711 - ASIA Learning Project Launched; Clouds and Learning

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - February 27, 2012.
#711 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
55,637 Readers - http://www.masie.com - The MASIE Center.
Host of Learning 2012 - Oct 21 to 24 - Orlando, FL, USA.

1. ASIA Learning Project Launched by The MASIE Center.
2. Clouds & Learning Added to Learning Directions.

1. ASIA Learning Project Launched by The MASIE Center: I am very pleased to announce the launch of a very new and exciting effort:

ASIA Learning Project

Based on my trip to Asia in December, we are expanding our work to include research and collaboration on learning approaches and innovations in that region. As global employment and global teams expand, new models of learning design will emerge, reflecting the culture of many countries. Global organizations are deeply interested in evolving their leadership and employee development activities to reflect rapid growth and distributed workplaces.

We are proud to announce the appointment of Jenny Zhu as our Asia Learning Fellow! Jenny is based in Shanghai and is one of the leading innovators in China on the use of media for learning. Jenny is one of the most prolific podcasters in the world. Having hosted 2,000 ChinesePod lesson podcasts since 2005, she has helped more than 1 million registered users learn Chinese and revolutionized the way Chinese is taught worldwide.

A native of Shanghai, Jenny received high school education in Singapore. She went on to study International Relations in Sydney, Australia where she earned her master’s degree in Public Policy from the University of New South Wales. She uses her blend of linguistic abilities, cultural insights and effervescent personality to put a human face to China and help connect foreigners to a China of everyday people and their stories. She is an eloquent experimenter of new approaches to learning design.

Jenny has been featured for her work on CNN, NBC Nightly News and the Economist. She has also received honors that include Time Magazine’s Top 10 Podcasts in 2006, The UNESCO Summit Award for Excellence in Educational Content in 2008 and the Australian China Alumni Award in 2009.

Jenny will be working closely with Elliott Masie as they develop a new set of programs and collaborations on changing learning models with major organizations in Asia. The dramatic growth of employment in Asia and the expanded nature of global teams will be at the core of MASIE Center projects in that region. You can see her bio at http://www.masie.com/jennyzhu  If you are interested in our ASIA Learning Project, please send me an email to emasie@masie.com

2. Clouds & Learning Added to Learning Directions: As a designer of new programs, the Internet is a delightful and immediate crowd-source for missed ideas or elements. After releasing our new Learning Directions program last Friday, we received many immediate registrations. But, we also got a few emails from Learning TRENDS readers pointing out that we did not address “The Cloud” and the implications for learning. We listened and added that to our agenda for the blended learning programs scheduled for Chicago and New York. Details at http://www.masie.com

MASIE Center Seminars, Events and Services:
* Learning Directions - Chicago or New York City
* Learning 2012 - Oct 21 - 24, 2012 - Orlando, Florida.
* New: Video for Learning LAB - April in Saratoga Springs
* Membership in The Learning CONSORTIUM
Info and Registration: http://www.masie.com

Elliott Masie's Learning Directions - Announcement

TO: Learning, Training & Performance Colleagues
FROM: Elliott Masie, Chair, The Learning CONSORTIUM

New: “Learning Directions” - An Elliott Masie Briefing in Chicago & New York City

We are pleased to announce a new, blended format program, focused on changing (or not changing) trends in learning:

Learning Directions.
Chicago (April 25) or New York City (May 1st).
Info: http://www.masie.com

I am honored to be the designer and presenter for this program. In my role as Chair of the Learning CONSORTIUM, every day I find myself in discussions with CLOs and learning professionals about changes in the workforce, workplace, technology and business settings. Our field is deeply interested in Learning Directions. What is working, what is failing, what is growing and what is on the horizon? And, what is Hype vs. Real impact on learning and performance?

We will take an in-depth look at how organizational learning is CHANGING or NOT CHANGING in workplaces around the globe.

The program will include an intensive 1 day briefing that I will conduct in Chicago and New York City, with active audience response combined with our 2012 Learning Directions national survey. Video interviews with CLOs and learning leaders will add vendor-neutral views of 2012 learning changes. Next, each participant will receive Learning Directions Snapshots, Learning Directions Checklists and a 90 Minute Follow-Up Webinar (live and asynchronously). The topics will include:

- Social & Collaborative Learning.
- UserContent.
- eLearning: Trends in 2012.
- Personalized Learning & Support.
- Learning Designs & Strategies.
- Video Presence & Shorter Content.
- Distributed & Global Learners.
- Leadership Development & Onboarding.
- Classroom of the Future.
- Tablet & Mobile Content/Context
- On-The-Job Training & Learning.
- Roles in the Learning Function.
- LMS, LCMS & Learning Systems.
- Digital Storytelling & Coaching.

