571 - Learning Resources Barometer Results, The Sixth Sense

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - March 31, 2009.
#571 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
54,698 Readers - http://www.masie.com - The MASIE Center.
Host: Learning Systems Roundtable - Chicago - April 15 & 16

1. Learning Resources Barometer Results - Spending Down & Shifting
2. Masie Teenage Learning Scout Points to the Future
3. Learning Systems Roundtable: Key Conversations

1. Learning Resources Barometer Results: We have compiled the results of our first survey of learning resources and spending shifts in this changing economy. Based on information from 532 organizations around the world, here are a few of the results:

Our overall Enterprise Learning Budget has:

2% Increased Substantially
10% Increased Moderately
25% Stayed the Same
41% Decreased Moderately
21% Decreased Substantially

The survey also tracks increased use of Social Learning, UserContent and Competency Management. It reports a severe reduction in budgets for employee travel for learning. The complete results includes data on learning staffing, spending, learning format shifts as well as other impacts of the economy. Access the free results at:

Learning Resources Barometer #1 March 2009 http://www.masie.com/barometer

We will repeat this survey every few months to track changes. Suggestions for future items can be sent to emasie@masie.com

2. Masie Teenage Learning Scout Points to the Future: One of my “scouts” for interesting and challenging ideas is a bright teenager from Dubai named Anamta. She is in high school and looks forward to creating a new type of school as the focus of her career. She sent me a video link about a very cool new interface for accessing and manipulating data in any environment. It is being developed in the MIT Media Lab and was highlighted at a TED Conference. Watch this short video and think of how this might be a disruptive technology. Thanks Anamta and keep those links coming:

Pattie Maes & Pranav Mistry: Unveiling the “Sixth Sense”
http://www.ted.com/talks/pattie_maes_demos_the_sixth_sense.html

3. Learning Systems Roundtable - Key Conversations: In just two weeks, we will be hosting a Roundtable focused on the current and future roles/deployments of Learning Systems (LMS, LCMS and more). Here are a few of the key conversations that we will facilitate:

* Learning Systems in UnCertain Times
* When the Learning System is a Legacy System
* Learning Systems in the Age of YouTube
* LMS and LCMS Frustration
* What to Track or Not to Track?
* Open Source Explored
* Social Learning and Learning Systems
* Learning Systems in a Shrinking Workforce

There are still a few spaces available at the Learning Systems Roundtable (Chicago - April 15 and 16). Info and registration at http://www.masie.com

Yours in Learning,
Elliott Masie
Contact: emasie@masie.com

Upcoming MASIE Center Services & Events:
* Social Learning LAB & Seminar: June 17 - 19, Saratoga Springs, NY
* Learning Systems Roundtable: April 15 and 16 - Chicago
* Learning & Government Briefing: April 28 - Washington, DC
Information and Registration at http://www.masie.com

570 - Learning Spending Up or Down? New Barometer; Learning Fellowship Offered

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - March 19, 2009.
#570 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
54,678 Readers - http://www.masie.com - The MASIE Center.
Host: Learning Systems Roundtable - Chicago - April 15 & 16

1. Learning Resources (Spending) Barometer: Help Us!
2. MASIE Learning Fellowship Offered - Spring/Summer 2009

1. Learning Resources (Spending) Barometer: Help Us! In these tight and uncertain times, we keep getting questions about how organizations’ training and learning budgets are being impacted - along with changes in demand for learning resources. A CLO asked me if we could put together a free and open “Barometer” to track how spending is down, up or the same across the learning field, and do it every few months.

Please help us with a few minutes of your time to anonymously complete a simple Learning Resources (Spending) Barometer survey:

http://www.masie.com/survey/barometer

Can you also pass this along to your colleagues in other organizations around the world? We will publish the results in a few days and will repeat this from time to time.

2. MASIE Learning Fellowship Offered - Spring/Summer 2009: Would you like to spend 3 months as a researcher and MASIE Learning Fellow? We have just completed two fellowships with colleagues from Brazil and South Africa. Each conducted research and work on learning with video and learning with mobile devices.

Our aim is to provide relevant, practical research to the field while supporting learning professionals pursuing an advanced degree and/or publication or career enrichment opportunities.

If you’re interested in exploring the possibilities of living in Saratoga Springs and working with The MASIE Center and Learning CONSORTIUM for several months, send a note to ria@ masie.com. Be sure to include a brief description of your background, interests and availability in your email. The ideal candidate is pursuing or has recently received an advanced degree related to Learning and is available to work in our office for period of at least 2 months.

Fellowships can begin as early as Spring 2009 or later this year. Accepted fellows are provided housing, a stipend for living expenses, and access to the Center and our Learning CONSORTIUM. We are especially interested in global colleagues for this program!

