830 - Badging for the Workplace, ASTD to Co-Host Learning 2014

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - June 30, 2014.
#830 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
56,519 Readers - www.masie.com - twitter: emasie - The MASIE Center.
Host: Learning 2014 - Oct 26-29 - Orlando. 407 Registered Already.

1. Badging for Workforce Development Explored!
2. Miss Matzoball Arrives in Saratoga Springs.
3. ASTD to Co-Host Learning 2014.

1. Badging and Workforce Development Pushed!  I spent 3 intense days in Denver last week collaborating at the Clinton Global Initiative meeting, hosted by the Clinton Foundation and led by Bill and Hillary Clinton.  There was a conversation in our group, which included myself and representatives of several of our Learning CONSORTIUM members, including Walmart, Cablevision and Farmers Insurance, that were quite provocative:

* Badging Growth: An alliance of groups are pushing the concept of a standard and “open” badging system so that a learner could be awarded and have a validated display of badges that reflect courses, skills or participation in activities from validated institutions.  These would be quite diverse and it would really be up to the worker to decide which badges to collect/earn/assess – and how they would be shared on a job application or in other formats.  The employers in the group were quite interested in a system that allows for the rating of the badge provider based on both history and form of assessment.  In addition, there was interest in workers being able to earn badges from workforce learning offerings and/or workplace accomplishment.  For example, a worker at a food establishment might earn a badge in both customer service and in fast handling, which would enhance their attractiveness to an employer in a retail setting.  Of course, there are huge technological and HR issues to be worked through, but there was interest from a wide range of employers, educational institutions and workforce development groups.

The MASIE Center will be hosting a special event on Badging in the Workplace at Learning 2014 - www.learning2014.com

2. Miss Matzoball Arrives in Saratoga Springs:  Learning TRENDS readers often ask about MASIE Stable Horses.  With the start of the summer, Miss Matzoball, the first horse bred by MASIE Stable, just got to Saratoga Springs.  She is 2 years and will start active pre-racing training this week.  If you want a peek at Miss Matzoball, here is a short video of the filly: http://vimeo.com/99388863

Training a racehorse has so many connections to the world of learning in the workplace:  Personalization, Routines, Repetition, Coaching, Competition, Nutrition and Design - and Health.  Stay tuned for her progress.

3. ASTD to Co-Host Learning 2014:  We are honored to announce that ASTD (rebranding to ATD) will once again be the co-host of Learning 2014.  They are assembling a special Bookstore with learning resources, research and assets for Learning 2014 participants.  Details on the event are at http://www.learning2014.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.
* Membership in The Learning CONSORTIUM
Info and Registration: http://www.masie.com - twitter: emasie

829 - Clinton Global Initiative and Learning

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - June 20, 2014.
#829 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
56,514 Readers - www.masie.com - twitter: emasie - The MASIE Center.
Host: Learning 2014 - Oct 26-29 - Orlando. 374 Registered Already.

1. Attending Clinton Global Initiative in Denver, Colorado.
2. Changing It Up: New Web Graphics!

1. Attending Clinton Global Initiative in Denver, Colorado: I am headed to Denver, Colorado for the Clinton Global Initiative gathering next week.  President Clinton, Secretary Clinton, and Chelsea Clinton will host CGI America, an annual event focused on finding solutions that promote economic recovery in the United States.

This working meeting will bring together leaders from the business, foundation, NGO, and government sectors to develop solutions for economic growth, long-term competitiveness, and social mobility. Since the first meeting in 2011, CGI America participants have made more than 300 commitments valued at more than $15.3 billion when fully-funded and implemented.  I am honored to represent The MASIE Center’s Learning CONSORTIUM at this effort of the Clinton Foundation.  I will be joined there by Learning Officers from our members including Farmers Insurance, Walmart and others.

I will be collaborating in the The Workforce Development Working Group, which will promote competencies, credentials, and career ladders in key industries such as healthcare, manufacturing, and the service sector. Participants will also discuss initiatives that target small and medium-size businesses that are lacking the resources to invest in their human capital.

We will have a special focus on “Tools for Delivering Training and Education Building”.  A 21st century workforce will require innovative tools for delivering and recognizing skills. Participants will explore technologies to convey and assess skills development, partner with community colleges and other educational institutions to develop local talent pipelines, and use industry-recognized credentials and competencies to better align educational pathways to jobs and careers.    

