351 - Chief Learning Officer Report; Learning 2005 Activity Listing

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - Sept 29, 2005.
#351 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
51,129 Readers - http://www.masie.com - The MASIE Center.
Learning 2005: Oct 30 - Nov 2 - Orlando, Florida.

1. Report from Chief Learning Officer Conference.
2. Learning 2005 Activity Listing.

1. Report from Chief Learning Officer Conference: Here is a recorded (and text transcript) report from the CLO Conference, now underway in California. I summarized some of the trends discussed in the sessions and hallways. Topics include Speed, Alignment, Competencies, Outsourcing and less buzz about Technology Systems. Click below for the Audio Stream/Podcast or Text Transcript:

http://www.learning2005.com/university/

2. Learning 2005 Activity Listing: My design team for Learning 2005 has been having a blast putting together almost 150 Case Studies, Conversations, Task Forces and Working Sessions for the event. Each session is led by a senior learning professional from a major corporation or government agency. We have just posted the first sample of over 75 interactive activity session options for participants. Check it out at http://www.learning2005.com/options/

More to follow each week until Learning 2005. Over 1,500 of your colleagues are already registered and we're starting to use up our room block at the Coronado Springs Hotel. Register soon and start your learning process!

MASIE Center Services and Events:
* Learning CONSORTIUM Membership
* Learning 2005 - Oct 30 to Nov 2 - Orlando, Florida Information at http://www.masie.com

350 - Learning Cafes, Dentistry School Goes Extreme, What do We Call Learning?

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - Sept 28, 2005.
#350 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
51,129 Readers - http://www.masie.com - The MASIE Center.
Learning 2005: Oct 30 - Nov 2 - Orlando, Florida.

1. Learning Cafes - Corporate Places.
2. Dentistry Students Experience Extreme Learning.
3. Flash Poll: What Do We Call Learning?
4. Learning 2005 Update: Reading Circles.

Hi! I have just arrived in California to give the keynote at the Chief Learning Officer's Conference. There is a great collection of the top folks in the Learning field and we will be having a dialgoue about the rapidly changing opportunities in the field. I'll file a report on this
event later tonite. Elliott

1. Learning Cafes - Corporate Places: Take the concept of an internet cafe and evolve it for your corporate learning goals. Consider setting up a few pods with terminals, perhaps near or in the company cafe, to foster self-service learning, but with a twist. Construct these internet machines in a way that they encourage 2 or 3 people at a seat. Some companies have even put 3 sets of earpieces on each set and raised the monitor higher. These cafes can be created very easily and will be used for your staff for a wide range of learning and collaboration uses. In fact, in one company, we have seen folks go to the Cafe when they need to write something that requires concentration and coffee.

2. Dentistry Students Experience Extreme Learning: A TRENDS reader, Melanie Abston from Detroit, sent this note to us about the Extreme Learning underway in Dentistry School:

"It started with a simple question -- first-year dental student Jared Van Ittersum wanted to know why all the lectures he attended weren't available electronically. Now, the University of Michigan School of Dentistry and Apple Computer Inc. are collaborating on a project that uses ITunes technology for academics. U-M Dentistry offers audio of large lecture classes posted online for download by registered U-M dental students, and uses RSS, a Web syndication method, to send instructional content to students automatically. John Couch, Apple's vice president for education, visited the School of Dentistry this month for a celebration of the program. Lynn Johnson, director of dentistry informatics and information technology, said the partnership represents a major shift in how technology is used in teaching. A demonstration showed a custom ITunes site for the dental school, offering lectures in a "music store" listing.

Students who log in using a U-M identity can preview audio of a lecture, download an individual lecture or subscribe to the downloads for automated delivery to their computers and MP3 players."

3. Flash Poll: What Do We Call Learning? Here are two quick Flash Polls:

* What do you call the participants in your learning activites? (eg.
Learners, Students, Associates, etc.)
* What do you call our field? (eg. Learning, Training, Education, Development, etc.)

Go to http://www.learning2005.com/survey2 to take this 1-minute poll.
Results posted next week.