Space is limited and we urge you to register early at http://www.masie.com

Any questions or information on team discounts, contact amh@masie.com

Yours in learning,
Elliott Masie.
email: emasie@masie.com

MASIE Center Seminars, Events and Services:
* Learning 2012: Oct 21 - 24, 2012 - Orlando, Florida.
* New: Video for Learning LAB - April in Saratoga Springs.
* Learning Directions - Chicago & New York City.
* Membership in The Learning CONSORTIUM
Info and Registration: http://www.masie.com

710 - Stageit, Udacity Couses, Tweet Seats at Godspell

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - February 21, 2012.
#710 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
55,617 Readers - http://www.masie.com - The MASIE Center.
Host of Learning 2012 - Oct 21 to 24 - Orlando, FL, USA.

Some Technology Trends, Tips and Tidbits Today :)

1. Stageit - Small, Live, Distributed Content.
2. Tweet for Elliott - @emasie
3. Free Online Courses from Udacity - Fascinating.
4. TweetSeat @ Godspell - Audience Digital Experiment.

Today, we will take 4 quick looks at technology, engagement and learning.

1. Stageit - Small, Live, Distributed: Check out www.stageit.com for a fascinating evolution of live music and theater. Artists can offer live, small and even interactive performances for just a few dollars a seat. You can go on to Stageit, select the artist and show time of your preference and watch the live video with interaction capabilities. This dramatically expands the number of “stages” available to up and coming artists. I’d love to see Stageit applied to authors, thought leaders and other experts. To see a demo of the process to go www.stageit.com/site/what_is_stageit

2. Tweet for Elliott - @emasie: Talking of technology, I’ve had a number of requests for our Twitter site.  You can “follow” me and the programs of The MASIE Center on Twitter at @emasie. Be prepared to hear a blend of learning, content, technology, theater and occasionally news of one of our horses, but it is a fun aspect of our experiments and publishing.

3. Free Online Courses from Udacity – Fascinating: I am now signed up for 2 very fascinating, free courses on Udacity. Sebastian Thrun, one of the co-founders, wanted to scale from 20 students in a class at Stanford to the ability to teach 200,000 students in a virtual environment. I’m taking CS 101: Building a Search Engine and CS373: Programming a Robotic Car. Check it out at http://www.udacity.com

4. TweetSeat @ Godspell - Audience Digital Experiment: Last night, the Broadway production of Godspell (for which I am one of the producers) experimented with 18 TweetSeaters. We put these high energy communicators in the back row of the Circle in the Square Theater, turned down the glare on their mobile phones and had them Tweet throughout the performance. We were intrigued with what the experience would be like for the Tweeters, the other theater goers, the actors on the stage and the folks thousands of miles away. We are processing the experience now and at first glance it seemed to have no negative impact and many cool highlights. I sat about 160 miles away and was intrigued to follow their comments. Many of our young actors were Tweeting back during intermission and found the play-by-play comments intriguing as feedback after the performance. If you would like to view the Tweetseat notes - search on #tweetseat. And, of course there are great seats available for Godspell at
http://www.godspell.com

Yours in learning,
Elliott Masie.
email: emasie@masie.com

MASIE Center Seminars, Events and Services:
* Learning 2012 - Oct 21 - 24, 2012 - Orlando, Florida.
* New: Video for Learning LAB - April in Saratoga Springs
* Membership in The Learning CONSORTIUM
Info and Registration: http://www.masie.com

709 - 3D Printer Experiments; Happy Valentine's Day

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - February 14, 2012.
#709 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
55,604 Readers - http://www.masie.com - The MASIE Center.
Host of Learning 2012 - Oct 21 to 24 - Orlando, FL, USA.

1. 3D Printer in MASIE Lab - Video Blurb!
2. Happy Valentine’s Day to Learning TRENDS Colleagues!

