994 - Video on Diversity and Learning, 5 Minute Survey on Immersive Tech, Reorder the Sequence in eBooks, Please

Elliott Masie’s Learning TRENDS - March 29, 2018.
#994 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology Since 1997.
57,929 Readers - www.masie.com - The MASIE Center.
Host: Diversity & Learning LAB - April 10-12 Saratoga Springs, NY 

1. Video on Diversity & Inclusion for Learning!
2. Reorder the eBook Sequence, Please.
3. Take a 5 Minute Survey on Immersive Technologies for Learning. 

1. Video on Diversity & Inclusion for Learning! We just released a 15 minute video interview with Jayzen Patria, focused on the key role that Learning and Development colleagues and departments can play with Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging.   I recently interviewed Jayzen, focusing on key steps that L&D groups can take to support and reflect Diversity.  Jayzen talks about the need to create “Safe and Brave” places: 

Video on Diversity & Inclusion for Learning:
https://masie.com/diversity/diversity-inclusion-lab .
Video is on the bottom of the page. 

We have a few seats left in our first LAB on this topic, led by Jayzen.  Info at http://www.masie.com 

2. Reorder the eBook Sequence, Please: While I have written over 12 books, the world of eBooks is new and evolving. 

One request to the eBook Publishers - allow the learner to change the format and style of the books a bit. 

For example, I want to have the INDEX for a non-fiction book at the front of the book, rather than in the back. 

And, I would like to be able to have a whiteboard added to the book that allows a learner to cut and paste content or add notes and context along the way.

3. Take a 5 Minute Survey on Immersive Technologies for Learning:  We are very excited to be updating our popular report on the role that VR, AR and Mixed Reality may have for learning.   I have asked Bobby Carlton, our editor on these topics, to create a new report, “Immersive Technologies for Learning”, that will take a fresh look at how Virtual, Augmented and Mixed realities are being leveraged for learning now, and their potential for the future. 

We will publish an Open Source edition of this book for all to access in May.  

I am asking Learning TRENDS colleagues to take a 5 minute survey to help us structure and update this report: 

https://www.masie.com/immersivetechtrends

Yours in Learning,

Elliott Masie.
Email: emasie@masie.com .
Twitter: @emasie  . 

MASIE Center Seminars, Events and Services: 

- Diversity & Learning LAB - April 10 to 12, Saratoga Springs, NY
- ChatBots & Learning LAB - July 16 to 18, Saratoga Springs, NY
- Learning 2018 - Nov 4 to 7 - Orlando  (Early Registration Now Open)
- Membership in The Learning CONSORTIUM 

Details and Online Registration: https://www.masie.com 

Learning TRENDS is produced by The MASIE Center.  95 Washington Street, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866

993 - Google Learning Online, Job Aids Evolving, Last Minute Curation Spots

Elliott Masie’s Learning TRENDS - March 13, 2018.
#993 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology Since 1997.
57,922 Readers - www.masie.com - The MASIE Center.
Host: Curation & Learning LAB - March 21 to 23, Saratoga Springs, NY. 

1. Google Learning Resources/Courses Online.
2. Last Minute Curation LAB Spaces.
3. Job Aids - Personalized and Sharable.
4. ImmersiveTech for Learning - Your Questions Please! 

1. Google Learning Resources/Courses Online: Google has recently created a powerful collection of online learning resources and free courses on topics including Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning and more.  Many of these feature working engineers at Google and I spent many hours in the past week experiencing these. 

Take a few minutes and explore this site: 

Learning with Google AI Resources:
https://ai.google/education/#?modal_active=none 

2. Last Minute Curation LAB Spaces: Next week, we will be hosting a group of learning colleagues at the MASIE Lab in Saratoga Springs for our Curation & Learning LAB.  There are just a few more seats open if you can plan a last minute registration for this engaging and interactive learning experience that I will be hosting: 

Learning & Curation LAB - March 21 to 23, Saratoga Springs, New York USA.
Info and Registration: http://www.masie.com 

3. Job Aids Personalized and Sharable: One topic has been popping up more and more in our conversations with Corporate Learning Leaders:  JOB AIDS.  In fact, several companies have shifted their learning strategies from growing traditional eLearning programs to creating more and different Job Aids - that can be used by employees and customers.  Here are a few of the Job Aid shifts we see: 

- Job Aids that can be used by an experienced worker to teach a skill to a new worker - shoulder to shoulder in the workplace.
- Digital Job Aids that are optimized for mobile phones.
- Job Aids that are personalized - based on a worker’s role, experience and language.
- Job Aids that include short video or animation elements.
- Job Aids that are triggered by verbal requests (ala Amazon’s Alexa)
- Job Aids that are embedded into a ChatBot or Messenger Model 

This is an intriguing expansion of a traditional tool and approach that is rarely talked about in learning circles.  Yet, to bring learning to the worker’s “moment of need” - a new view of Job Aids is evolving. 

4. ImmersiveTech for Learning - Your Questions Please!  We are about to create an updated report on the role of Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, Mixed Reality and other deep technologies for learning.  Our new and free “ImmersiveTech for Learning Report” will be available in the coming months.  

I have a question for Learning TRENDS colleagues.  Can you send me YOUR questions about how VR, AR and other Immersive Technologies could be used for workplace learning?  Our team will use your questions to shape this update of a very popular report we did 15 months ago. 

Send your QUESTIONS to me at emasie@masie.com and we will try to incorporate them into our findings.

Yours in Learning, 

Elliott Masie.
Email: emasie@masie.com .
Twitter: @emasie  . 