Last October, Secretary Clinton shared her perspectives about learning and eLearning at our Learning 2013 event:

“Expanding learning and developing a more skilled and productive workforce will better position you, your companies and, I believe, our country to succeed in a world that is increasingly interconnected and interdependent in a fast-moving global economy that rewards creativity, innovation and partnership. The “e”, I know as Elliott constantly reminds us, the “e” in eLearning is about more than electronics. It’s about learning for everyone, everywhere. It has to be effective and efficient. And, it has to constantly evolve!”

At next week’s Clinton Global Initiative, partnerships of corporations, educational institutions and non-profits will collaborate together to explore new innovations in the learning and workforce field.  

I will be sharing daily briefings on the work of the Clinton Global Initiative via Learning TRENDS and also on Twitter @emasie If you would like to follow and add your perspectives, see http://www.cgiamerica.org/  Please feel free to send me ideas and questions to emasie@masie.com

2. Changing It Up: New Web Graphics! I am proud of the team at The MASIE Center that has created and produced a very different looking and content-rich site for Learning 2014.  Please take a minute to check it out: http://www.learning2014.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.
* Membership in The Learning CONSORTIUM
Info and Registration: http://www.masie.com - twitter: emasie

828 - Starbucks Learning Plan, Student from Afghanistan, Hidden Video Assets

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - June 16, 2014.
#828 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
56,494 Readers - www.masie.com - twitter: emasie - The MASIE Center.
Host: Learning 2014 - Oct 26-29 - Orlando. 374 Registered Already.

1. Starbucks Learning Announcement Today.
2. Hidden Video Assets: Digital Metal Cabinets.
3. Metra Mehran, Student from Afghanistan to Keynote Learning 2014.
4. Learning Perspectives from New Zealand and Dubai Visits.

1. Starbucks Learning Announcement Today: U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan will join Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz, Arizona State University President Michael Crow, and 350 New York area Starbucks employees and their families for a discussion regarding the unique role business can play in addressing the issue of college affordability and access at 10:45 a.m. in New York City. Schultz and Crow will announce an innovative approach and partnership between their organizations, called the Starbucks College Achievement Plan, to help employees complete their bachelor’s degree with full tuition reimbursement.
 
Duncan will address the challenges facing Americans who are eager to get a degree but are faced with the barriers of both escalating costs and challenging access and how public-private partnerships such as the Starbucks College Achievement Plan can be part of the solution, along with other programs across the country. Details at http://www.starbucks.com/careers/college-plan

2. Hidden Video Assets - Digital Metal Cabinets: Workers are using video more and more as knowledge and learning assets at work. However, finding all the good video that is already in use at the organization is an old problem in a new shape. Years ago, companies would have great reels of film and video cassettes, stored in metal cabinets around the enterprise. But, there was no way to know that a cool video was located 3 stories below your office. The same problem now exists with digital online video.

Few LMS or LCMS systems provide a full and continually updated library of video assets. As more and more video is harvested from User Content and leveraged from Open Source (e.g. TED videos), organizations are seeking ways to create the equivalent of an efficient Internal YouTube type system. Watch for add-ins to existing LMS and other learning systems in the next 2 years to provide this resource. But, other organizations are moving all of their video assets to cloud-based video management systems, such as Vimeo or Brightcove, with behind-the-firewall security.  The metal cabinet challenge is here again – in digital form.

3. Metra Mehran, Student from Afghanistan, to Keynote Learning 2014: We are honored to announce an exciting keynote speaker at Learning 2014 – Metra Mehran, a college student from Afghanistan.  Metra will be flying to Orlando in October with her mother to present a perspective about the role that digital education has played in her life, as it opened up the door to her furthering her education.  Previously, access to education was often restricted for female students. Metra is an incredible case study of how a blended model of online learning has been a personal and societal game changer. Details at http://www.learning2014.com/blog/item/afghanistan-student

4. Learning Perspectives from New Zealand and Dubai Visits: I am writing this issue of TRENDS with a bit of jetlag after a wonderful 21 day trip to Dubai, Australia and New Zealand.  Here are a few learning observations from my stops and discussions in New Zealand and Dubai:

New Zealand: Key issues that were shared with me by colleagues in New Zealand focused on mapping skills in workforce courses to changing competencies needed in the workplace.  They were also quite focused on evolving the technical and blended nature of the classroom.  Several learning officers raised the challenge of blending “Open” content from formats like MOOCs with traditional courses.  In addition, learners are asking for shorter, more focused, more portable access to learning assets.  Finally, shifting certifications were on the mind of several learning groups, including focus on more global certifications and global workforces.  Thanks to the New Zealand Learning and Development group for hosting me in Auckland for a provocative morning dialogue.

