816 - Internal Expertise Ads, Badges for Skills, Baby Horse Video

 Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - Feb. 28, 2014.
#816 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
56,384 Readers - www.masie.com - twitter: emasie - The MASIE Center.
Host: MOOCs & Corporate Learning: Symposium & Lab.

1. Internal “Google Ads” with Expertise.
2. Badges Conversation Growing.
3. Baby Horse Born Thursday - Hello Video!

1. Internal “Google Ads” with Expertise:  We are quite accustomed to having Google or Bing or Yahoo “ads” pop up as we do a web search, linking us to a site, vendor or content collection.  But, what about an internal “ad” that links us to a person with expertise within our organization?

Imagine if an employee is conducting a search on compliance issues on your internal search engine and the results page included 2 or 3 small boxes with the name of a key fellow employee who has relevant experience or expertise on the topic. Much of the knowledge base of your organization is in the minds and experiences of current employees, who are often unknown to the rest of the workforce. Let’s experiment with appropriate and non-disruptive ways of building personalized “ads” that would link employees to other employees with sharable expertise.

2. Badges Conversation Growing:  Are there any fellow Girl or Boy Scouts out there as Learning TRENDS colleagues?  I have deep and powerful memories of the various Boy Scout “badges” that I earned in my teen years.  I even earned one in group leadership techniques.  The badges required Scouts to demonstrate a skill or competency and often successfully complete a project.

There is a growing conversation in the world of learning and higher education about bringing back the badge model for workforce competencies.  The badge might be smaller in scope than a certification.  And, it might not imply instant readiness to do a job.  But, it could be one of many badges that a worker would gather/earn over time - visible to others in the workplace and an input to future deployment decisions.  Many of my colleagues are looking towards industry-wide recognition of badges that are used and valued by a larger group of employers.  Let’s imagine a badge in Customer Complaint Handling earned by an employee of a fast service restaurant that would also be honored when he/she applies or is hired by another food service employer. 

The MASIE Learning CONSORTIUM and Learning 2014 will be focusing on badges and some of the opportunities and hurdles with adapting this model to our workplaces. If you are interested in being part of this conversation, please send a note to me at emasie@masie.com

3. Baby Horse Born Thursday - Hello Video! As many of you may know, MASIE Stables owns several thoroughbred horses.  Yesterday morning, we got a great phone call.  At 6 am, Miss Matzo gave birth to a healthy and cute female (filly) baby horse.  Four hours later, this video was taken in the barn where she is with her mom.  Note how long the legs of a baby horse are, which were important when they were born on the wild “range”.  Watch her at https://vimeo.com/masie/babyhorse

UPDATE: We are quickly filling spaces in the upcoming MOOCs & Corporate Learning event to be held in Saratoga Springs from April 2 to 4th.  Info and online registration are available at http://www.learningmoocs.com

Yours in learning,

Elliott Masie
Host, Learning 2014

email: emasie@masie.com
twitter: @emasie

MASIE Center Seminars, Events and Services:
* Learning 2014 - October 2014 - Orlando, Florida.
* Learning Directions Briefings.
* MOOCs and Corporate Learning: Symposium and LAB.
* Video & Learning LAB.
* On-The-Job Learning LAB.
* Membership in The Learning CONSORTIUM
Info and Registration: http://www.masie.com - twitter: emasie

Learning for Learning Professionals

TO: Learning, Training & Performance Colleagues.
FROM: Elliott Masie, The MASIE Center
RE: Learning for Learning Professionals

We are pleased to invite you and your colleagues to one of our upcoming Learning Programs for Learning Professionals:

* Learning Directions:  What is Up, Down or Just Hype in Learning?  Elliott Masie leads an intensive one-day briefing for Learning Professionals, supplemented with additional on-demand resources.  Topics include: Learning Personalization, The Connected Classroom, Mobility & Learning, Rethinking Compliance Training, and Social/Collaborative Learning.  Hosted by Elliott Masie.
Locations:  New York (March 21), Chicago (March 25), Silicon Valley (April 16), and Houston (April 29)

* MOOCs & Corporate Learning: Symposium & LAB:  This is the first event focused on applying the MOOC (Massive, Open, Online Course) to the corporate learning space.  We will explore adapting the MOOC model, integrating higher education MOOCs into the workplace and finding low-cost ways of making learning more “massive”, yet still accountable and effective.  Hosted by Elliott Masie.
Location:  Saratoga Springs, NY (April 2-4)
 
* On-The-Job Learning (OJL) LAB & Seminar:  How did you learn your job?  Ask 100 employees in your organization that question and very often the answer will be, “From a colleague, on the job”.  We invite you and your colleagues to participate in a new program: On-The-Job Learning LAB & Seminar, which will provide a deep, agile and hands-on approach to maximizing the impact of OJL – adding the power of technology and performance support.  Hosted by Bob Mosher & Conrad Gottfredson.
Location:  Saratoga Springs, NY (April 23-25)

Details, agendas and online registration for these programs are available at http://www.masie.com.  Space is limited and discounts are available for government, higher education and Learning CONSORTIUM Members.