4. Learning 2005 Update: Reading Circles: Imagine spending an hour with 20 colleagues talking about the relationship between a book that you just read and our world of Learning. We will have a number of Reading Circle Activities at Learning 2005 (Oct 30 - Nov 2) in Orlando. These will be facilitated book club conversations about key titles related to the world of Learning and Business. Here is just a sample:

* Reading Circle: "Blink" and Learning.
* Reading Circle: "Tipping Point" and Learning.
* Reading Circle: "The Wisdom of Crowds" and Learning.
* Reading Circle: "The World is Flat" and Learning.
* Reading Circle: "Harry Potter" and Learning.
* Reading Circle: "Eveything Bad is Good for You" and Learning.

If you would like to suggest or lead one of these Reading Circle sessions, please send me an email to emasie@masie.com

Upcoming MASIE Center Events and Services:
* Learning 2005
* Learning CONSORTIUM
Information at: http://www.learning2005.com

349 - Organizational Change and Learning, Development Time Poll Results

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - Sept 26, 2005.
#349 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
51,129 Readers - http://www.masie.com - The MASIE Center.
Learning 2005: Oct 30 - Nov 2 - Orlando, Florida.

1. Organizational Change & Learning: Interview with Beth Thomas, CLO.
2. Learning Rant: The New Social Contract - Interview with Murry Christensen.
3. Results of Flash Poll: Development Time & Speed Satisfaction.
4. Learning 2005 Update: ERP & Learning Focus.

1. Organizational Change & Learning: Interview with Beth Thomas, CLO:
Mergers, globalization, outsourcing, shifts in sales strategy and other major organizational changes require a strong role for the Learning Leader. I just finished interviewing Beth Thomas, a Chief Learning Officer, about this key topic. She addressed the ways in which Learning can play a role in Organizational Change. And, the ways in which Organizational Change perspectives are needed for major Learning projects.
The audio, PodCast and text transcript are available at:

http://www.learning2005.com/university/

2. The New Social Contract & Learning: Murry Christensen, the Dean of Learning 2005, has written a great chapter in Learning: Rants, Raves and Reflections on the changing nature of the social contract with employees.
The audio, PodCast and text transcript are available at:

http://www.learning2005.com/university/

3. Results of Flash Poll - Development Time & Speed Satisfaction: Here are the results of our recent Flash Poll on e-Learning Development times and satisfaction: (Based on 659 responders)

What is the average time in your organization to develop an e-Learning course?
1 to 2 Days 26%
3 to 6 Days 5%
1 to 2 Weeks 4%
3 to 6 weeks 25%
7 to 12 Weeks 20%
13 to 18 Weeks 9%
> 18 Weeks 11%

Satisfaction with your organization's time to develop an e-Learning course?
Very Satisfied with Development Time 9%
Satisfied with Development Time 26%
It needs to be Somewhat Faster 28%
It needs to be Much Faster 37%

Upcoming MASIE Center Events:
* Learning 2005 - Oct 30 to Nov 2 - Orlando, Florida Information and registration at http://www.learning2005.com

348 - Wikis in the CIA? Learning in the Lobby.

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - Sept 23, 2005.
#348 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
51,123 Readers - http://www.masie.com - The MASIE Center.
Learning 2005: Oct 30 - Nov 2 - Orlando, Florida.

1. Wikis and Blogs in the CIA?
2. Design the Lobby for Learning.
3. Learning 2005 Update: "Informal Learning" Conversation

1. Wikis and Blogs in the CIA? I recently met with learning colleagues from various intelligence agencies from various countries to dialogue about Extreme Learning. The conversation quickly turned to the use of Wiki's, Blogs and other "community-based" learning and knowledge models.