1. 3D Printer in MASIE Lab - Video Blurb! I am a geek. I was in science fairs as a kid and my parents gave me chemistry kits to play with at age 6. All of that geek-ness is very excited about the most recent experiment that we are doing at the MASIE Center LAB: working with a low-cost 3D Printer.

For about $1,300, we bought and assembled a printer that prints out objects (not just images of objects). We started with a whistle, meaning we downloaded a 3D image of a small whistle and loaded it into the Makerbot 3D Printer, which takes long rolls of ABS plastic, melts them and extrudes small dots and lines to build actual 3D objects. Watch the video from our CONSORTIUM’s Lab as we printed a whistle right in our building:

http://www.masie.com/3dprinter

The plastic was applied, layer by layer, until the object was “printed” or manufactured. Think of the exciting ways in which this technology, as it becomes even less expensive, might be applied in learning situations so that we can better understand how something works by actually creating the object in front of our eyes. Or, we can manufacture a missing or broken part from a toy, machine or even that lost screw from the side of your eyeglasses.

We would urge you to take a look at the expanding world of 3D Printers and think about playing with them to explore the possible learning affordances ahead.

2. Happy Valentine’s Day to Learning TRENDS Colleagues! Warm greetings to our extended family of learning colleagues around the world. May you and your family/friends enjoy Valentine’s day, remembering how powerful love and trust are in the process of learning.

Yours in learning,
Elliott Masie.
email: emasie@masie.com

MASIE Center Seminars, Events and Services:
* Learning 2012 - Oct 21 - 24, 2012 - Orlando, Florida.
* New: Video for Learning LAB - April in Saratoga Springs
* Membership in The Learning CONSORTIUM
Info and Registration: http://www.masie.com

708 - Personalization of Learning; Super Bowl Second Screens

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - February 6, 2012.
#708 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
55,595 Readers - http://www.masie.com - The MASIE Center.
Host of Learning 2012 - Oct 21 to 24 - Orlando, FL, USA.

1. “Personalization”: Learning Theme & Challenge!
2. Second Screens & Super Bowl.
 
1. “Personalization”: Learning Theme & Challenge! Here is the second of the Learning Themes and Challenges to focus the work of The MASIE Center and as a core thrust at Learning 2012. A key theme for 2012 is:

“Personalization of Learning”

When was the last time that you, as a learner, were able to truly personalize your experience in an organizationally delivered learning event? Very often, as we are explaining the latest in a new business process, skill set or technology, a good percentage of our learners already know some, much or almost all of the content; yet, the ability for a learner to have a personalized learning experience is quite rare.  How do we better focus learning moments and expenditures on the content that our workers need to know and accelerate or skip them through the stuff that they already know or will never encounter?

Personalization is a growing conversation in the world of K-12 education, a disruptive element of innovation in the Higher Education space and will surface as a much larger issue in the Corporate and Organizational Learning and Training arena in 2012 and beyond.

Imagine if a learner could be rapidly assessed (by self-report, peer/manager report or by testing) on which elements of a program they needed to “take” and which elements could be skipped, at least at this moment. Imagine if the learner could get deeper learning and performance support for the elements that were difficult or problematic. And, what if our learning systems could track, manage and facilitate the personalization of learning - by the learner and by the job role?

At Learning 2012, we will dive deep into “Personalization of Learning”: how it can be integrated into our design and delivery approaches, supported by our learning systems and made “OK” with our legal and compliance departments. The goal is not to reduce the learning investments, but rather to leverage available resources, technology, design and learner motivation to make the learning more targeted and outcome oriented. The MASIE Center will be working with corporate colleagues as well as connecting to some intriguing experiments from around the world in K-12, Higher Education, Continuing Education and home-based learning.