If you have any questions, please send a note to amh@masie.com.

Yours in learning,

Elliott Masie
The MASIE Center
http://www.masie.com

email: emasie@masie.com
twitter: @emasie

815 - Previews for Learning Design?; On-The-Job (OJL) Learning

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - Feb. 19, 2014.
#815 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
56,374 Readers - www.masie.com - twitter: emasie - The MASIE Center.
Host: MOOCs & Corporate Learning: Symposium & Lab.

1. Previews for Learning Design?
2. MOOCs Linking Workplace & Higher Education.
3. On-The-Job Learning (OJL) LAB & Seminar Announced.

1. Previews for Learning Design?  This month, I went to two Broadway Previews.  For approximately one month before the official opening of a Broadway show, audiences see a “preview” of the show - in various forms of readiness - as the creative team tweaks the script, scenery and even the music of the show.  The reactions of the audience can help deeply shape the final product.

This evening, a show that I am helping produce, “Bridges of Madison County”, opens.  In the preview process, more than a dozen minutes of the show were reduced.  A song was eliminated. Props were changed. And, the pacing of both Act I and Act II were improved through the changes.  Previews are a key element in making a show more ready for audiences, using audience reactions as a key data point in the process.

Why not add previews to Learning events? What if we were rolling out a new class or eLearning module on a key leadership or technology subject? Imagine if the first few sessions were really viewed as previews. Imagine if the instructional designer could add or delete segments and see how the learners reacted and performed.  Previews could radically alter the design process.  Try it!

2. MOOCs Linking Workplace & Higher Education: As we explore the role of Massive, Open, Online Courses in the world of workplace learning, there is an interesting connection emerging between MOOCs offered via higher education and employee training. Here are a few models that are emerging:

* University and College MOOCs paid for through employee tuition reimbursement funds.
* Corporations purchasing a block of seats in a higher education MOOC at an affordable per-employee rate.
* MOOCs offered by a higher education group with corporations building in private discussion areas.
* Universities partnering with a corporation to syndicate a workplace MOOC to other organizations.

Every day, I am engaged in conversations with higher education and private venture MOOC providers about their desires and plans to collaborate with corporate learning and development groups. 

We will delve into these topics at MOOCs & Corporate Learning Symposium & Lab, which I am hosting in Saratoga Springs, NY from April 2nd to 4th.  Information and online registration (space is limited) is available at http://www.learningmoocs.com

3. On-The-Job Learning (OJL) LAB & Seminar Announced: The MASIE Center is pleased to announce a new LAB & Seminar focused on:

On-The-Job Learning (OJL) LAB & Seminar.
Led by Bob Mosher & Conrad Gottfredson.
April 23 to 25 - Saratoga Springs, NY.
Info: http://www.masie.com

What we used to call OJT, or On-The-Job Training, has evolved to a more agile and personalized approach called OJL, or On-The-Job Learning.  Add technology, performance support and collaboration, and OJL is emerging as a key part of the corporate learning process.

We are honored to have Bob Mosher and Conrad Gottfredson lead this exciting lab.  Space is limited.  Info is available at http://www.masie.com

Yours in learning,

Elliott Masie
Host, Learning 2014

email: emasie@masie.com
twitter: @emasie

MASIE Center Seminars, Events and Services:
* Learning 2014 - October 2014 - Orlando, Florida.
* Learning Directions Briefings.
* MOOCs and Corporate Learning: Symposium and LAB.
* Video & Learning LAB.
* On-The-Job Learning LAB.
* Membership in The Learning CONSORTIUM
Info and Registration: http://www.masie.com - twitter: emasie

814 - Snow Days Into eLearning Days, Bob Mosher Joins as Learning Advocate

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - Feb. 12, 2014.
#814 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
56,369 Readers - www.masie.com - twitter: emasie - The MASIE Center.
Host: Learning Directions - Briefings in 4 U.S. Cities!