Yours in Learning,
Elliott Masie
Contact: emasie@masie.com

Upcoming MASIE Center Services & Events:
* Social Learning LAB & Seminar: June 17 - 19: Saratoga Springs, NY
* Learning Systems Roundtable: April 15 and 16 - Chicago
* Learning & Government Briefing: April 28 - Washington, DC
Information and Registration at http://www.masie.com

569 - Results of Social Learning Survey, Impressions from Prison & New MASIE Site

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - March 18, 2009.
#569 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
54,671 Readers - http://www.masie.com - The MASIE Center.
Host: Learning Systems Roundtable - Chicago - April 15 & 16

1. Results of Social Learning Survey.
2. New MASIE Website with Twitter.
3. Impressions from Prison.
4. Learning Systems Roundtable in Chicago in April.

1. Results of Social Learning Survey: Over 1,056 TRENDS readers responded to a Social Learning Survey last Friday. The results are interesting - looking at the methods, technologies and hurdles to implementing Social Learning in corporate settings. Here are the results and perspectives: http://www.masie.com/social1

2. New Website with Twitter Feed: We have relaunched our MASIE Center website using Joomla 1.5, an open source content system. And, I’ve added a Twitter feed of updates on the front page. Check it out and watch for evolving content and collaboration elements at http://www.masie.com

3. Impressions from Prison: Last week, I had a powerful experience visiting a medium security prison here in New York State to observe a 7 Habits Workshop. I am still processing the flood of impressions and feelings that I had, but since many of you asked, here are a few personal learnings:

* Incredible training skills exhibited by the inmate teaching the workshop. He was one of the best trainers in style, class engagement and focus that I have seen in my entire career.
* It was inspiring to see this group of inmates articulate the change in behaviors that they were committed to implementing as they looked at personal responsibility and trust issues.
* It was depressing to think about the hard time that the best of these inmates would encounter in securing employment after serving their sentences - and made me even more focused on the ReSkilling Challenge.
* I was asked by the group to do an impromptu session about Trust - I leveraged my knowledge of the work of Stephen MR Covey and his book on “The Speed of Trust”. For over an hour, they peppered me with questions about how trust was built, lost and the interpersonal dimensions of trust and relationships.
* Prison visits evoke strong emotions - from images of how the victims were impacted by these crimes, to the role that poverty and drugs (and some drug laws) contribute to the cycles, to watching some of the inmates thirst for making a key change in their lives.
* More to follow…

4. Learning Systems Roundtable in Chicago in April: We are very excited about the upcoming Learning Systems Roundtable to be held in Chicago from April 15th to 16th. This is a unique opportunity to take an in-depth look at current and future deployments of LMS, LCMS and other learning systems. At a moment when learning budgets are under severe consideration, we will need to ask more (and different) things of our LMS. Complete information about this vendor-neutral event at http://www.masie.com

Personal note: I am heading to Central America next week for a week of vacation and relaxation.

Yours in Learning,
Elliott Masie
Contact: emasie@masie.com

Upcoming MASIE Center Services & Events:
* Social Learning LAB & Seminar: June 17 - 19: Saratoga Springs, NY
* Learning Systems Roundtable: April 15 and 16 - Chicago
* Learning & Government Briefing: April 28 - Washington, DC
Information and Registration at http://www.masie.com

5 Minute Survey: Social Learning and Organizations

TO: Learning & Training Colleagues
FROM: Elliott Masie

5 Minute Survey: Social Learning

Please take a few minutes to complete this survey on Social Learning. Thirty-five of your colleagues are at our Social Learning LAB and have designed a quick survey about the emerging area of Social Learning - the use of social networks and technologies - to leverage the “wisdom of colleagues” for corporate learning. Can you please take a few minutes to complete this (even if you are not using any social learning elements at this time)?

Social Learning Survey:
http://www.masie.com/survey/slsurvey

We will post the results on Monday.

And, we have just opened a new offering of our Social Learning LAB & Seminar - June 17 to 19 - in Saratoga Springs. Information at http://www.masie.com

Thanks,

Elliott Masie
The MASIE Center and Learning CONSORTIUM

Upcoming MASIE Center Services & Events:
* Learning Systems Roundtable: April 15 and 16 - Chicago
* Learning & Government Briefing: April 28 - Washington, DC
* Social Learning LAB & Seminar: June 17 - 19 - Saratoga Springs Information and Registration at http://www.masie.com

568 - Elliott off to Jail, Woz Shows Nerds Can Dance, New US CIO (Department Changes)

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - March 10, 2009.
#568 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
54,671 Readers - http://www.masie.com - The MASIE Center.
Host: Learning Systems Roundtable - Chicago - April 15 & 16

1. Going to Prison Tonight.
2. New CIO of America: Perspectives on Collaborative Technology.
3. Go Woz - Nerds Dancing & Smiles.
4. Free Webinar on Social & Informal Learning.

1. Going to Prison Tonight: At 5:30 pm today, I am heading to jail. It wasn’t triggered by a crime that I did. I know everyone says that but, in this instance, it is all about learning. Tonight, I am observing a “Seven Habits” class at a medium security prison in our area. Inmates are taking this Covey class to prepare them for the realities of returning to society in a few months/years. In a country with as large a prison population as ours, the “employability” of these men and women is a complex challenge. I had to go through a month of pre-screening to be able to visit and observe in the classroom tonight. I’ll share my impressions in a future TRENDS.