I wanted to share an article by the Central Intelligence Agency about the experimental use of a wiki or blog in secure settings. This is an unclassified PDF document under the Creative Commons License:

http://www.learning2005.com/wikiblog/

2. Design the Lobby for Learning: A simple plea to organizations that are designing new classroom and conference centers: Make the Lobby a Learning Space! Make the space outside the classroom ready for today's and tomorrow's learning in these ways:

* Add spaces where people can sit and carry on private conversations before and after classes.
* Consider adding video displays that allow someone to leave the class and continue to watch the proceedings.
* Build in some whiteboards or flipcharts that allow for capture of those great thoughts in lobby conversations.
* Construct some book racks to let people browse titles while on breaks.
* Name spaces in the lobby to let facilitators point learners to sub-groups for targeted conversations.

3. Learning 2005 Update: "Informal Learning" Conversations - The theme of today's Learning TRENDS seems to be informal modes of learning. That will be one of the strands of conversations at Learning 2005, to be held in Orlando from Oct 30 to Nov 2. We just added a Conversation about Informal Learning by Jay Cross, a colleague and collaborator with a passion for the topic. Join the over 1,400 learning colleagues already headed to Learning 2005. Register at http://www.learning2005.com

347 - JetBlue Training Soars, Design Perspectives, Community Engagement Devices

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - Sept 22, 2005.
#347 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
50,955 Readers - http://www.masie.com - The MASIE Center.
Learning 2005: Oct 30 - Nov 2 - Orlando, Florida.

1. Emergency Landing: JetBlue Training Soars!
2. Design Perspectives - Audio/PodCast with Brent Schlenker.
3. ASTD Relocates Spring Conference to Dallas.
4. Community Engagement Devices for Everyone.

1. Emergency Landing: JetBlue Training Soars! Last night, my wife and I held our breath as we watched a broadcast of the live emergency landing of a JetBlue plane in Los Angeles. It was an amazing and perfect landing.
It highlighted the competency and great training of both JetBlue and the pilot, Scott Burke.

Hundreds of hours of learning, simulation, assessment, teamwork and dedication to excellence create that level of competency. It saves lives and is a tribute to the great work of our colleagues at JetBlue!

2. Design Perspectives - Audio/PodCast with Brent Schlenker: We are expanding our audio/podcast/text transcript series with interviews of passionate learning colleagues participating at Learning 2005. Today's interview is all about Design Perspectives for Learning. Brent Schlenker is a learning professional with a high-tech company with strong opinions and views about the role of design, visuals and engagement. A 9-minute interview can be found at:

http://www.learning2005.com/university/

3. ASTD Relocates Spring Conference to Dallas: Our colleagues at ASTD were impacted by the disaster in New Orleans, the site of their 2006 international conference. However, there is good news. Tony Bingham, ASTD's President and CEO, asked me to pass along the information that they have relocated the ASTD Conference to Dallas, Texas from May 7th to 10th.

4. Community Engagement Devices for Everyone: What if every person at an event had a small engagement device that could help them interact with speakers and colleagues, and help steer the activities in real time? Well, the future is here. Each of the participants in Learning 2005 will have a two-ounce RF device that they will use thoughout the event. See the picture at:

http://www.learning2005.com/device/

So, imagine more than 1,500 people with the ability to vote, choose, react to and locate colleagues interactively. Here are some of the new ways in which we will be using these devices:

* Community Driven Keynotes: A few of our speakers will be creating their content in segments and the sequence and focus will be shaped in real time by the participants.
* Send Me a PDF: Anyone can request follow-up materials at sessions and poster stations by just pressing a button. (Each device is mapped to the participant's profile).
* In the Hallways Polls: There will be polling screens throughout Learning 2005 where you can indicate your passionate views on topics with these devices.
* Let's Discuss THAT: Go to one of our community spaces and define some short discussion topics with colleagues located near you.
* Task Force Sign-Up's: Join a working group of Learning Colleagues working on a key issue that is raised at one of our sessions. Just press the button to volunteer.
* Iron Learning Designer: Vote on the results of the Iron Learning Design Competition.
* Even for Fun: The group will define the Learning 2005 Theme Song and we will even take deploy them for our party at MGM.

