198 - 50 Minutes to Keynote and Quake Hits: e-Learning to Rescue

*** Elliott Masie's TechLearn TRENDS ***
e-Learning, Training and e-Collaboration Updates
Published by The MASIE Center http://www.masie.com
Host of Business of e-Learning Summit - Las Vegas, NV

50 Minutes to Keynote and Quake Hits: e-Learning to Rescue

Seattle, Washington 3:00 PM: It was 11:00 AM this morning and I was in my
hotel room in Seattle, getting ready to present a Keynote Address on
Technology Trends to 1,000 participants at a Direct Marketing Association
Conference. Tweaking my PowerPoint, when all of a sudden the hotel started
to rock and roll. We were having an earthquake. What is the speaker to do?

After the rocking settled and it was clear that the hotel survived without
damage, the question was: Will the Speech Happen? Hundreds of people
leaving Conference Center and reports of falling ceiling tiles and overall
stress. So, one keynoter with no keynote to deliver.

Hmmm. Let the conference organizers know that is what e-Learning was
invented for! So, once I can get out of Seattle, I'll make a 60 minute
streamed version of the speech that I was going to give (with appropriate
new stories) and stream it out to the participants from the DMA.

Now, the next question, is how to get to McDonalds in Chicago for a keynote
about e-Learning tomorrow. Hmmm..

Stranded in Seattle!

Elliott Masie

197 - e-Learning Focus: Ignore the Stock Market - Watch the Implementation

*** Elliott Masie's TechLearn TRENDS ***
e-Learning, Training and e-Collaboration Updates
Published by The MASIE Center http://www.masie.com
Host of Business of e-Learning Summit - Las Vegas, NV

e-Learning Focus: Ignore the Stock Market - Watch the Implementation

This item may be a bit of a "rant", as I am quite concerned about current
and upcoming developments in the e-Learning field which might have an
impact on perceptions of this exciting field.

In the next few months, you will hear about a few e-Learning suppliers that
might merge, evolve or even disappear. While many suppliers are doing
quite well, some e-Learning ventures are running out of venture capital and
are having a tougher time getting next round funding. Some e-Learning
players are not seeing the large contracts come across their desk as
quickly as they might have expected. And, like many technology fields,
there are pockets of layoffs and reductions on the radar screen for some
e-Learning companies.

Does this mean that e-Learning is in trouble? It depends on which
indicators that you watch!

The MASIE Center primarily tracks the health of e-Learning by working with
large and medium size organizations that are implementing technology for
learning for their employees. For example, our e-Learning CONSORTIUM
represents companies with over 5,743,000 employees. When we ask them for a
status check on e-Learning they report:

* Strong corporate support for steady growth in e-Learning offerings.
* Learners asking for e-Learning as an OPTION when offered training.
* Steady movement towards selecting a Learning or Content Management System.
* Steady movement towards using Virtual Classroom Technology.
* Demand for new models of authoring content.
* Desire to lower the "hype" factor in predictions about impact of e-Learning.

So, if we hear, as we may, about a company in our field having financial
difficulties or a stock price dropping to nil, let's not get confused.
e-Learning the hot stock market craze may not be as healthy as some would
like, especially in times when stocks in general are doing poorly. And,
there will be companies coming in and leaving the space.. it is natural and healthy.

What we have to do is to refocus our attention on the steady and hard work
that is underway in organizations around the globe that are leveraging the
power of technology to EXTEND the delivery of skills and knowledge to the
workforce. e-Learning is a lot more than a craze that will be measured in
a quarter to quarter set of financial reports. There is a fundamental
shift in how organizations are planning to develop and deliver learning.
It will be seen in changes within organizations and by selective purchases
of products and services from suppliers. Measure e-Learning by how it is
changing learning, not just by cash register results.

Upcoming Events from The MASIE Center: http://www.masie.com
* The Business of e-Learning: Las Vegas, Nevada - March 29 and 30th
* Skills for e-Trainers @ The MASIE Center - May 30 - June 1
* TechLearn 2001 + World e-Learning CONGRESS: Oct 28 to 31 - Orlando, Florida

196 - Integrate Classrooms into e-Learning Strategy; Results of e-Learning Authoring Survey

1. Integrate Classrooms into e-Learning Strategy: In a recent review of
several Corporate e-Learning Strategies, we were struck by the absence of
the mention of the classroom. While it makes sense that an "e" strategy
would focus primarily on the electronic delivery of training resources, the
reality in the field is that classrooms are not disappearing (though they
are changing their footprint and role) and that an organization cannot
afford to have a Learning Strategy AND an e-Learning Strategy without
tighter integration. There are key ways in which technology can EXTEND the
footprint and impact of the classroom. And, there are similar needs to
leverage classrooms, in old and new formats, to EXTEND the power of web
delivered training and learning resources. Caution!!!

