The TechLearn 2002 site is now open!

Dear Learning & Training Colleague:

I am pleased to announce our next TechLearn:

TechLearn 2002
(Including The e-Learning World Congress and The Learning Summit)
October 27 to 30, 2002
Orlando, Florida USA

The TechLearn site is now open for registration at
http://www.techlearn.com

This year, we will focus on the evolving fields of Learning, e-Learning,
Training and Development. I am building a PROVOCATIVE AGENDA that will
address these questions:

* When will e-Learning Content Be MORE Compelling?
* What happens after you have an LMS running in your company?
* Where is all the CONTENT? Why do we have a CONTENT GAP?
* What are the best BLENDS in Blended Learning?
* How is Customer Learning evolving?
* Is Instructional Design in Need of Re-Design?
* What can buyers to to protect themselves in a fragile marketplace?
* Which Learning Strategies are working the best?
* If we Build It, Will They Come? Invitational Practices!

We invite you to be part of TechLearn 2002. Over the next five months we
will be building an agenda heavily based on the input of attendees. Go
to http://www.techlearn.com and make your reservation for TechLearn today!

Yours in learning,

Elliott Masie
The MASIE Center

235 - Learner Access to Learning Management Systems; Teaching Knowledge Searching; Tips for Trainers: Training Backwards?

#235 - - - May 6, 2002 - - - 43,317 Readers
*** Elliott Masie's TechLearn TRENDS ***
Training, e-Learning and Collaboration Updates
Published by The MASIE Center www.masie.com
Host of: Strategies for e-Learning �" June, Chicago

1. Learner Access to Learning Management Systems
2. Teaching Knowledge Searching
3. Tips for Trainers: Training Backwards?
4. e-Learning Strategies Workshop: 14 Seats Left

1. Learner Access to Learning Management Systems: As we collect more and more information about a worker’s training, learning and skill experience in Learning Management Systems, the issue of learner access arises. Who owns the data, who has the right to see the data and what happens to the data when a learner is no longer an employee of the organization?

It is inevitable that information from these systems will be used as part of a Human Capital Management System, resulting in key decisions about promotion, assignment and even retention. Does the learner have the right to see all of the information within the LMS? Currently, most LMS implementations do not have much in the way of data that is not viewable by employees. But, at some point, as feedback, performance evaluations and organizational assessments are integrated into enterprise wide systems, employees will ask to see their LMS records.

If an employee is applying to work at another company, while still in your employ, do they have the right to get a transcript from the LMS to attach to their resume? And, once the employee is an ex-employee, do they have any access to the LMS records, to be transportable to their next job? Can they ask that a copy be filed with their college placement office, as part of their lifelong career file?

The MASIE Center is beginning a dialogue on these issues. If you have some thoughts on these questions, please send them to me at lms@masie.com and I will post a summary in a future issue of TRENDS.

2. Teaching Knowledge Searching: I am amazed at how few companies teach employees how to search the Internet and Intranet. The range of skills and competencies in this area are incredibly wide. When I get a telephone call from a person that I have never talked to before, I do a quick 45 second search to gather background on their organization. How many organizations teach this skill to their employees? We assume that if people can use a browser, they can use the Internet. Wrong! They can start to access the Net. We can do a lot more to build and share best practices for finding useful and reliable information thru strategic searching.

3. Tips for Trainers - Training Backwards: The other day, I was a learner in a short seminar. The 60 minute seminar felt like three hours. Why?
Because the instructor didn’t really let us see where we would end up, until the minute 59. She was teaching how to build a dynamic budget spreadsheet, but he learners didn’t see what one looked like until the last minute of the session. I, like most of the attendees, were deeply confused much of the hour. I went up to her afterwards and asked why she didn’t show us the end result at the beginning. “Oh, that would take away the logic of it. I wanted to impress you all when it all came together at the end!”

I suggested that next time she start with the end result. In other words, spend 5 minutes at the beginning by demonstrating where we would end up.
Then, teach it backwards. Yes, take the curriculum and totally reverse it. In fact, I suggested that she use the same slide show, but go in reverse.

For years, I have been preaching backward teaching. Start with the outcome and then go back one step. For example, take an internal business process approval for vacation. Start with the picture of the person on a
beach and then walk it back through the steps. This model often
accelerates the rate of learning, keeps learners more involved and allows the class to “index” or relate the content to what they already know.
The seminar leader who I suggested this to sent me an email the next week. She did a trial of backward teaching and is now hooked! Try it, it works.

4. e-Learning Strategies Workshop - 14 Seats Left: Our new workshop on e-Learning and Corporate Learning Strategies for executives and managers is almost filled. There are just 14 seats left. It will be held at McDonald’s Hamburger University in Chicago, IL on June 6 and 7. Details and on-line registration at http://www.masie.com

Upcoming MASIE Center Events:
- International e-Learning Festival �" Dublin, Ireland �" July 8 - 10 �" www.masie.com
- Learning Strategies Workshop �" Chicago, IL �" June 6 �" 7 �" www.masie.com

234 - A Look at e-Army Efforts

#234 - - - May 2, 2002 - - - 43,295 Readers
*** Elliott Masie's TechLearn TRENDS ***
Training, e-Learning and Collaboration Updates
Published by The MASIE Center www.masie.com
Host of: Learning Decisions: Strategies for e-Learning �" June, Chicago

1. In Memory of Robert Gagne, Instructional Pioneer
2. A Look at e-Army Efforts
3. International e-Learning Festival in Dublin in July

1. In Memory of Robert Gagne, Instructional Pioneer: A hero of mine in
the instructional design world, Robert Gagne, passed away. He was born in
1916, was the co-developer of "Instructional Systems Design" and wrote The
Conditions of Learning. Gagne was a seminal thinker in the development of
instructional theory and influenced a whole generation of designers and
trainers. There is a bio of Gagne, including a summary of his key
theories online at:
http://www.my-ecoach.com/idtimeline/theory/gagne.html

2. A Look at e-Army Project: Check out the progress of the large scale
e-Army efforts, including partnerships with a range of service
providers, technical and managerial support services, and educational
institutions to provide online learning opportunities for its personnel.
There is a story about this online at:
http://ts.mivu.org/default.asp?show=article&id=998

3. International e-Learning Festival in Dublin in July: I am pleased the
announce the upcoming International e-Learning Festival, to be held in
Dublin, Ireland the week of July 8th. This is the third year for this
event, hosted by The MASIE Center and Advanstar. This year, we are
focusing on the challenges of developing e-Learning for multiple countries
and in multiple languages. Info and registration at: http://www.masie.com

Upcoming MASIE Center Event: www.masie.com
Strategies for e-Learning, June 6 and 7, 2002 at McDonald's Hamburger
University in Chicago. This is a manager only (no vendors) workshop
focused on developing an e-Learning and/or Corporate Leaarning Strategy.
Info and online registration at http://www.masie.com