MASIE Center Events and Services:
* Membership in the Learning CONSORTIUM - A coalition of 200 large companies working together to benchmark and innovate in the learning field.
* Learning 2005: October 30 - November 2 - Orlando, Florida.
Information at http://www.masie.com

346 - Learning Sandboxes, Spending Poll Results, Music Themes for Classes

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - Sept 20, 2005.
#346 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
50,934 Readers - http://www.masie.com - The MASIE Center.
Learning 2005: Oct 30 - Nov 2 - Orlando, Florida.

1. Learning Sandbox: Tool for Innovation - Free Audio/PodCast.
2. Flash Poll Results - Spending on Learning Per Employee.
3. Time to Develop a Course - Flash Poll.
3. Tips for Trainers: Class Music Theme.

1. Learning Sandbox: Tool for Innovation - Free Audio/PodCast: Innovation often requires the ability to experiment on a small scale, without consequences or huge costs. Here is a nine-minute segment on how to create a Learning Sandbox in your department to innovate with new models of e-Learning and Classroom training.

http://www.learning2005.com/university/

2. Flash Poll Results - Spending on Learning Per Employee: Here are the results of last week's Learning TRENDS Flash Poll on Annual Spending Per
Employee:

What is the average annual training expenditure for employees in your organization (in U.S. Dollars)?
0 - 500 37%.
501-1000 24%.
1001-1500 14%.
1501-2000 10%.
2000-3000 9%.
More than 3000 6%.

What is the average annual training expenditure for employees in your IT organization (in U.S. Dollars)?
0-500 27%.
501-1000 25%.
1001-1500 15%.
1501-2000 13%.
2000-3000 12%.
More than 3000 8%.

Based on 731 responses in September 2005.

3. Time to Develop a Course - Flash Poll: Here is our next poll.

What is the average time to develop an e-Learning course? Go to:

http://www.learning2005.com/survey2/

4. Tips for Trainers - Class Music Theme: Ask your class, particularly a multiple day class, to choose a musical theme for the program. It takes just a few minutes and you can purchase one on-line at iTunes. I have done this with groups as small as 8 and as large as 3,000 at one of my conferences. They will pick something that energizes the group and also serves as a theme song. I play it after breaks and people will remember it for years.

Learning 2005 Update: We are sending a free book to every registered participant in Learning 2005. You should receive your hardcover edition of "Learning Rants, Raves and Reflections" via UPS in the coming week.
International attendees will pick theirs up at the event. There are over 1,400 of your colleagues attending. For more information and on-line
registration: http://www.learning.com

Yours in Learning,

Elliott Masie

345 - Special Report: Learning's Role in Dire Emergencies

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - Sept 18, 2005.
#345 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
50,893 Readers - http://www.masie.com - The MASIE Center.
Learning 2005: Oct 30 - Nov 2 - Orlando, Florida.

Special Report: Learning's Role in Dire Emergencies

We have been interviewing CEO's and Learning Executives of large organizations that were impacted by Hurricane Katrina, focusing on steps/roles that learning and training organizations can take in the future to prepare for these types of dire emergencies:

* Emergency Contact Points: In the immediate aftermath of a disaster like Katrina, 9/11 or the Tsusnami, employees may find themselves in a communication blackout. The offices, phone numbers and web services of the organization may be down, yet employees may have cell/mobile phone service or be moved to a different location with full communications.
CEO's we spoke to have realized that organizations need a secondary emergency point of contact. Create a crisis telephone number that may be answered by either a remote office in another location or even an outsourced call center. It might be an 800 number with an easy-to-remember-name. Likewise, create a small emergency website, hosted by an external provider (even offshore) with a different URL, like www.911companyname.com

* Emergency Readiness Drill/Simulation: Learning managers might consider scheduling an Enterprise Wide Readiness Drill to teach and test what individual workers, work groups and the entire enterprise must do immediately following an emergency. What is the process for contacting missing employee's families? Who makes decisions about closing offices?
What is the process for determining the emotional state of key leaders who are personally impacted by the disaster?

