.
2. Ahead to 2008.


1. Learnings from the Field: We have now been in Mali, Africa for one week, working on the Malaria No More campaign to distribute mosquito nets to 95% of the children under the age of 5. Here is a short, 4 minute video from one of the villages, thanking the Learning field for your contributions:

http://www.masieweb.com/africa1

This Sunday, we visited a clinic in a region outside of Bamako and met with 7 “Health Relays”, women and men from the tribe who volunteer to meet twice a week with peers to convey important health information. When they found out that my field was training, it launched into a discussion of how people learn and how they might be better trainers. Here were four tips from the “field” where learning is all verbal and happens on the road in the huts:

* Short: “Keep it small and short.”
* Draw Pictures: “Make a point by drawing a picture in the dirt or on a piece of paper.”
* Laughter Reinforces: “Use jokes and kidding to ease the learning.”
* Teach it Back: “Ask them to teach it back to you.”

If you want to follow our blog - http://masieafrica.blogspot.com

2. Ahead to 2008: Many of our colleagues have asked if they can pre-pay for Learning 2008 or Learning Systems 2008 with 2007 funds. If you want to make an advanced registration for either of these events:

http://www.masieweb.com/2008-early-registration

To email Elliott Masie: emasie@masie.com

Upcoming MASIE Center Events and Services:
- Performance Support LAB & Seminar: Jan. 30 - Feb 1, Saratoga Springs, NY.
- Learning Leaders Academy: March 10 - 12, Saratoga Springs, NY.
- Learning Systems ‘08 Conference: April 10 and 11, Las Vegas, NV.
- Learning 2008: Oct. 26-29, Orlando, Florida.
Information and Registration: http://www.masie.com

Voice of Learner Survey - 5 Minutes

TO: Learning & Training Colleagues
FROM: Elliott Masie, Learning TRENDS

RE: Voice of the Learner Survey

I would like to ask for five minutes of your time, to participate in a global survey, The Voice of the Learner. The survey will be completed by thousands of employees around the world, gathering information about Learner Preferences for Learning Methods. Please go the URL Below:

Voice of the Learner Survey
http://www.masieweb.com/learners

The results of this survey will be distributed without charge and available within several weeks on The MASIE Center website. Please feel free to pass along this URL to colleagues in your organization, as we would appreciate the widest participation. You can also post this link on your websites and intranet.

While there have been many studies about the delivery of learning by various methods, we are very excited to launch this annual focus on the Voice of the Learner, looking at methods from learners' perspectives.

Warm regards,

Elliott Masie
The MASIE Center & Learning CONSORTIUM

491 - Kindle, Learning Mergers and Africa Trip

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - Dec. 5, 2007.
#491 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
54,059 Readers - http://www.masie.com - The MASIE Center.
Host, Learning Systems '08 - April 10 & 11 - Las Vegas, NV.

1. Kindle Reader from Amazon - Perspectives.
2. Learning Gives Back - Africa Trip.
3. Learning Mergers Update.

1. Kindle Reader from Amazon - Perspectives: We have been testing the new Kindle Reader device recently released by Amazon. This is the latest in a series of e-book readers that we have seen and reviewed at The MASIE Center. While the new device has some flaws and usability challenges (including the absence of a touch screen), it is an important "baby step" towards the dream of more accessible digital content. Just as Apple's iPod and the iTunes site popularized the concept of buying and downloading a song for a dollar, Kindle is aimed at doing the same for books. Our Learning CONSORTIUM will be doing a series of experiments with the Kindle and other e-Readers to see how they could best be integrated into corporate learning. You can take a peek at our work by going to http://www.masieweb.com/kindle

2. Learning Gives Back - Africa Trip: In just four days, we will be heading over to Mali for an exciting trip/mission with the Malaria No More group. As you may know, the Learning field raised over $50,000 for mosquito nets that can be used to protect children and families from Malaria-carrying mosquitoes. This is a powerful way to prevent Malaria, which kills over 3,000 people a day.

On our trip to Mali, we will be representing the global learning field and will be joined by a small group of delegates, including Admiral Ziemer (President's Malaria Initiative), Ilyasah Shabazz (the daughter of Malcolm X) and other religious and government leaders. In addition to the donations for Malaria prevention, we will also be meeting with regional leaders on the key learning issues that are facing North Africa, ranging from employment to micro-finances to AIDS education. We'll send TRENDS readers a special link to follow and participate in this Learning Gives Back trip. You can support this effort with a donation of as little as $10 which will buy a "net". Go to http://www.malarianomore.org/learning2007

3. Learning Mergers Update: Over the recent weeks, there have been a number of important mergers in the Learning field. Here are two that you might not have heard about:

* Interwise Bought by AT&T: Interwise, one of the web conferencing companies in our space, was purchased by AT&T for $121 million. This continues the trends of consolidation and alignment in this collaboration segment, following Cisco's purchase of WebEx. You can get details about the Interwise/AT&T merger at http://www.interwise.com

* Mzinga, Formed from Knowledge Planet & Shared Insights: Knowledge Planet, one of the early LMS players in our field, recently merged with Shared Insights, which hosts corporate and customer on-line communities. The new company is called Mzinga and will focus on the combination of learning, content and communities in a software-as-service modality. Details about this merger are viewable at: http://www.mzinga.com/

Upcoming MASIE Center Events and Services:
- Performance Support LAB & Seminar: Jan. 30 - Feb 1, Saratoga Springs, NY.
- Learning Leaders Academy: March 10 - 12, Saratoga Springs, NY.
- Learning Systems '08 Conference: April 10 and 11, Las Vegas, NV.
- Learning 2008: Oct. 26-29, Orlando, Florida.
- Membership in the Learning CONSORTIUM - 252 Organizations Collaborating Together!
Information and Registration: http://www.masie.com