428 - Correction and Nintendo Wii Stands Up

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - Jan 30, 2007.
#428 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
53,314 Readers - http://www.masie.com - The MASIE Center.
Host of LMS 2007 - April 12 & 13 - Las Vegas, NV, USA.

1. OOOPS, I Added a / .
2. Nintendo Wii: Gaming Stands Up!


1. OOOPS, I Added a / (A simple / makes a Huge Difference). Yesterday, I sent out a note to my closest 53,000 colleagues and added a / at the end of a URL for some of our PodCasts. Unfortunately, our LearningWiki doesn't forgive that mistake and you weren't able to access these very cool interviews. So, here is the corrected URL and article:

Corrected URL: http://www.learningwiki.com/topics

* Mini Topics on Learning Podcasts: Brooke Thomas from our team here at The MASIE Center, interviewed nine learning colleagues who were presenters of Mini-Seminars at Learning 2006. These are short, targeted PodCasts about key learning challenges:

* Robert Parry, Western International University - Engaging Students in the World of Online Learning - What Works?
* Michael Sunnarborg, Target - Impacts and Benefits of Blended vs.
Instructor Led vs. e-Learning.
* Eren Rosenfeld, Merrill Lynch - Training Via Blackberry: Tackling the Transformation of Course Design and Delivery.
* Doug Chasick, CallSource - Career Transitions: From Classroom Instructor to Distance Learning.
* David Shoemaker, eCornell - Formal vs. Informal Learning- Is the Course Dead?
* Catlyn Gregory, Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu - How to Get Stakeholders'
Acceptance For Something New, Nifty and Cool, Instead of Doing the same Old Thing.
* Barbara McKnight, Countrywide Home Loans - Holding Learners Accountable After a Learning Event.
* Carolyn Henning, Accenture - Improving Training Effectiveness Through Strategic Planning.
* Andrew Teasdale, Humana - Do Instructional Designers Need to Understand Learning Theory?

Click here for these PodCasts: http://www.learningwiki.com/topics

2. Nintendo Wii: Gaming Stands Up! The MASIE Center has been testing the new Nintendo Wii in our Learning Lab. We had 45 colleagues from around the world spending hours playing and exploring the new interface model designed for the Nintendo Wii. Basically, you stand up and move your hand, holding the wireless device, as the interface to the games.

This turned into an unpredicted level of social interaction! People stood close and were actually physically involved with the swings, batting, bowling and boxing movements of the person playing the game. We observed an almost instant acceptance of these games from people who had rejected many of the console games on XBOX and Playstation. Our training and learning colleagues were fascinated by the potential for using this wireless interface for corporate training, simulation and performance. We'll keep you up-to-date on our research on this topic.

Check out the review of the Nintendo Wii, written by my colleague, Jim Louderback, Editor of PC Magazine:
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,2058406,00.asp

I would love to hear your comments and learnings if you are using the Wii.
Send me a note to emasie@masie.com

Upcoming MASIE Center Events & Services:
* LMS 2007 User Group: April 12 & 13 - Las Vegas.
* Learning 2007: October 21 - 24 - Orlando.
* Extreme Learning LAB: May 9 - 11 - Saratoga Springs, NY.
* Membership in Learning CONSORTIUM.
Information at http://www.masie.com

427 - 16 Free Learning PodCasts

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - Jan 29, 2007.
#427 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
53,314 Readers - http://www.masie.com - The MASIE Center.
Host of LMS 2007 - April 12 & 13 - Las Vegas, NV, USA.