* Portability and Survivability of Data: While organizations became deeply aware of data backups and redundancy during the ramp up to Y2K, there are other levels of data portability and survivability that need to be considered. I spoke with a President of a Mississippi company who had all of his family's personal data, including personal pictures, as well as all of his key employees' and suppliers' contact information on a USB Keychain Drive that he keeps with his car keys. He was able to access this data from a relative's laptop following the full destruction of his home and office.

* Alumni Workers to the Rescue: In emergencies, we can often turn to the seasoned and caring retired and alumni workers for assistance. The former CEO of a Gas Company was asked to return as an in-field counselor to workers and families impacted by Katrina. The alumni workforce can be a major second wave of support and effort to deal with personal and organizational shock.

* Mutual Assistance Agreements: The Electric Utility industry has a set of mutual assistance agreements in place to facilitate the process of helping out when a major emergency hits. These agreements cover the process, funding and even insurance liability issues to allow trucks and workers from one utility to converge on a disaster area rapidly to assist an impacted electric company. Consider using your associations to draft mutual assistance agreements that could be triggered by extreme events.

* The Impact of Shock on Learning: Following major emergencies, one of the impacts of shock and disruption can be seen in the skill and memory arena. Tasks that might have been "no-brainers" suddenly become challenging for some workers. Be sensitive to the potential need for retraining or Performance Support tools to refresh and rebuild skill sets. In addition, organizational behavior often shifts, including risk-aversion, leadership styles and communication capacities. Dire emergencies create the need for full-blown Organizational Development approaches.

* Nurse on the Spot: A trainer described how they "drafted" into service the spouse of an executive who is a nurse to become their corporate on-site medical officer during the days after Katrina. She was dedicated to providing first level triage support for employees and families, including tetanus shots to workers exposed to polluted spaces. He is now building a list of relatives with medical background who can be used in these emergencies.

* Rumor Control: It is critical to have a Rumor Control point of coordination. This person or group takes on the role of gathering any rumors that are floating around the company and using traditional and non-traditional communication methods to disseminate immediate responses.
One company near New Orleans created a cell phone "tree" to reach out to as many employees as possible every day with updates and rumor control.

* Technologies for Recovery: The tools of digital collaboration and e-Learning can play a key role for organizations on the road to recovery following a dire emergency:

- Web Conferencing: When travel is impossible or employees are not able to return to their offices, web conferencing and video conferencing allows for a more rapid return to work. A number of employees are working from their relatives' homes in other cities following Katrina and are using the webcams of their hosts' kids to restore productivity.

- e-Learning and Performance Support: Organizations need to rapidly reformat processes and projects. e-Learning can be a quick way to get knowledge and collaboration flowing throughout the organization. Rapid development, mixed with some prepared content and syndicated content, can allow organizations a quicker recovery.

- Assessment Tools: Consider using survey tools, with a mixture of named or non-named responders, to gather information on the logistical and emotional state of employees as they return to the worksite. The effects of shock and disruption will be felt for some time and often organizations don't really have avenues for employees to express that or to map it across the enterprise.

* Learning Skills in Emergencies: The skills of learning and training professionals are key during dire emergencies. Look at the applicability of our field's competencies to these awful circumstances:

- Organizational Development.
- Group Facilitation.
- Performance Consulting.
- Classroom Instruction.
- Assessment and Measurement.
- Coaching.
- Document Design.
- Remediation.
- Talent Management.
- Web Conferencing.
- Instructional Design.
- Train the Trainer Skills Assessment.
- Content Management.
- After Action Debriefing.
- Simulation.
- Cross Training.
- Humor.
- Human Resource Interventions.
- Subject Matter Expert Management.
- Competency Management.

- Plus the wide range of content areas including Stress Management, On-Boarding, Organizational Process and Institutional Memory.

Learning professionals can play a key role in the current and future dire emergencies facing our organizations. We would encourage you to explore the readiness of your organization and the role of your learning department to be of assistance in these situations. Please send any additional ideas or perspectives to me at emasie@masie.com

Our hearts, prayers and thoughts go out to our learning colleagues who were impacted by Katrina.