1. From Snow Days to eLearning Days!
2. Bob Mosher Joins MASIE Center as Learning Advocate.
3. Video & Learning LAB Scheduled for May.
4. Twitter Feeds.

1. From Snow Days to eLearning Days! While the news is filled with reports of major snow storms coming to the South and Northeast US, snow days are going through a digital transformation.

Several school districts and states have swapped out snow days, where the schools are closed, the buses stop and students and teachers have a day off. Often, the school has to make up snow days with extra instructional days later in the semester.

But, on eLearning Days, the buildings still close, the buses still stop, but learners and teachers work virtually - continuing the learning process throughout the day. This might include webinar sessions, Skype office hours with teachers and the use of On-Demand eLearning modules. Some students team up at one house, if there are working parents who can’t come home, or if the students want to work collaboratively during the day.

Some districts are even pre-scheduling eLearning Days to provide the students with exposure to self-guided eLearning – prior to going to college or the workplace – where it is growing as a delivery mode.

Here is an article about the shift from Snow Days to eLearning Days in Indiana: http://wane.com/news/local/elearning-could-end-area-snow-days/

2. Bob Mosher Joins MASIE Center as Learning Advocate: We are honored to announce that Bob Mosher, one of the major learning analysts, researchers and innovators in our field, is joining The MASIE Center as our Learning Advocate.

Bob will provide perspective, analysis, benchmarking and leadership to The MASIE Center and our Learning CONSORTIUM, and serve as a co-host of Learning 2014. Here is the announcement and bio on Bob Mosher: http://www.masie.com/mosher

Please welcome Bob Mosher as our (and your) Learning Advocate!

3. Video & Learning LAB Scheduled for May: I am finishing the last day of our very popular Video and Learning LAB this morning at The MASIE Center in Saratoga Springs. We sold out spaces for this hands-on deep dive into the changing ways that video is growing as a major component of workplace learning.  So, we just opened up a new session:

Video and Learning LAB.
Host: Elliott Masie.
Location: Saratoga Springs, NY, USA.
Dates: May 19-21, 2014.
Info: http://www.masie.com    .

Space is limited to about 40 participants, so please reserve a space ASAP.

4. Twitter Feeds: Many learning colleagues around the world engage with us through Twitter. Here are our two active Twitter Feeds:

* Elliott Masie/The MASIE Center Twitter: @emasie.com
* Learning 2014 Twitter: @learning2014

Feel free to follow and interact with us through these Twitter Feeds.

Yours in learning,

Elliott Masie
Host, Learning 2014

email: emasie@masie.com
twitter: @emasie

MASIE Center Seminars, Events and Services:
* Learning 2014 - October 2014 - Orlando, Florida.
* Learning Directions Briefings.
* MOOCs and Corporate Learning: Symposium and LAB.
* Video & Learning LAB.
* Membership in The Learning CONSORTIUM
Info and Registration: http://www.masie.com - twitter: emasie

813 - Nano-Coaching; Experience LABS; Rethinking Compliance Training

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - Feb. 11, 2014.
#813 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
56,364 Readers - www.masie.com - twitter: emasie - The MASIE Center.
Host: Learning Directions - Briefings in 4 U.S. Cities!

1. Nano-Coaching: A Learning Direction!
2. Experience LABS vs. Classrooms: A Learning Direction!
3. Rethinking Compliance Training: A Learning Direction!

As I plan the curriculum for our Learning Directions briefings that we will host in four cities across the United States, I wanted to share 3 trends that are intriguing and even “disruptive”:

1. Nano-Coaching: A Learning Direction! We have often thought of coaching in terms of intense one-to-one conversations between a worker and a mentor/coach/manager. Recently, organizations have been experimenting with “nano-coaching”, which connects the worker to a source of expertise for a few minutes - often by video chat.

Imagine if a salesperson is working on better customer service. They might have a 1 minute conversation with a remote coach several times a day - right after sales episodes. The goal of nano-coaching is to provide just-in-time, on-the-job feedback and accountability. One organization is using nano-coaching with rising leaders, providing them with pre-meeting prep or post-meeting review, as they do performance reviews of employees. Nano-coaching can even leverage short video clips that can be sent to an employee, based on the conversation with the coach. We are also intrigued with leveraging knowledge-filled retirees as nano-coaches on a contract basis. Finally, nano-coaching moves away from coaching as a therapeutic model to a more real-time behavioral feedback loop.