We will explore personalization in the classroom, in eLearning, in performance support and in the role of targeted collaboration and social resources. There is so much for us in the learning field to experiment with and understand about personalization. I would love to get a few notes from TRENDS readers on your thoughts and aspirations for “Personalization of Learning”. Send a note to emasie@masie.com

2. Second Screens & Super Bowl: One thing that was quite different this year at Super Bowl watching parties was the rise of “Second Screens”. Fans and non-fans alike were often using a tablet, smart phone or laptop to gain a second or deeper perspective about what was happening on the big screen in the living room. While I am a not a big football fan, I watched two screens throughout the game. I would be checking on the background of a player, an entertainer during half-time or even a football rule (now what was that 2 point Safety all about?). Other times, I found myself online with several colleagues located across the United States and one from Dubai, adding a social dimension to the game. In our living room, there were several second screens going.  By next year, I would assume that my second screen would be linked to the main screen, integrated with my webcam on top of the plasma, connecting to colleagues via Skype, creating an extended party. Is this all good?  Hmmmm.
We are at the start of the “second screen” moment and the design process to get the most personally rewarding Super Bowl experience is still ahead. But, we have a great opportunity to watch the rising impact of second screens. Now, if I could only have controlled viewing the cameras on the field! Stay tuned!

Yours in learning,
Elliott Masie.
email: emasie@masie.com

MASIE Center Seminars, Events and Services:
* Learning 2012 - Oct 21 - 24, 2012 - Orlando, Florida.
* New: Video for Learning LAB - April in Saratoga Springs
* Membership in The Learning CONSORTIUM
Info and Registration: http://www.masie.com

707 - Learning-Mix: 2012 Challenge

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - February 1, 2012.
#707 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
55,588 Readers - http://www.masie.com - The MASIE Center.
Host of Learning 2012 - Oct 21 to 24 - Orlando, FL, USA.

1. “Learning-Mix”: Learning Theme & Challenge!
2. Video 4 Learning - User Demand Grows.
3. Kinect for Windows - Gesture Based Design?

1. “Learning-Mix”: Learning Theme & Challenge! One of my favorite activities at the start of a new year is to scan and select a few Learning Themes and Challenges to focus the work of The MASIE Center and as a core thrust at Learning 2012. Our first theme for 2012 is:

“Learning-Mix”

Organizations around the world are reporting an ever increasing “Mix” of how learners are accessing content, getting knowledge, blending personal and corporate technology, designing learning experiences, accessing formal and external expertise - and more! The “Learning-Mix” can be seen in the blend of resources that a worker accesses, ranging from structured classes and e-learning to on-demand user content, to personal social networks, to reformatting the flow of courses and to ever increasing uses of socially connected expertise and performance support. Increasingly, the learner is designing a small to large part of his/her own learning.

At Learning 2012, we will dive deep into the “Learning-Mix”: how it is challenging design assumptions, staffing models and working with (or without) Learning Management Systems. The MASIE Center will be exploring how we mix instructional design with learner choices and external resources. I would love to get a few notes from TRENDS readers on how the “Learning-Mix” in your organization is shifting and how our learners are blending some of their own learning experiences. Send a note to emasie@masie.com

2. Video 4 Learning - User Demand Grows. One of the most dramatic shifts in user demand can be seen in the area of short, video-based content and support. Learning leaders from around the world are reporting dramatic increases in You-Tube-like video segments for workers. We are also seeing a marked increase in the role of video on webinars and the rise of video chat/telepresence delivering learning and coaching resources to the workplace. Our most popular course at The MASIE Center has been the Video 4 Learning LAB & Seminar and we have just redesigned it to adjust to rapidly changing technologies (smart phone video capture), shifting prices (plasma screens for $400) and evolving expectations of both employees and even customers for video access. I will be leading the Video 4 Learning LAB from April 2 to 4 in Saratoga Springs. Each participant will receive a high def video camera and work on targeted learning projects during this hands-on event. Space is limited and online registration is now open at http://www.masie.com

3. Kinect for Windows - Gesture Based Design? Today, Microsoft is extending the Kinect system, a gesture based control element from the XBox gaming box to be accessible from Windows 7. Our Learning CONSORTIUM is starting an investigation this week to explore how learners’ gestures (hand motion to move a page or even request access to a nano-coach), facial recognition in webinars and embedded performance support might work. We are very excited to explore how gestures, expressions and context recognition can be added to design. You can check out this technology at kinectforwindows.org Our Learning CONSORTIUM will be reporting the investigation’s efforts and beta examples in the months ahead.

Yours in learning,
Elliott Masie.
email: emasie@masie.com

MASIE Center Seminars, Events and Services:
* Learning 2012 - Oct 21 - 24, 2012 - Orlando, Florida.
* New: Video for Learning LAB – April 2-4 in Saratoga Springs
* Membership in The Learning CONSORTIUM
Info and Registration: http://www.masie.com