Yours in learning,

Elliott
Elliott Masie,
The MASIE Center and Learning CONSORTIUM

Upcoming MASIE Center Event:
* Learning 2005 - Oct 30 - Nov 2 - Orlando, Florida - 1,400 Registered Already - http://www.learning2005.com

344 - Training Outsourcing Myths and Katrina Learning Assistance

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - Sept 13, 2005.
#344 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
50,869 Readers - http://www.masie.com - The MASIE Center.
Learning 2005: Oct 30 - Nov 2 - Orlando, Florida.

1. Training Outsourcing Myths: More About Sourcing & Partnering.
2. VSKOOL.ORG - Katrina e-Learning for Schools Effort.
3. Where's Elliott Speaking?

1. Training Outsourcing Myths - More About Sourcing & Partnering: While the topic of "training outsourcing" seems to be a hot discussion topic, there are a lot of myths and misconceptions about this trend. Here are a few perspectives and an upcoming dialogue that we will host:

* Most "training outsourcing" is really an extension of Human Resource IT and Transaction Sourcing. Most of the key contracts have been extensions of corporate sourcing of the IT side of HR, extended to the IT side of Learning. This results in the sourcing of LMS, LCMS and transactions.

* Another arena of "training outsourcing" has been the partnering with a key supplier to do most or even all of the design/production of learning programs for a specific area of content. These have been both on-shore and off-shore. Most of these contracts have not included the sourcing for Strategy, but rather are a deep partnership on instructional design, project management and production.

* Vendor Management is another and different dimension of the outsourcing conversation. We are seeing a number of large enterprises that are giving a contract to a partner to manage the wide range of supplier and vendor contracts in the learning arena. This either is on the basis of subcontracts or a larger "uber" contract.

* There is nothing new about "Sourcing". In fact, a large percentage of money spent on training has been sourced to trusted providers for years.
While the conversation about "outsourcing" seems large and growing, the reality on the ground is more about strategic sourcing.

* The "outsourcing" conversation often yields fear and loathing on the staffing trail. We would urge that organizations approach these dialogues with both care and realism. We are seeing more and more learning projects produced and managed externally. We are seeing more and more organizations turn to deeper sourcing and partnerning. But, the full bore "training outsource" - where the training department goes away and all of the function is now done by a vendor - is not a large reality.

I have invited six Chief Learning Officers and several learning suppliers to have a more rational conversation about the Sourcing and Partnering process at our upcoming Learning 2005 event. We will report the results of those conversations in a future TRENDS.

2. VSKOOL.ORG - Katrina e-Learning for Schools Effort: The MASIE Center's Learning CONSORTIUM has joined VSKOOL.ORG, a coalition of groups providing e-Learning resources to children who are not able to attend their schools following the aftermath of Katrina. If your company would like to help with this project, please send me a note to emasie@masie.com

3. Where's Elliott Speaking? Because there has been a significant change in the landscape of conferences this Fall for our field, some folks have asked me to clarify where The MASIE Center will be presenting (or not
presenting):

* Learning 2005. We are the host and I am one of the keynoters.
* Chief Learning Officer Symposium. I will be one of the keynoters.
* ASTD's TechKnowledge Conference. I will be one of the keynoters.

(Note: We have sold TechLearn and The MASIE Center is not involved in
this event in any form. We are also not involved with the VNU Training
Conferences).

Complete information on Learning 2005 can be found at http://www.learning2005.com

343 - Learning: From Scarcity to Abundance; Charity Auction

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - Sept 11, 2005.
#343 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
50,854 Readers - http://www.masie.com - The MASIE Center.
Learning 2005: Oct 30 - Nov 2 - Orlando, Florida.

1. Learning in the Age of Content Abundance.
2. Learning 2005 Charity Auction & PhD Student Scholarships.

1. Learning in the Age of Content Abundance: Things change dramatically when a learner feels Content Abundance vs. Content Scarcity. A few years ago, we were often teaching learners who felt a sense of scarcity. They often viewed our classes or e-Learning modules as the primary or only
solution to their information and knowledge needs. As the power of the
internet has extended, I have noticed a major shift from Scarcity to Abundance.

