398 - Your Learning Thoughts Please

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - July 25, 2006.
#398 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
52,547 Readers - http://www.masie.com - The MASIE Center.
Learning 2006 - Nov 5-8 - Orlando - www.learning2006.com.

1. Your Learning Thoughts Please - For TRENDS 400.
2. Jim Lauderback, PC Magazine Editor, Learning & Consumer Electronics.
3. Summer Discount for Learning 2006 Registrations.

1. Your Learning Thoughts Please - For TRENDS 400: I need your thoughts and views! In just a few days, the 400th issue of Learning TRENDS will be published. I started TRENDS with a readership of 125 people in Fall of 1997. It has grown to over 50,000 learning colleagues around the world.
Edition 400 will include dozens (or even hundreds) of comments about Learning, Training, Changing World and even about Learning TRENDS. Just take a few moments and send me a few sentences to to:

http://www.masie.com/trends400/

Thanks! I really appreciate your readership and colleagueship.

2. Jim Lauderback, PC Magazine Editor, Learning & Consumer Electronics: I recently had a chance to reconnect with Jim Lauderback, Editor in Chief of PC Magazine and one of the best thinkers about computing. He is focused on how Consumer Electronics (mobile phones, PDAs, iPods and other form factors of devices for home use) will have a huge impact on Corporate Computing. I have been staying up nights thinking about this conversation!
So, I invited Jim, who was the lead talent on TechTV, to come to Learning
2006 as a Thought Leader. We will build a Future Tech lab for Jim to demonstrate where computing, communication and collaboration devices are headed and dialogue with you about how organizations and workers may leverage these for learning. Be a "scout" for your organization!

3. Summer Discount for Learning 2006 Registrations: We now have over 830 colleagues registered for Learning 2006! A special advanced discount is available for Registrations received this summer. Go to http://www.learning2006.com for complete information and additional Corporate TEAM rates.

397 - Training Outsourcing, iPods for Baseball Learning, Trends Authors Wanted

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - July 12, 2006.
#397 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
52,544 Readers - http://www.masie.com - The MASIE Center.
Learning 2006 - Early Registration Now Open - www.learning2006.com.

1. Learning & Training Outsourcing - Fresh Perspectives.
2. Podcasting for Baseball Learning?
3. Authors Wanted for Learning TRENDS #400.
4. Learning 2006 - Earliest Discount Until July 14th!

1. Learning & Training Outsourcing - Fresh Perspectives: There is a lot of confusion, fear, hype and reality to the evolving phenomena of Training & Learning Outsourcing. Here are a few personal perspectives:

* Training Outsourcing Isn't New: For the past 30 years, large percentages of the learning and training function has been done by external suppliers.
We didn't call it "outsourcing", but we have been using suppliers for design, development, delivery and curriculum. Outsourcing attempts for the whole learning function aren't new either, with several companies attempting that in the early and mid 90's.

* Co-Sourcing and Functional Sourcing: In reality, most of the contracts for outsourcing are really for co-sourcing, which is about a deep partnership between implementer and supplier or for the sourcing of a major function (eg. design, transactions or a business unit like sales training).

* LMS and LCMS Drive Outsourcing Views: As organizations have implemented LMS and LCMS on an enterprise level, there has been increased interest in sourcing the transaction elements of the learning function. This has also been parallel to the rise of Human Resource outsourcing, focusing on the transactional and employee service arenas.

* Outsourcing Isn't Always Offshoring: Actually, most of the outsource efforts are not focused at driving the bulk of the work offshore. Capacity expansion, speciality knowledge, syndicated development, headcount reduction and speed to market are the highest drivers. A number of the high profile outsourcing projects right now in the learning area are actually being done with minimal off-shoring.

* Cycles of Satisfaction and Reality Perspectives: It is time time to take the hype and fear out of the sourcing discussion. Learning will continue to be done with strong use of external providers. The transactional, design/development and delivery elements are prime candidates for outsourcing. Strategy and alignment will usually stay in house or be a partnered process. And, there is often a 2 to 5 year curve of satisfaction/reconsideration. Vendor management is also a key issue!

Training & Learning Outsourcing will be a special segment at our Learning
2006 event to be held in Orlando in November. We have built sessions with suppliers and implementers, and are doing a non-commercial, neutral look at this powerful and confusing topic. Information at http://www.learning2006.com/blog/

2. Podcasting for Baseball Learning? A few major league Baseball teams in the U.S. are using iPods as performance support tools. They have taken videos of each batter in the lineup of the opposing team and placed them on a Video iPod. Pitchers can view the upcoming batters while sitting in the dugout, focusing on their batting styles and weaknesses. This type of on-the-job performance support is quite cool and fascinating; it has huge implications.

3. Authors Wanted for Learning TRENDS #400: Yes, Learning TRENDS turns 400 in just a few days. I started this informal newsletter in 1997 and it has grown to a readership of over 52,000 learning colleagues. We will celebrate its 400 birthday in just a few issues. I would like to invite our readers to contribute a short (400 word) article, TREND or note on any learning topic for inclusion in our Anniversary Issue. Please send your note to emasie@masie.com Thanks!

4. Learning 2006 - Earliest Discount Until July 14th! There are now over 750 colleagues registered for our exciting event to be held on November 5 - 8 in Orlando. To catch the largest early discount for Learning 2006, please register by Friday, July 14th. Go to http://www.learning2006.com for complete information.