MASIE Center Seminars, Events and Services: 

- Curation & Learning LAB - Mar 21 to 23 - Saratoga Springs, NY
- Diversity & Learning LAB - April 10 to 12, Saratoga Springs, NY
- ChatBots & Learning LAB - July 16 to 18, Saratoga Springs, NY
- Learning 2018 - Nov 4 to 7 - Orlando  (Early Registration Now Open)
- Membership in The Learning CONSORTIUM 

Details and Online Registration: https://www.masie.com 

Learning TRENDS is produced by The MASIE Center.  95 Washington Street, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866

992 - Tech@Learning Expansion, AI/Machine Learning Overstatements, Curation Needs Sharpening

Elliott Masie’s Learning TRENDS - March 1, 2018.
#992 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology Since 1997.
57,919 Readers - www.masie.com - The MASIE Center.
Host: Curation & Learning LAB - March 21 to 23, Saratoga Springs, NY. 

1. AI/Machine Learning Overstatements!
2. Curation Stress: Users Want to Optimize with Recommendations.
3. Tech@Learning Expansion of Learning 2018 and a New MASIE Website! 

1. AI/Machine Learning Overstatements!  One of the most difficult things to write or talk about is when exciting topics are exaggerated by media and developers.  AI (Artificial Intelligence) and Machine Learning are so exciting - and yet their usage is often a stretch!  

We clearly are on a pathway for significant deployment of Artificial Intelligence in the workplace and the use of Machine Learning can add a whole new degree of adaption, agility and responsiveness to the deployment of technology for performance and learning. 

Therefore, it is tempting to announce AI as an already-arrived reality. 

Yet, if you scratch the surface of most AI claims - what we have is an intermediate and much more modest step - which is Rules-Based Programming. 

It is wonderful when a system, such as a ChatBot, can have hundreds or even thousands of rules to structure responses to questions or interactions. 

Yet, that is NOT Machine Learning or AI.  It is coming from a Rules-Based Engine. 

A recent report by IDG said: “A key way to tell the difference between AI and rules-based engines, is that a rules-based engine will never improve on its own until someone updates the rules. AI improves its accuracy the more it is used. The more you use it the better it becomes. The adaptability of the model is what makes AI work.”  It is online at: https://tinyurl.com/overstatedai 

There is vast work going on in research and development settings to advance Machine Learning and AI.  But, if claims are made prematurely - to impress a customer or internal client - before the technology delivers the significant difference, we will create a level of distrust towards a major force that is heading into our workplaces. 

Technology WILL have a rapid and profound effect on how workers, managers and enterprises support learning and performance.  Let’s not let industry “Early Hype” get in the way! 

2. Curation Stress: Users Want to Optimize with Recommendations!  We have been interviewing Learning Leaders and Managers about Curation of Content.  There is a growing level of Worker Stress about the ever expanding amount of Content, Context and Collaboration that is flowing.  The worker wants and needs targeted Curation Assistance - to help Sort, Optimize and Target their learning time - when reviewing dozens of content choices available on any topic.  Here are a few of the recommendations we are hearing about Curation: 

- Learners Choose the Communication Format for Curation:  Messenger App, eMail, Embedded Content, Learning Portal or Workplace Collaboration System.
- Learners Want to Receive a Reduced and Targeted Set of Content Options.
- Learners Desire a Recommendation System - Aligning Content to Their Needs and Context.
- Learners Are Blending Enterprise and Personal Curation Tools Informally. 

Watch for expanded Curation Tools to flow into LMS, LCMS and LRS systems in the next year.  And, get ready for 3rd party Recommendation Tools to emerge.  Stay tuned! 

3. Tech@Learning Expansion of Learning 2018 and a New MASIE Website:  It is an important year for us at The MASIE Center.  Learning TRENDS is now 20 years old, Learning 2018 will be our 28th Annual Conference and our Learning LABS were started in 1995.  So, we are excited to launch a new website to highlight our focus, services and open source content. Check us out at: 

- MASIE Center and Learning LABS Website: https://www.masie.com 

We are excited to also announce a new major component of Learning 2018: 

- Tech@Learning 

We will have a wide range of LABS, Technology Galleries, Experiences and Activities addressing the wide range of Tech@Learning.  Participants will be exploring Evolving Learning Systems, Curation Technology, ChatBots, Personalization, Workflow Performance Tech, Wearables and a wide range of Business and Consumer Tech that supports or engages the Learning process.  Details to be announced in the coming weeks. 

Finally, we are pleased to highlight 3 Learning Innovation LABS to be held in Saratoga Springs in the coming 3 months: 

- Curation & Learning LAB - March 21 to 23 - Optimizing Content for the Learner (Several seats still available)
- Diversity & Learning LAB - April 10 to 12 - The Role of Learning in Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging
- ChatBots & Learning LAB - May 1 to 3 - Exploring ChatBots & Smart Speakers in the Workplace 

Details and Registration at https://www.masie.com 

Yours in Learning, 

Elliott Masie.
Email: emasie@masie.com .
Twitter: @emasie  . 

MASIE Center Seminars, Events and Services: 

- Curation & Learning LAB - Mar 21 to 23, Saratoga Springs, NY
- Diversity & Learning LAB - April 10 to 12, Saratoga Springs, NY
- ChatBots & Learning LAB - May 1 to 3, Saratoga Springs, NY
- Learning 2018 - Nov 4 to 7 - Orlando  (Early Registration Now Open)
- Membership in The Learning CONSORTIUM 

Details and Online Registration: https://www.masie.com 

Learning TRENDS is produced by The MASIE Center.  95 Washington Street, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866