Many learners now feel information rich, or even overloaded. They know they can go to their search engine, type a few words and get an up to date list of links to knowledge resources. This is often viewed as better than the list of links that the classroom instructor hands out at the end of the class.

As we provide resources in the Age of Content Abundance, it becomes even more important for learning professionals to address these dimensions:

* Invitation - Emerging models for inviting specific learners to learn specific content - aligned to personal, project or performance motivational factors.
* Personalization - Emerging models for allowing the learner to perceive (and predict) an efficiency of getting to the "just right" content.
* Granularization - Emerging models for helping the learner gain access to smaller and more targeted sets of content.
* Sequence Options - Help our learners to take one of several sequences through the content, based on needs and priorities.
* Context - In the age of abundance, learners have easy access to loads of content. It is more difficult for learners to access "Context", the stories, best (and worst) practices and organizational realities.
* Performance Tools - Learners still want great job and performance tools.
Give them digital or plastic laminated Job Aids.
* Calibrating Expectations - Trainers and instructional designers should recognize that learners feel Content Abundance. We should acknowledge that this shift has occured for many of our learners. Our courses and language should help learners calibrate their expectations of how much of the needed knowledge will come from formal vs. informal learning.

Would love to hear from my colleagues on this topic. Send a note to emasie@masie.com

2. Learning 2005 Charity Auction - Items Sought: We will have a Charity Auction at Learning 2005 to benefit 3 groups:

- e-Learning for Kids Foundation.
- Tiger Woods Learning Center Foundation.
- Special Scholarship for a PhD Student focused on Learning for Emergencies.

We will have an on-line and in-person Charity Auction to raise funds for these three groups. I am looking for cool items that you or your organization would be willing to donate. If you have an item in mind, please go to http://www.learning2005.com/auction/ and send me an email.
Thanks in advance. We will open this Auction in early October.

Upcoming MASIE Center Events & Services:
* Learning 2005 - Oct 30 - Nov 2 - Orlando - http://www.learning2005.com .
* Membership in the Learning CONSORTIUM - http://www.masie.com .

342 - Back to School?, Learning Hybrid Innovations, RSS-Learn

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - Sept 7, 2005.
#342 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
50,812 Readers - http://www.masie.com - The MASIE Center.
Learning 2005: Oct 30 - Nov 2 - Orlando, Florida.

1. Back to School in September? Memories & Patterns.
2. Learning Hybrids: Innovations in Combinations.
3. Feeds for Learning: RSS-Learn Added to Learning 2005.

1. Back to School in September? Memories & Patterns: I have a confession to make. I really looked forward to the end of summer because it meant that soon school would start. My mom told me that I would sing "School Days are Coming" and get really excited about buying new supplies to start the year.

Well, my mental calendar year still is operating on the school year model.
As soon as Labor Day (first week of September in the U.S.) happens, my brain kicks in to "Back to School Mode". I even find a way to head to an office supply store and buy some new notebooks to help get the year off to a start.

As the calendar turns to September, there seem to be changes in corporate learning departments. The pace picks up and new projects start to emerge.
Request for Proposals get launched, new products from suppliers are announced and budgets for the new year get serious attention. One final confession. I miss putting "reinforcements" on the 3 hole lined paper.

If anyone else has a Back to School syndrome story, send me a note to emasie@masie.com

2. Learning Hybrids - Innovations in Combinations: The next wave of innovations in the learning world are likely to be "hybrids". New combinations of content styles, methods and technologies will yield interesting and powerful innovations. We are tracking technologies that are gaining popularity outside of the workplace (eg. SMS Text Messaging, GPS, Citizen Journalism, Mobile Devices, TIVO) along with new learning drivers (Compliance, Globalization, Personalization, Virtual Teaming).