2. Experience LABS vs. Classrooms: A Learning Direction! Imagine shifting a learning session from a face-to-face class on a topic to an Experience LAB where the employees have to accomplish a key task in a collaborative fashion with guidance and feedback from an instructor. Organizations are creating Experience LABS in areas such as Safety, Negotiation, Project Management and Technical Areas. The Experience LAB has a higher intensity and the workers are creating an outcome for either a simulated or real project used in the business. The LAB requires a very different design model and skill set for the facilitator. There is always a possibility that the group will fail at the task - at least in early attempts. The learners bring a different intensity and curiosity to the Experience LAB and bring back a more “ready-for-transfer” set of skills.

3. Rethinking Compliance Training: A Learning Direction! Compliance and regulatory training is increasingly dominating the learning budgets and timeframes of major organizations. Many learners are required to re-take classes on topics that they are already certified on, just because the cycle of approvals has come around again. There are key experiments underway to rethink compliance training that include:

* Shift to assessment driven re-training.
* Personalize the compliance training based on learner and workplace history.
* Conversations with legal staff and regulators on “sampling” as an alternative to mass re-training.
* Adaptive testing and designs to make compliance training less annoying to the learners.

The key is not to avoid compliance but to better map precious learning hours and energy in a more strategic manner that does not turn the regulatory issues into annoying “jokes” from a content perspective. The MASIE Center’s Learning CONSORTIUM will be doing deep dives on compliance and learning issues in the coming year.

4. Learning Directions Briefings: NYC, Chicago, Houston and Silicon Valley. We are pleased to offer our 2014 Learning Directions Briefings in each of these four cities. It is a mixed blend of a one-day face-to-face with on-demand and virtual sessions. Learning Directions Briefings are in March and April. Space is limited. Online info and registration is available at: http://www.masie.com

Yours in learning,

Elliott Masie
Host, Learning 2014

email: emasie@masie.com
twitter: @emasie

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

812 - Cool Tools!; TED Ed - Open Content; Massive Learning?

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - Feb. 3, 2014.
#812 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
56,359 Readers - www.masie.com - twitter: emasie - The MASIE Center.
Host: MOOCs & Corporate Learning Symposium & LAB - www.learningmoocs.com

1. Cool Tools! An Awesome Book.
2. TED Ed - YouTube Plus Content Plus Design.
3. MASSIVE Learning - Scaling Learning with MOOCs?

1. Cool Tools! An Awesome Book: Kevin Kelly has written a book that I totally love called “Cool Tools”. It is a blend of the old Whole Earth Catalogue that he helped produce decades ago and a column that Kevin writes by the same name that has incredible tools, which I order on a regular basis.

“Cool Tools” lists thousands of tools, gadgets, kits and other resources that help one build, fix, extend and design things - digital, electronic, mechanical and more.  Each tool is described and is listed without payment from the manufacturers.  I ended up with a list of a 30 more things that I will purchase over the coming months.  “Cool Tools” is large and heavy, but please check it out for yourself or a friend. Details at: http://amzn.com/1940689007

2. TED Ed - YouTube Plus Content Plus Design. I was presenting at a conference in Tampa last week and heard a keynote by the creators of TED Ed, a new system that will combine video from YouTube with instructional content and open resources.  They are already developing content that is appropriate at the K-12 and Higher Education levels.  The power and reach of TED to the open learning space is so exciting.  Several of the CLOs with me in Florida were deeply intrigued about how TED Ed might be adapted to corporate learning.  Check out the website and look at the tools and approaches they are building: http://ed.ted.com/  The MASIE Center will be experimenting with TED Ed in the coming months and I will share our findings along the way.

3. MASSIVE Learning - Scaling Learning with MOOCs? In my conversations with corporate learning leaders, they are deeply interested in new approaches to deliver targeted, MASSIVE offerings. Can a MOOC be adapted to achieve MASSIVE scale?

In much of corporate learning, we have traditions for the SCOPE and REACH of a course or class.  Our face-to-face classrooms often mirror school size, with 20 to 40 students as the norm.  Our leadership programs, even when moved to an MBA institution, often cap at about 50 to 60 students.  And, while a webinar might reach thousands and an eLearning module could be consumed by an uncapped number, we don’t have confidence that these forms are really MASSIVE in reach.

What if we can adapt the MOOC model to allow a MASSIVE number of workers to participate in a program that is compelling, collaborative and that does not need significant faculty/facilitator presence or intervention?  We will be exploring this at our new MOOCs & Corporate Learning: Symposium and LAB in Saratoga Springs in April.  Details at http://www.learningmoocs.com

Yours in learning,

Elliott Masie
Host, Learning 2014

email: emasie@masie.com
twitter: @emasie

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