16 Free Learning PodCasts!

We've been busy during January, creating a host of targeted Free PodCasts on a wide range of Learning Topics. So, here, LIVE from Saratoga Springs, is a flurry of short, non-commercial, interviews and learning segments:

* Marshall Goldsmith on "What Got You Here Won't Get You There". This is the title of Marshall's latest bestseller, focusing on unsuccessful habits of successful people. Listen to my 13 minute interview with Marshall:
http://www.learningwiki.com/marshall

* CEO Interviews of LMS Companies: I thought that it would be valuable to hear from the President or CEO of the major LMS/LCMS companies. I interviewed six of these leaders for 10 minutes each, focusing on Trends in the Learning Systems field and their company's roadmap for 2007:

SumTotal, Don Fowler.
Saba, Bobby Yazdani.
Meridian, Paul Somerville.
Outstart, Massood Zarrabian.
TrainingPartner, Justin Hearn.
EEDO, John Hudson.

Click here to listen to these Podcast Interviews:
http://www.lms2007.com/library

* Mini Topics on Learning Podcasts: Brooke Thomas from our team here at The MASIE Center, interviewed nine learning colleagues who were presenters of Mini-Seminars at Learning 2006. These are short, targeted PodCasts about key learning challenges:

* Robert Parry, Western International University - Engaging Students in the World of Online Learning - What Works?
* Michael Sunnarborg, Target - Impacts and Benefits of Blended vs.
Instructor Led vs. e-Learning.
* Eren Rosenfeld, Merrill Lynch - Training Via Blackberry: Tackling the Transformation of Course Design and Delivery.
* Doug Chasick, CallSource - Career Transitions: From Classroom Instructor to Distance Learning.
* David Shoemaker, eCornell - Formal vs. Informal Learning- Is the Course Dead?
* Catlyn Gregory, Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu - How to Get Stakeholders'
Acceptance For Some Thing New, Nifty and Cool, Instead of Doing the same Old Thing.
* Barbara McKnight, Countrywide Home Loans - Holding Learners Accountable After a Learning Event.
* Carolyn Henning, Accenture - Improving Training Effectiveness Through Strategic Planning.
* Andrew Teasdale, Humana - Do Instructional Designers Need to Understand Learning Theory?

Click here for these PodCasts: http://www.learningwiki.com/topics

Hope that you enjoy these and watch for a slew of additional interviews in the weeks ahead.

NOTE: LMS 2007 - Learning Systems User Group: We are rapidly filling this annual gathering focused on LMS/LCMS Tune Ups. April 12 and 13 in Las Vegas. Complete information at http://www.lms2007.com

LMS 2007 User Group Invitation

TO: Learning & Training Colleagues
FROM: Elliott Masie
DATE: January 9, 2007

Invitation to LMS 2007: Learning Systems User Group.
April 12 and 13, Las Vegas, Nevada.
http://www.lms2007.com.

Dear Colleague,

The world of Learning Systems isn't simple or easy! Owning, buying, deploying or improving a Learning Management System or Learning Content Management System can be a corporate challenge (or even career threatening project). And, as organizations begin to switch or consolidate their LMS/LCMS systems, it is getting even more complex.

You are invited to the only vendor-neutral event that is solely focused on Learning Systems. LMS 2007 is a User Group for organizations that have deployed an LMS/LCMS or are preparing to pick or change their Learning System.

I will be hosting and facilitating all of LMS 2007. I am joined by our co-host Cushing Anderson, the Program Director of IDC's Corporate Learning and Performance Research. In addition, Malcolm Gladwell, the author of Blink and Tipping Point, will lead a special keynote presentation at LMS 2007.

As part of a User Group, you will have a unique chance to hear from other learning executives who are using your own or a different LMS. We will explore the BEST and WORST practices of leveraging Learning Systems. In addition, we will be interviewing the CEOs of the key LMS and LCMS providers to get the scoop on their plans and challenges.

Dates for LMS 2007 User Group are April 12-13. Location is at the new Red Rock Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada. Space is limited. (Last year we had 465 learning executives attending and had to close registration.) For complete information and registration go to:

http://www.lms2007.com

Any questions, send an email to emasie@masie.com

Yours in learning,

Elliott Masie, Host LMS 2007

P.S. If you are a LMS provider and are interested in sponsorship and a demonstration desk at LMS 2007, please contact ch@masie.com

426 - Year of Learning Excellence and Experimentation

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - Jan 4, 2007.
#426 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
53,305 Readers - http://www.masie.com - The MASIE Center.
Host of LMS 2007 - April 12 & 13 - Las Vegas, NV, USA.