Hybrid combinations of these elements will yield high potential learning innovations such as:

* Leveraging of RSS "Feeds" for Real Time Compliance and Knowledge Updating.
* Mobile Learning Models combining context data from GPS and the ability to locate appropriate colleagues or resources by profile and location.
* Communities of Preference models that allow for "sorting" of learning resources based on references from very specific groups of colleagues or customers.
* Video based PodCasts available in a juke-box format for in-class instructors to use to bring experts and perspectives into the classroom.
* Personal Learning Portfolios that can be built as one reads content on-line, clicking or dragging content for future in-depth learning.
* Learning Google on Steroids...extending the search capabilites to leverage metadata and personal learning styles.
* Digital Coaching...providing continuous presence coaching for new employees or workers in leadership development, including IP Video and daily "check-ins".

Watch for Learning Systems such as LMS, LCMS, Web Conferencing, Document Management, Video Conferencing and Talent Management to start addressing these Hybrid models. Each will require innovation to combine content, methods and technologies in creative ways.

3. "Feeds for Learning" - RSS-Learn Added to Learning 2005: I am convinced that "Feeds", the use of Really Simple Syndication (RSS) will become one of the very powerful and widely used new technologies. Unfortunately, RSS feels like and is talked about with high "geek" language and procedures.
RSS feels like the early days of the web when everyone needed to know HTML. But, that will quickly change.

Watch for Feeds for Learning to become a daily part of your work and learning process. There are changes coming in Browsers and Content systems that will make it easy to add a "Feed" or RSS indicator on any page of content. Your browser will indicate that a feed is available.
You will be able to select very personalized subscriptions to these feeds.
For example, you might select to get a regular feed on Shipping Regulations if you work in the Distribution Center. Anytime that one page of content changes, you will get a Feed notice to the device of your choice, including your mobile phone.

We have added a very exciting component called "RSS-Learn" focused on Feeds for Learning to our annual event, Learning 2005, to be held in Orlando from Oct 30 to Nov 2nd. RSS-Learn will include demonstrations, interviews and working examples of how learning professionals can leverage Feeds for Learning without much expense or training. Go to http://www.learning2005.com/rsslearn/ for information and registration.

341 - Learning Currency - Green, Yellow or Red?; Color Picking - Web Advice for Design

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - Sept 2, 2005.
#341 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
50,791 Readers - http://www.masie.com - The MASIE Center.
Learning 2005: Oct 30 - Nov 2 - Orlando, Florida.

1. Learning Currency - Green, Yellow or Red?
2. Color Picking - Web Advice for Design.
3. "Talking to the Big Dogs" - Presenting Up.

1. Learning Currency - Green, Yellow or Red? What if a learner could display their learning status about an issue as Green, Yellow or Red? The color would indicate either their competency or comprehension about a specific topic. Or, it could indicate how "current" the knowledge is, as things change.

For example, if I were a medical professional, I'd love to have a chart of content topics that would evolve in colors as the knowledge evolved. If a drug interaction was discovered, the color of that might change from Green (knowledge current and competent) to Yellow (knowledge changing - updating
needed) to Red (danger - knowledge out-of-date).

I'd like to raise the issue of Learning Currency! As we develop more granular content, there is an opportunity for learners to receive or to indicate changes in the "currency" of learning on a very granular level.
Organizations could start to use content syndication, such as RSS, as a way of creating and updating individual Learning Currency Maps.

Let's kick this idea around. Send me some ideas, thoughts or reactions to emasie@masie.com

2. Color Picking - Web Advice for Design: The selection of colors for a website or e-Learning program is a mixture of both designer choice and personal preference. We discoverd a free interesting on-line color advice tool. Check it out:

http://wellstyled.com/tools/colorscheme2/index-en.html

3. "Talking to the Big Dogs" - Presenting Up. The next Audio, PodCast and Text Transcript Segment is now available. "Talking to the Big Dogs" is a short interview with Rick Gilbert, focused on the challenges of learning professionals presenting to the top level of executives in the organization. There are myths and challenges when asked to present to the "C" level of the organization. Rick Gilbert, who will be leading a series of skillshops at Learning 2005, details a practical approach:

http://www.learning2005.com/university/

Yours in Learning,

Elliott Masie