2. New CIO of America - Perspectives on Collaborative Technology: Last Friday, President Obama appointed a new Federal CIO, Vivek Kundra. He immediately came out with a number of provocative proposals for building a “collaborative and open technology” platform for all Federal agencies. Kundra has been the CIO of Washington, DC and is interested in building the equivalent of a Facebook for each citizen, where everyone can select the level of information feeds that will confidentially come to a personal, secure site. For example, a TRENDS reader might want to track Federal spending on learning, the forward value of their Social Security payments, votes by their Congresswoman and feeds from NASA and OSHA. Within hours of his appointment, he held a conference call outlining how technology could be used quite differently. This is an interesting example of corporate CIOs to consider. Read or listen to his conference call: http://radar.oreilly.com/2009/03/vivek-kundra-federal-cio-in-hi.html

3. Go Woz - Nerds Dancing & Smiles: Last night, I sat on our couch and watched Steve Wozniak - “Woz”, the co-founder of Apple and a fellow nerd, Segway owner and Judge for FIRST Robotics - make his first appearance on “Dancing with the Stars”. Whether you can stomach the show or not, it was a lesson about learning and nerds. OK, dancing in shorts and black socks was a bit too close to home and Woz did not impress the judging panel with his slick moves, but it was a great moment to see the joy and humor that he brought to the task and watch how he is using this as a life learning experience. Oh, and we filmed a clip of 7,000 students at the FIRST Robotics meet in Boston this weekend cheering him on.

I was impressed by two of his quotes from rehearsals: “dancing is analog” and, at one point, he needed a “five-minute ‘thinking’ break.” You can follow his perspectives on the learning curve of this experience at his website, http://www.woz.org And, don’t forget to vote for him on behalf of Nerds around the world!

4. Free Webinar on Social & Informal Learning: Next week, I will be hosting a free webinar, along with Jay Jamrog (one of the HR experts of the world), on Social & Informal Learning. For information and reservations: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/195339614

Yours in Learning,
Elliott Masie
Contact: emasie@masie.com

Upcoming MASIE Center Services & Events:
* Learning Systems Roundtable: April 15 and 16 - Chicago
* Learning & Government Briefing: April 28 - Washington, DC
Information and Registration at http://www.masie.com

567 - Sandra Day O'Connor Launches Game Site; Learning and Government Briefing

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - March 6, 2009.
#567 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
54,668 Readers - http://www.masie.com - The MASIE Center.
Host: Learning Systems Roundtable - Chicago - April 15 & 16

1. Justice Sandra O’Connor Launches Game and Learning Project about Courts
2. New: Learning & Government Briefing in DC

1. Justice Sandra O’Connor Launches Game and Learning about Courts: Here is an exciting new educational project - led by former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor - to increase students’ understanding of civics and the courts. The project is developing free games and curriculum. Very cool! Check it out at http://www.ourcourts.org

2. New: Learning & Government Briefing in DC: I am pleased to announce a new 1-day event focused on the changing landscape of learning in the government sector:

Learning & Government Briefing and Roundtable
Elliott Masie, Facilitator
April 28, 2009 - Washington, DC

Information at http://www.masie.com/government

Yours in Learning,
Elliott Masie
Contact: emasie@masie.com

Upcoming MASIE Center Services & Events:
* Social Learning Lab & Seminar: March 11 to 13 - Saratoga Springs
* Learning Systems Roundtable: April 15 and 16 - Chicago
* Learning & Government Briefing: April 28 - Washington, DC
Information and Registration at http://www.masie.com

566 - Leaders in UnCertain Times: Marshall Goldsmith PodCast

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - March 3, 2009.
#566 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
54,619 Readers - http://www.masie.com - The MASIE Center.
Host: Learning Systems Roundtable - Chicago - April 15 & 16

Special Edition:

Leaders in UnCertain Times - PodCast with Marshall Goldsmith

Leaders are not always prepared to lead from a point of uncertainty; yet, these are challenging and different times, both within the economy and internally in the business plans of our corporations. So, how do leaders lead in UnCertain Times?

This morning, I interviewed Marshall Goldsmith, a brilliant business coach, about his advice for “Leaders in UnCertain Times”. Marshall provides his perspectives on how leaders can shift their communication and management styles in these times. We talked about the need for different questions, new measures and changing metaphors for leaders:

“Leaders in UnCertain Times”
Marshall Goldsmith Interview with Elliott Masie
13 Minute Audio PodCast
http://www.masieweb.com/uncertain1

I’d love to hear your perspectives about this topic. Send me an note to emasie@masie.com

Yours in Learning,
Elliott Masie

Upcoming MASIE Center Services & Events:
* Social Learning Lab & Seminar: March 11 to 13 - Saratoga Springs (Value Pricing)
* Learning Systems Roundtable: April 15 and 16 - Chicago (Value Pricing)
Information and Registration at http://www.masie.com