1. The Year of Learning Excellence & Experimentation.
2. Electronics and Learning: CES Preview.
3. SONY Reader: Holiday Gift and Review.

1. The Year of Learning Excellence & Experimentation: Happy 2007 to Learning TRENDS Readers. Thanks for all of your wonderful Holiday Greetings and Santa's Learning Wish Lists.

Our focus for 2007 will be on Learning Excellence & Experimentation. The MASIE Learning LAB will be launching a series of public experiments to better understand how we can evolve our classroom, e-Learning and corporate-wide learning resources to achieve greater Excellence.

The themes at our 2 major events: LMS 2007 (Learning Systems User Group) and Learning 2007 will focus on Learning Excellence and Learning Experimentation. We believe that there is much work to be done to hone our models, technologies, content and structures to achieve Excellence.
And, it is time for us to more honestly share our failures and mistakes as well as just our "best practices".

2. Electronics and Learning - CES Preview: We have a team of colleagues in Las Vegas as the Consumer Electronics Show that is about to begin today.
This has evolved into the largest and perhaps most important technology show in the world. While the focus of CES is on gadgets and media, there is much to understand about the connection between Electronics & Learning.
Here are a few examples:

* Mobile and Broadband to the Hand: Our employees will soon have greater bandwidth and media functionality on their mobile phones than on their desktop. This is a "tipping point" moment to reconsider how we move content and knowledge to their hands.
* High Definition Soars: The "bar" is being raised on high definition media experience and expectations. What does that imply for learning content that is still low definition page turning?
* Video Conference to Video Presence: As video becomes a constant experience rather than a scheduled event, what are the implications for the delivery of learning and coaching?
* Rapid and Widespread Publishing/Development: The tools of content creation are getting easier and more widely accessible. Content will change a great deal in 2007. Are we ready?
* The Search on Steroids: Search engines and functionality will take a huge step forward with increased personalization and preference seeking.
Search will include a Social Networking capability. How does it relate to learning design and consumption?

We will send out a series of CES Reports exploring these topics. It is interesting that IBM has returned to the CES show after more than a decade away. Last time they were here, they were touting a 56 K modem technology.
Today, they are rolling out a Virtual World and Gaming Technology for Supply Chain Management.

3. SONY Reader - Holiday Gift: Talking about Electronics and Learning, one of the gifts that I received that now lives in the MASIE Learning LAB is a SONY Reader. This is the latest slimmed-down form factor of a device that you can hold in your hand to read books, articles or even your own PDFed documents.

It is actually quite cool and provocative! It weights about 9 ounces, has a bright and long-lasting screen, supporting over 7,500 page turns on a single charge. I was able to buy several books online and also download a host of reports. I took it on a trip and comfortably read and highlighted key sections. When my eyes were tired, a single button enlarged the typeface and I got quite nimble at browsing my way through material. No offense, but it even travels well to the men's room for continued reading
:)

Check it out at http://www.sony.com/reader We are doing continued tests and will see how it works in an upcoming Leadership Class at the facility of a Fortune 500 member of our Learning CONSORTIUM.

MASIE Center Learning LAB Events & Services:
* Extreme Learning LAB - Jan 17-19 - Saratoga Springs, NY (Only 9 seats remaining).
* LMS 2007 (Learning Systems User Group) - April 12-13 - Las Vegas, NV (Early Registration Now Open).
* Learning 2007 - Oct 21-24 - Orlando, FL (Early Registration Now Open).
* Membership in our Learning CONSORTIUM (250 Global Companies Collaborating on Learning Excellence).
* Keynote Speeches & Learning Strategy Coaching by Elliott Masie.
For Information & Resources: http://www.masie.com