2. Results of e-Learning Authoring Survey: We recently conducted a
TechLearn TRENDS and Learning Decisions Survey on e-Learning Authoring
tools and approaches. 1,615 responses were recorded the week of January
15th. Here are the results:

When a unit of e-Learning content is being developed internally, which
tools are you using: (In order of use)

* Document Creation Tools (e.g.. PowerPoint and Word Processing)
Weighted Score 85

* Web Development Tools (e.g.. Dreamweaver or FrontPage)
Weighted Score 71

* Learning Specific Authoring Tools (e.g.. Authorware or Toolbook)
Weighted Score 52

* Programming Tools (e.g.. Visual Basic, C++)
Weighted Score 47

* Authoring within a Learning Management System (e.g.. Blackboard or Learning Space)
Weighted Score 38

We are tracking a trend towards more and more of e-Learning content being
authored with everyday document tools.

3. The Future of e-Learning Industry Tackled at Summit: Vendors from
around the world in the e-Learning field will be working on panels at the
Business of e-Learning Summit to be held in Las Vegas on March 28 and 29th.
The vendors and suppliers will work up a series of future scenarios, with
the cooperation of a Buyer's Panel from major implementing organizations.
If your organization provides e-Learning services or products, plan to
attend! On-line info and registration at www.masie.com

4. Learning Quotation: This one was submitted by Claudia Escribano:
Pooh, if you ever need me and I'm not around, you must remember this:
You're braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem and smarter than you think.
- AA Milne

5. AHA's in HAHA's: Humor Project Conference: One of my lifetime friends,
Joel Goodman, heads up a great organization, The Humor Project, that looks
at the roles of humor and creativity in organizations and lives. They host
The 16th Annual International Conference on “The Positive Power of Humor &
Creativity,” held in Saratoga Springs, New York from March 30-April 1,
2001, is the largest event of its kind in the world. This program has
attracted more than 14,000 people from all 50 states and 6 continents.
This learning-filled, laughter-fueled conference is designed to be fun, but
not for fun as it takes a light look at the serious implications and
applications of humor and creativity in business, training, and education.

Check it out at www.HumorProject.com

Upcoming MASIE Center Events and Services (www.masie.com):

* Learning Decisions Interactive Newsletter: $195 Per Year for Monthly Research

* Save the Dates: TechLearn 2001 - October 28 to 31 in Orlando, Florida
(Registration opens up next week!)

* The Business of e-Learning Summit and Conference - Las Vegas, NV - March 29 and 30

195 - e-Learning in Harder Economic Times

1. MASIE Center e-Lab & Headquarters Almost Finished: Pardon our absence
over the past several weeks! We have been obsessed with completing a $1.5
Million Dollar e-Lab & MASIE Center Headquarters in Saratoga Springs. We
are in the final weeks of construction of this new building, designed to
research, test, dialogue and invent new models of learning in the digital
age. The Center has a testing suite for running Learning Usability and
Technology Scorecards on new e-Learning technologies. We also have special
teaching and learning suites to train folks on how to be a virtual
classroom instructor. And, we will be loading in the largest collection of
e-Learning products, technologies and examples to provide a library and
research capability for organizations implementing in this area. To take a
peek at the construction in process: http://www.teleworks.com

2. RFP for e-Learning Processes Raging: January 2001 has been a month for
RFP development and solicitation in the e-Learning field. We are tracking
over 42 major efforts by large companies that will result in a Request for
Proposal (RFP) for a Learning Management System, Virtual Classroom, Content
Integrator or Strategy Development in e-Learning. The RFP Process can be a
difficult and tricky one for both buyers and bidders. Our e-Learning
CONSORTIUM has launched a Task Force to collect models of successful RFP's
and to provide a new take on the process. If you have any thoughts or
perspectives to share with the RFP Task Force, please send an email to
rfp@masie.com

3. e-Learning in Harder Economic Times: We just completed a scan of
organizations to find out what the impact of harder economic times would be
on e-Learning investments and projects. Here are a few perspectives:

* Most see e-Learning as surviving (with a few bumps) from a tightening
budget process. Learning will need to be quicker, less expensive and more
responsive in tighter budget times.

* Organizations may find it harder to get a large sum for buying a learning
system and may shift to an ASP (or hosted) model for LMS, to keep the
outflow of dollars smaller.

* The need to align with Business Objectives is even more critical.
Executive teams are asking for Cost Reduction, Direct Savings and Impact on
Business Lines in the proposals for e-Learning efforts.

* Do not portray e-Learning as a DOT.COM effort, but link it to a Click and
Mortar strategy, adding effectiveness to an existing business process
rather than suggesting a "new economy" radical alternative.

If you have other views or perspectives, send them along to
economy@masie.com and I will post them in a future TRENDS.

4. Business of e-Learning Summit: Arthur Miller
We are pleased to announce that Arthur Miller, the host of PBS Media & Society Show and
Faculty Member of Harvard Law School will keynote at our 4th Annual
Business of e-Learning Summit and Conference, to be held in Las Vegas,
Nevada (USA) on March 29 and 30th. This is a vendor only interactive
event, where we take a look at the business side (and profit side) of
e-Learning. Arthur Miller will also be interviewed on the intellectual
property issues of e-Learning, as well as host a Socratic Panel of
e-Learning Managers and CEO's. Details and registration at http://www.masie.com/biz/