Dubai: As always, Dubai is in constant change. One of the main topics of conversation was on the role of employment for Emirates natives and the recent decision to have all males, after high school, conscripted for a several month stint in the military.  This will be a major culture shift with implications on future workforce culture.  And, the country is quite excited about Expo 2020, a World’s Fair to be located there in 6 years.  I will be returning to the Emirates in late November for a series of meetings and sessions that will focus on building a learning culture for a major event like Expo 2020.

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.
* On The Job Learning LAB.
* Membership in The Learning CONSORTIUM
Info and Registration: http://www.masie.com - twitter: emasie

827 - Drones and Learning; The LMS Forum; Down Under Learning Views

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - June 3, 2014.
#827 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
56,481 Readers - www.masie.com - twitter: emasie - The MASIE Center.
Host: Learning 2014 - Oct 26-29 - Orlando. 304 Registered Already.

1. Learning Conversations from Australia.
2. New: LMS & Learning Systems Forum Announced.
3. My First Drone: Learning Implications.

1. Learning Conversations from Australia: I have just delivered several keynotes and briefings in Melbourne and Brisbane with learning colleagues, business executives and educational leaders in the past few days.  Here are a few key messages that I heard from my Australian learning leaders:

* Linking Higher Education Closer to Workforce Skill Needs.
* Radical Increase in the use of Desktop and Room Based Video Chat/Conferencing for Learning.
* Fewer Full Time Learning and Development Staff - More Learning in the Business Units.
* Intrigued with the “Massive” Letter in MOOCs - and Scaling Expertise to Learner Time.
* Need to Design Collaboration Design Models - Social Isn’t Collaboration Without Guidance.
* Desire for Learning “Apps” - For Devices, For Learners and for Trainers.
* Redesigning Classrooms into Experiential Labs.

Next week I will be working with the New Zealand Training & Development group in Auckland and then networking with learning colleagues in Dubai.  Stay tuned.

2. New: LMS & Learning System Forum Announced: We are proud to announce a special forum at Learning 2014 to address the challenges and changes in LMS and Learning Systems:

New: The LMS & Learning Systems Forum at Learning 2014 - October 26 to 29th - Orlando.

Topics will include:

- The Changing Role of Learning Systems and LMS in the Workplace?
- Why Do Many Organizations View LMS as “Tired or Lazy”?
- Shrinking or Expanding the Role of the LMS?
- Can the LMS Deliver Personalized Learning?
- Adding Video and User Content to the LMS!
- Are LMS Apps Around the Corner?
- Pricing Shifts in LMS and Learning Systems?
- Leveraging Social & Collaborative Elements in a LMS!
- Learning Systems and Tin Can/Experience API?
- Alternatives to LMS and Learning Systems

These issues and topics will be discussed in a series of sessions and discussions at Learning 2014.  Participants can attend all or just one of these activities. There will also be a Featured Panel for the LMS & Learning Systems Forum - providing changing perspectives from both Corporate Learning Leaders and LMS Providers.  Info at: http://www.learning2014.com/blog/item/lms-learning-systems

3. My First Drone: Learning Implications! OK, you know that Elliott is a gadget experimenter. And, that now includes my first full high-def Drone. Two weeks ago, I received the new Phantom 2 Vision Plus Drone - with a gyroscopic Go Pro High Def Camera. I have been carefully flying my Drone several hundred feet in the air and pretty far afield. Tracking the movement on my iPhone and teaching myself Drone control has been fun.  And, I can immediately see implications for learning and training. Imagine being able to provide an outdoor overhead shot of equipment or facilities. It cost about $1,300 and is quite an incredible piece of technology that is bringing up many new cultural and privacy issues. I was able to inspect the top of the chimney on my roof for the first time in 13 years. Here is the first video that I made of my Drone experiences!

Video of Elliott’s first drone flight in Saratoga Springs: http://vimeo.com/95605495

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.
* On The Job Learning LAB.
* Membership in The Learning CONSORTIUM
Info and Registration: http://www.masie.com - twitter: emasie